Kickstart Your Diet With The 10 Healthiest Foods
April 1, 2008 2:26 am HealthEating Healthy is no doubt the best thing you can do for your mind and body. Proper nutrition gives you the upper hand on preventing disease and boosting your quality of life. The following list of the 10 healthiest foods will help get you started.
1. Avocados - 8 grams of fat in a slice of avocado may sound like a lot, but it’s an unsaturated fat that helps increase your good cholesterol while lowering the bad.
2. Broccoli has 3 grams of fiber per cup and is full of beta-carotene. Vitamin C is abundant in broccoli which should not be overcooked to keep it’s nutritional value.
3. Cranberries - The popular Thanksgiving staple helps keep harmful bacteria from causing bladder infections. While the juice is packed full of sugar to take away the tart taste, a cranberry supplement is available at your local health food store.
4. Salmon, halibut and fresh water fish are at the top of the 10 healthiest foods list. They contain omega-3 fatty acids that prevent heart disease. Other assets from fish include healthy brain function as well as normal growth & development.
5. With 9 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber in half a cup, lentils are packed full of nutrients. Lentils help with digestion and guards against heart attacks and breast cancer.
6. Milk particularly skim milk is recommended because of the many nutrients such as vitamin A, B2, D and calcium. If you are lactose intolerant try soya milk with organic ingredients and without sweeteners added.
7. Oats - How many commercials about oatmeal reducing cholesterol have you seen lately? Oats also contain a significant amount of fiber, protein and selenium.
8. Spinach - The leafy vegetable will add fiber to your diet, and it has carotenoids that help protect your eyesight. Also, scientists are looking into its abilities to reverse signs of aging.
9. Tomatoes are the best natural source of lycopene on the planet with a very strong antioxidant that helps cut down the risk of cancer.
10. Last but not least is the ever popular almond, it packs a punch when you realize what it can do for your health. Almonds are high in fat but the unsaturated kind that is good for the body. These magic nuts lower cholesterol levels, regulate blood pressure and help prevent osteoporosis. They are high in protein, fiber, magnesium, potassium, calcium, vitamin E and other various antioxidants.
The 10 healthiest foods listed here could be disputed since there are hundreds of healthy foods that could be considered an excellent source of nutrition. Whatever the public opinion may be these foods are a great start or addition to any diet program.
