Healthy Diet – Healthier Body
The health value of food that we eat must be of high concern to us. We need foods that are healthy to help us carry out our daily tasks efficiently. Knowing the health value of foods help us to choose which foods are beneficial for our bodies.
Different foods have different health values and within food groups, some have more health value than others. Below, you can find the healthiest food choices. Eating them on a regular basis can bring you good health and hence a happier life.
The no. 1 source of minerals and vitamins are vegetables. Those with darker leaves or skin have higher antioxidant content than others but they all provide us with necessary vitamins and minerals. Kale, asparagus, green beans, celery, spinach and peas are some examples of health giving vegetables. Your body also can benefit from the nutrients that carrots, eggplant squash, mushrooms and yams give.
As for fruits, the same goes for the darker colored ones. They have higher antioxidant content. Your good options are oranges, pears, fig, apples, bananas, raspberries, watermelon and grapes. Most berries have good nutritional value but acai berry seems to have the highest including antioxidant content.
What to look for in meat, dairy and fish are those that are low in cholesterol and fat. Choose lamb, lean beef, chicken breast, venison and turkey when you eat meat. Among fishes cod, shrimp, tuna and scallops are the best. Good choices for the dairy group are yogurt, low-fat cheese and eggs.
Eating grains and nuts is also very important. Your body needs the extra protein and carbohydrates found in nuts and grains. Flaxseeds, almonds, peanuts, extra virgin olive oil, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds are good for the health and quite tasty too. You can find grain products in bread, barley, buckwheat, corn, rye, oats and whole wheat. White bread is inferior to whole grain products so you can leave it off from your diet.
Stay away from sugar. Many delicious food are sweetened by sugar to make it sweet and savory. Sugar can make more harm than good to your body so choose foods that have natural sweeteners like honey, molasses and maple syrup. These naturally sweetened food still tastes good and is beneficial for your health.
You can make food more flavorful by adding spices. Instead of sweetening food with sugar, try combining it with dill, basil, pepper, peppermint, cilantro, black pepper, oregano, rosemary, thyme and sage.
Many people drink soda and other non health promoting beverages because of its savoury flavor. Most of these beverages contain sugar and caffeine which are both not good for the body. Opt for water to hydrate your body because it is the best in terms of health. For beverages, a good choice is green tea because it is packed with the powerful antioxidant EGCG.
