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If you feel like your diet is missing something, you might be right. Add our expert-approved, eat-right picks to stay lean, healthy and strong.

Brussel Sprouts: The Cancer Fighter: Don’t let brussels sprouts’ signature scent turn you off. Eating them every few weeks could help greatly reduce the chances of colon cancer. Bonus: They’re packed with fiber and immune-boosting vitamins C and A.

Red Meat: The “Skinny” Steak: Red meat has a bad rap. The thing is, it really is good for you. Especially if you go for a cut that’s both lean and grass-fed. Bonus: Beef is a great source of protein, iron and heart-healthy B vitamins.

Curry: The “It” Spice: Curry may very well be the spice of life. IT’s been shown to stop tumor growth and destroy cancer cells. Bonus: Antioxidants found in curry may also help break up plaques in the brain that cause Alzheimer’s disease.

Pistachios: The Next Nut: Pistachios are the new health nut. Why? They may lower the risk of diabetes by decreasing the effect of carbs on blood sugar levels. Bonus: Eating two or three ounces of pistachios a day can help significantly raise your level of good cholesterol.

Morning Cup of Joe: The Java Junkie’s Dream! Rejoice! Your morning cup of joe is good for you. Experts on an American Society for Nutrition panel recently concluded that drinking three to five eight-ounce cups a day lowers your risk of Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and colon and liver cancers. Bonus: Women who drink at least six cups a day are less likely to develop high blood pressure, revealed a 2005 study by Harvard scientists.

Oatmeal: The Heart-Smart Whole Grain: One of the easiest ways to lower your cholesterol is to eat whole-grain oatmeal daily. The fiber in oatmeal forms a gel that slows down your body’s absorption of cholesterol. Bonus: “People who eat oatmeal for breakfast tend to stay full all morning and consume less in lunch”-Dave Grotto, RD, nutritionist.

Shrimp: The Fit Fish: Shrimp is about 90 calories per three-ounce serving, has virtually no fat and is packed with protein. — Ellie Krieger, RD, host of Food Network’s Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger. It may even help prevent heart disease. Bonus: Shrimp is also rich in cancer-fighting selenium and bone-building Vitamin D.

Dark Chocolate: The Sweet Surprise: Enjoying a small amount of flavonoid-filled dark chocolate may prevent clogged arteries and reduce risk of developing heart disease. Bonus: Studies have shown that eating chocolate releases serotonin, the feel-better brain chemical.

Tart Cherries: The Red Wonder: Take two tart cherries and call me in the morning. While your doc may  not say that yet, she might soon. Tart cherries can lower cholesterol, blood sugar levels and decrease the body’s ability to store fat in the liver. Bonus: People who exercised and drank two 12-ounce glasses of tart cherry juice daily for eight days reported less muscle pain than those who sipped a placebo, finds a 2006 study.

Red Tomatoes: The Trendy Tomato: Red tomatoes are full of lycopene, a substance that helps lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, and macular degeneration. Bonus: One cup of orange tomatoes provides 338 percent of the RDA for vitamin A.