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" It&amp;#039;s not exactly a news flash that milk can give you strong bones and carrots help sharpen your eyesight. But what you may not know is that you can get more disease-fighting bang by eating certain foods together. Think Simon and Garfunkel, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers\u2014one&amp;#039;s good, but together they&amp;#039;re even better. Here, seven power couples. 1. Calcium + Inulin = Healthy Tummy, Strong Bones  If you&amp;#039;ve ever had a bout of tummy trouble, you should know about inulin (a type of fiber), which helps balance the levels of &amp;quot;good&amp;quot; bacteria in your digestive system. Inulin also benefits your bones by enhancing calcium absorption. You&amp;#039;re most likely to run across it as a fiber supplement (Fibersure) or added to foods like yogurt (Yo-Plus, Activia Fiber), but there are a few good natural food options. Photo: Getty Images; Shutterstock Good Sources of Calcium: Milk, yogurt, cheese (all kinds), broccoli, kale, canned-with-bones salmon and sardines, tofu made with calcium chloride or calcium sulfate, almonds, fortified orange juice; fortified soy, rice or almond milk Good Sources of Inulin: Artichokes, dandelion greens, onions, garlic, leeks, chicory, bananas, whole-wheat flour, asparagus Combo Ideas \u2022 Bananas in cereal with skim milk \u2022 Grilled asparagus with shaved Parmesan 2. Calcium + Vitamin D = Strong Bones  Ever wonder why milk is D-fortified? Your body needs high enough levels of D to absorb bone-building calcium. Photo: Shutterstock Good Sources of Calcium: Kale, broccoli, milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified orange juice; fortified soy, rice or almond milk Good Sources of Vitamin D: Salmon, sardines, canned light tuna, herring, egg yolks; fortified soy, rice, almond or cow&amp;#039;s milk Combo Ideas \u2022 Grilled salmon with saut\u00E9ed kale \u2022 Broccoli-cheese omelet \u2022 Tuna melt with lowfat cheese on whole-grain bread 3. Vitamin E + Vitamin C = Sharp Vision  Want to keep your eyesight sharp? Pump up the E, which may help prevent macular degeneration (a major cause of blindness), and combine it with C, which turns vitamin E into the &amp;quot;ready to fight&amp;quot; form that your body can use best. Photo: Shutterstock Good Sources of Vitamin E: Almonds (and almond butter), peanuts (and peanut butter), wheat germ, sunflower seeds, soybeans Good Sources of Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, kiwi, guava, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes Combo Ideas \u2022 Peanut butter and sliced strawberries (on a sandwich or toast) \u2022 Salad with mandarin oranges and toasted slivered almonds 4. Iron + Vitamin C = More Energy  Banish that &amp;quot;I&amp;#039;m so tired&amp;quot; feeling by making sure you&amp;#039;re getting enough iron, which helps carry oxygen to your muscles, brain and throughout your body. A potent disease fighter in its own right, vitamin C helps keep your gums, heart and skin healthy, and helps your cells absorb more iron. You can find iron in plant-based foods (fruits, veggies, beans) and animal-based foods (red meat, chicken, eggs). But it&amp;#039;s harder for your body to absorb iron from the plant-based ones, which is why pairing them with C is a smart move. Photo: Shutterstock Plant-based Iron Sources: Spinach, oatmeal, tofu, wheat germ, quinoa, starchy beans (including black, pinto, soy, fava, chickpeas) Good Sources of Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, kiwi, guava, strawberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes Combo Ideas \u2022 Spinach salad with orange slices \u2022 Bean burrito with salsa \u2022 Oatmeal with strawberries 5. Vitamin K + Fat =Healthy Heart and Bones  Fat is good\u2014or at least it can be, if you eat the right type. The &amp;quot;good&amp;quot; fats (mono- and polyunsaturated, including omega-3s) have major health benefits like lowering cholesterol, and your body can&amp;#039;t absorb certain vitamins\u2014including vitamin K, which is crucial for building bone and blood clotting\u2014without fat. Photo: Shutterstock Good Sources of Vitamin K: Kale, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts Good Sources of Fat: Nuts\u2014any kind, including walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews; oils including olive, almond, canola, flaxseed, hazelnut, toasted sesame, avocado Combo Ideas \u2022 Swiss chard, spinach or broccoli saut\u00E9ed in olive oil \u2022 Roasted Brussels sprouts with slivered almonds 6. Beta-Carotene/Vitamin A + Fat = Glowing Skin  Move over, antiaging creams: Beta-carotene\u2014which needs fat for absorption and is turned into vitamin A in your body\u2014helps give your skin a youthful glow. Vitamin A also plays a vital role in a healthy immune and reproductive system. But it needs the good fat to help your body absorb it. Photo: Shutterstock; Getty Images Good Sources of Beta-Carotene: Carrots, apricots, cantaloupe, sweet potato, papaya, kale, spinach Good Sources of Fat: Nuts\u2014any kind, including walnuts, almonds, peanuts; oils including olive, almond, canola, flaxseed, toasted sesame, avocado Combo Ideas \u2022 Oven-roasted sweet potato fries made with olive or canola oil \u2022 Carrots dipped in guacamole or hummus (made with sesame-based tahini and/or olive oil) \u2022 Trail mix made with dried apricots, dried papaya, almonds and walnuts 7. Zinc + Sulphur Compounds = Strong Immune System  Attention onion and garlic lovers! These two pungent plants do more than add flavor to foods. Turns out their sulfur compounds help boost absorption of the zinc that&amp;#039;s found in whole-grain foods (important for immunity and wound healing). Photo: Antonis Achilleos/Woman&amp;#039;s Day; Shutterstock  Good Sources of Zinc: All whole grains, including brown rice and whole-grain breads; legumes Good Sources of Sulfur Compounds: Onions, garlic Combo Ideas \u2022 Brown (or wild) rice with caramelized onions \u2022 Whole-wheat bagel topped with light cream cheese and sliced onion Joy Bauer, RD, is the nutrition expert for the TODAY show and bestselling author of Joy Bauer&amp;#039;s Food Cures. For more info, go to JoyBauer.com. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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