Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a magical ‘all-in-one’ vegetable or fruit that will give you all the nutrients, health benefits, and energy you need in a single bite. A healthy eating lifestyle requires a combination of fruits, vegetables, dairy, proteins, and grains to keep your body moving, healthy, and strong. Although there are more than a hundred varieties of vegetables and fruits on the market to choose from, there are certain foods that can have extra nutritional benefits to keep your body going through the day. A healthy eating lifestyle can be beneficial for everyone, but is especially critical for those recovering from a physical or mental health injury. Providing your body with nutrient dense foods will support the work your body and mind are doing throughout this process. The next time you decide to try eating something new, or need a brain-boosting, or energising snack, add one of these superfoods to your eating lifestyle.
Dark Leafy Greens
Dark leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, cabbage, or bok choy are renowned for their excellent source of nutrients. They are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including folate, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin C and fibre. Although dark leafy greens may have a bitter flavour to people’s tastebuds, leafy greens have great potential to reduce your risk of chronic illnesses, prevent constipation and promote healthy regularity in your body. If the idea of a serve of leafy greens is not appealing, try adding a handful to a smoothie, or an omelette.
Berries
Berries are not only naturally sweet and are high in fibre, but they are also nutritional combustions of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for your body. The strong antioxidants in berries may reduce the risk of heart disease and other inflammatory diseases. Additionally, berries are also effective in treating various digestive and immune-related disorders. Berries, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries are not only an extremely delicious snack, but are also low in calories. If fresh berries aren’t available at the grocery store, try buying a packet of frozen berries as a good substitute and creating a delicious and healthy smoothie.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is the happiness you can eat at any time of day. The good news is, unlike milk or white chocolate, the cacao in dark chocolate (preferably 70% or more of cacao), is full of antioxidants that may reduce heart disease and help with weight loss. The higher the cacao rate is in chocolate, the greater the health benefits may be, such as cognition improvement, preventing memory loss, and boosting your mood. Just as with any food source, eating in moderation is key.
Eggs
To put all the eggs in the one basket, despite the controversial topic that they may have high cholesterol, eggs are one of the healthiest foods on the market. Whole eggs are incredibly rich in antioxidants, including zeaxanthin and lutein, which are renowned for protecting vision and improving eye health, and contain several nutrients, including iron, vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin D. Eggs are extremely powerful for providing protein for your body, and recent research has discovered that eating eggs on a regular basis may reduce insulin resistance and reduce body fat.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a natural oil that is extracted from the fruit of olive trees and is considered a healthy fat. Apart from the beneficial fatty acids’ olive oil has, it is also rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin E, and vitamin K that may help fight serious diseases such as arthritis, or metabolic syndrome. Adding a splash of olive oil to your cooking may reduce inflammation in your body, and your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Healthy sources of fat are just as important to healthy eating as good sources of protein and carbohydrate.
Sweet Potato
Sweet potato is a healthy carbohydrate, and a type of root vegetable that may provide energy to the body. Apart from their delicious flavour, sweet potatoes also have many nutrients, including potassium, fibre, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Eating a sweet potato may also reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Despite their sweet-natured name and taste, sweet potatoes do not increase blood sugar and may be a vital ingredient for supporting your immune system, skin, vision, bones, and reproductive health. Just like a white potato, they can be prepared in any number of ways – steamed, mashed, baked are all delicious options.
The Benefit
Achieving a healthy eating lifestyle is about more than focusing on one or two healthy ingredients to add to your plate. A healthy eating lifestyle is about supporting your body by eating a variety of nutritious foods and ingredients every day. You can help your body ward off diseases, become healthier, and gain the natural benefits of these ingredients through the use of healthy eating, and adding superfood ingredients to your meal.
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