Why should I eat healthily? This is the question that many people ask themselves every day. It’s such a chore and so hard to find healthy foods that actually taste good.
There are many reasons why we should eat healthy foods though, the most important being that eating a healthy, balanced diet provides us with nutrients. Nutrients give you energy; keep your heart beating, your brain active and your muscles working. Let’s not forget that improving your eating habits will help you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. We all know that eating healthy can be rather tricky and hard to stick to, but with this list of top 10 delicious, healthy foods, it’s hard to go wrong.
1. Cucumber
One wouldn’t think that cucumber would be on the list, because it has not received as much press as other vegetables for its health benefits, but you would be surprised at how much goodness comes from this delicious vegetable. Cucumbers have three main types of phytonutrients in them; cucurbiticains, lignans, and flavonoids, these provide us with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti- cancer benefits.
2. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a treasure of riches when it comes to their antioxidant benefits. Eating tomatoes reduces your risk of heart disease, has great anti cancer benefits, and the rich antioxidant provided in them is important for bone health.
Brain food
3. Salmon
Salmon is a health-supportive food, based on its unusual omega 3- fatty acid content. The benefits of this involve improved control of the body’s inflammatory process, better overall cell function, improved transfer of information between the body’s cell, and better brain function. Eating salmon can also decrease the risk of heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia and high triglycerides in the blood.
4. Broccoli
Broccoli is known as the “cancer fighting food”; eating broccoli stimulates the body to create natural cancer fighting substances, and having this in your diet has been known to prevent a number of different types of cancer. It is high in antioxidants and loaded with vitamin C, calcium and folic acid. It is one of the most nutrient-dense foods known, it offers an incredibly high level of nutrition and is low in calories.
5. Yoghurt
We eat yoghurt because we like it, but many of us have forgotten that it actually has a huge variety of health benefits. Although yogurt has a great list of nutrients in it such as calcium, iodine, protein, vitamin B12, zinc and potassium, some of the most interesting health information about yoghurt actually comes from a different context – its inclusion of live bacteria. The live bacterial cultures in yoghurt may help you live longer, as it boosts the immune system and this will increase resistance to immune-related diseases. Yoghurt may also help prevent osteoporosis, lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of high blood pressure.
6. Olive Oil
This popular Mediterranean flavour is good on salads, pasta, fish and almost anything else. Olive oil has become a legendary culinary oil with hard to match health benefits. It contains monounsaturated (good) fats, which lower your risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer. People who tend to get more fat from monounsaturated sources like olive oil and less from saturated and trans fat have lower incidences of heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer and asthma. Make sure you buy Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which is the least processed and contains more polyphenols (antioxidants).
7. Green tea
Green tea is rich in health-promoting flavonoids including cetchins and their derivatives. It prevents high cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, liver disease, weight loss and the antioxidants found in the green tea help dilate the blood vessels, making them more flexible and less prone to clogging – resulting in a healthy heart. Don’t forget to drink your tea freshly brewed and try to incorporate two-to-three cups into your balanced diet.
Strawberries . . . juicy, sweet and good for you
8. Strawberries
Strawberries don’t seem like they would have many health benefits in them, because they are so delicious and sweet, but you would be surprised. Due to their unique combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients there are health benefits in three major areas; cardiovascular support and prevention of cardiovascular diseases (affecting the heart and blood vessels), Prevention of certain cancer types such as breast, cervical, colon and oesophageal cancer, and improved regulation of blood sugar, with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.
9. Garlic
Garlic is rich in a variety of powerful sulphur-containing compounds including thiosulfates and sulfoxides. While these compounds are responsible for garlic’s pungent odour, they are also the source of many of its health promoting effects. Garlic is also an excellent source of vitamin B6 and vitamin C, and a good source of selenium. The top level benefits come in the form of blood cell and blood vessel protection from inflammatory and oxidative stress. Garlic also has anti-cancer benefits. To maximise health benefits you should crush garlic and let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. This triggers an enzyme reaction that boosts the healthy compounds in garlic.
10. Apples
You know the old saying, “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”? Well, this has proven true with apples being extremely high in antioxidants and they contain high amounts of vitamin C and fibre. Apples aid in lowering cholesterol, they prevent numerous types of cancer, and have health benefits related to many other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, asthma and diabetes.
So there it is… the top 10 list of extremely healthy and most delicious foods. They are nice and easy to get your hands on, and you can incorporate them in your everyday cooking, or just snack on them, after all a healthy body means a healthy mind.
Happy eating! – By Danielle Sheedy
For more information on health visit:
www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php
www.thelifeco.com/cok-okunanlar.aspx?id=478
www.actabit.com/healthiest-foods
www.livestrong.com/article/384464-why-should-we-eat-healthy/