More proof that good things come in small packages: The tiny pickled plant buds known as capers could do big things for your body.

That's because capers -- used for centuries in Mediterranean fare to add zing to fish, salads, and pasta -- may have their own special heart-disease-busting and cancer-thwarting powers.

Two Great Capers
Extracts from capers, even in small amounts, did two surprising things in a recent study. First, they limited toxic and gene-mutating by-products of meat digestion. Great news, because those by-products can spell trouble for your heart. (Learn how to lower your risk of a heart attack.)

Second, the caper extracts improved the bioavailability of vitamin E. Also great news, because vitamin E helps put a damper on certain cancer-causing processes. (Are you due for a cancer screening? Take this health assessment to find out which scheduled checkups you need.)

Cooking Ideas
Capers contain a bundle of antioxidants, including a bit of vitamin C and vitamin E. Just don't go overboard if you're sensitive to salt, because capers also pack quite a sodium wallop. New to capers? Here are some super serving suggestions:

• Make this fantastic caper and lentil appetizer.
• Serve this sumptuous salad with capers, pasta, tuna, and roasted red peppers.
• Try this healthful and tasty fish dish: Halibut with Lemon and Caper Sauce.

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Bioactive components of caper (Capparis spinosa L.) from Sicily and antioxidant effects in a red meat simulated gastric digestion. Tesoriere, L., Butera, D., Gentile, C., Livrea, M. A., Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2007 Oct 17;55(21):8465-8471.