It can be very challenging in our modern society to
eat a healthy diet. We are constantly being tempted by advertisements for fast
food that really has no nutritional value but tastes very good and due to our
shortage of time and possibly finances, people can fall prey to these
temptations.
We should really put more thought about what we put
into our bodies so we will be healthier and live more productive lives.
Even though a variety of nutritious food is optimum
for good health, through research, some foods have been deemed to have higher
levels of certain nutrients; such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, and
antioxidants.
The following is a list that contains ten foods that
have been deemed as superfoods and because of their high nutritional value,
should be consumed on a regular basis.
1) Green Tea:
Green Tea contains many antioxidants and one
especially important ones that are called ECGC. Because of this, the tea has
many protective benefits from cancer, heart disease, and arthritis.
A recent study in Japan shows that men who drank green
tea on a regular basis had lower cholesterol levels than those who didn’t.
Green tea makes a healthier alternative to drinking sugary sodas.
2) Low Fat or Non-Fat Yogurt:
There are many health benefits to eating yogurt. Our
bodies have bacteria in the gut and it needs to be replenished on a regular basis
to help aid in the digestion process.
This can be done by eating yogurt that has been
fortified with active cultures. For an added nutritional punch, add some fresh
fruit or ground flaxseed for flavor and additional fiber.
3) Fish:
Because it is
low in saturated fat, fish makes a good choice for protein. They are full of
healthy fats that help with reducing cholesterol and improve cardiovascularly
health.
Because of fish
live in the ocean, they have many minerals that are difficult to get from other
sources. Then there are the omega-3 fatty acids that make fish so valuable to
have in our diets.
Eating foods high in omega-3 have many healthy
benefits from possibly preventing Alzheimer’s disease, improving skin
conditions, and helping with arthritis.
All fish contain mercury, but the smaller ones usually
contain less mercury than the larger ones, so it is recommended to stay away
from fish like marlin, swordfish, shark, and bluefish.
4) Berries:
Berries are packed with nutrition due to the colors
they have in their skin. They are loaded with antioxidants, phytonutrients, and
fiber. They are also full of flavor and can be added to many dishes and
smoothies to enhance taste and appearance.
Blueberries are usually considered the best because
they contain the most antioxidants but all berries are good for you and should
be eaten every day.
5) Whole Grains:
Loaded with b vitamins, zinc, vitamin E, and selenium,
whole grains are a very important part of a healthy diet.
Some of the benefits of eating a diet high in whole
grains are a reduced risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels,
blood pressure, and blood coagulation.
Whole grains have also been found to possibly have
anti-cancer benefits in addition to regulating blood glucose levels in people
living with diabetes.
Because of the high fiber content, whole grains make
people feel fuller thus helping them eat less and lose weight.
6) Beans:
Beans are one of the most well-rounded foods available
today. Even though they come from plants, beans have high amounts of protein
without the unhealthy fat that other sources of protein have.
They also contain large amounts of carbohydrates,
potassium, and magnesium. Also, the insoluble fiber in beans helps lower
cholesterol and rid your body of waste.
Beans are a very versatile food and can
be prepared in many ways giving you many opportunities to include them in your
diet.
7) Crucifers:
Crucifers include vegetables like broccoli,
cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts.
They are beneficial to a healthy diet because they are
low in calories and high in calcium, iron, and fiber, vitamins A and C and
beneficial enzymes and because of all this nutrition, have many anti-cancer
benefits.
Crucifers can be consumed in a variety of ways from
being steamed, cooked, or just eaten raw.
8) Nuts:
Even though high in fat, if consumed in moderation,
nuts are a healthy part of any diet.
They are high in fiber, antioxidants, heart-healthy
fats, and protein.
The healthiest way to consume nuts is raw but they can
be cooked and added to any number of dishes to add flavor and texture.
9) Eggs:
Containing high-quality protein and nine essential
amino acids, you can’t go wrong by eating eggs.
An average egg contains 5.5 grams of protein with only
68 calories. Eggs also contain 12 vitamins and minerals, including choline,
which is an important nutrient for the nervous system and brain health.
10) Sprouts:
Sprouts are considered living foods because they are
essentially still growing when you purchase them. Being edible seeds which are
germinated, usually, when you consume them, they are about 3-5 days old.
Being this fresh, they have higher concentrations of
nutrition than fully mature produce.
They are also rich in antioxidants: vitamins A, C, E
and selenium, in addition to containing calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron,
zinc, folate and vitamin B.
Top 10 Super foods for Nutritious
Reviewed by
on
September 13, 2019
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