Adding healthy food to our everyday diet has many more added health benefits than speedy weight loss and building lean muscle. You will find that many act as a great detoxifier, source of calcium, source of omega-3 fatty acids or act as anti-cancer agents making them great for clean eating habits. Implementing certain healthy foods into your everyday diet can aid you in long term healthy living by giving your body important nutrients. Here are a few examples of healthy foods that many people will pass up in the store that deserve a second look.
Cabbage: This inexpensive and humble leafy vegetable offers you a good source of Vitamin C, potassium, calcium, folic acid, and magnesium. This healthy food is also a good source of the amino acid glutamine which increases the body’s ability to create human growth hormone (HGH). Its anti-inflammatory properties assist with intestinal health and immune system regulation. Studies have indicated that increased cabbage intake offers anti-cancer properties by increasing antioxidant defense mechanisms. Include it in your healthy food diet by adding it to soup, salad, a Chinese dish or steamed!
Wheat Bran: The nutritional benefits of this healthy diet food is undisputed. One cup of wheat bran contains 99% of the US recommended daily allowance (RDA) of fiber as well as 34% of the RDA for iron and 9 grams of protein, making it a popular bulk laxative. It doesn’t stop there! Wheat bran also is high in magnesium, manganese, niacin, zinc, vitamin B6 and phosphorous. With no sugar, sodium or cholesterol, studies have shown it to also function as an anti-cancer agent promoting women’s health and gastrointestinal health. This low fat healthy food ingredient is great for adding to muffins, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, bread and porridge. When finely powdered, this healthy food ingredient can be added to smoothies and yogurt.
Greek Yogurt: Superior to the standard yogurt, Greek Yogurt is higher in protein, lower in carbohydrates, thicker, creamier and lower in sodium. One cup of standard yogurt has around 12 grams of protein, whereas Greek yogurt averages around 20 grams! This healthy diet food offers valuable nutrients such as calcium for strong bones and osteoporosis prevention. The live cultures found in it inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Greek Yogurt is great for breakfast or a mid-morning snack as well as a base for healthy salad dressings, sauces, smoothies and to replace cream ingredients.
Pink Salmon: This fish is low in saturated fat and high in protein. It offers us omega-3 essential fatty acid, a health-promoting fat essential for human health as it cannot be made by the body. Omega-3 also helps reduce inflammation of the arteries and digestive system, reduce chances of cancer of the colon, prostate and kidneys, add shining to eyes, skin hair and nails, improve skin texture and help in the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon. Aside from being higher in omega-3 fatty acids than other warm water fish, it also is an excellent source of selenium, magnesium, digestible proteins (amino acids), niacin, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6. Pink salmon promotes proper cardio vascular health, eye care, effective body metabolism and muscle and tissue development.
Broccoli: A close relative of cabbage and cauliflower, this green vegetable can be eaten raw or cooked, but the best ways are to steam them or shallow fry them or eat them raw as salad. This is because it helps preserve the nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, Vitamin E, zinc, potassium and certain amino acids. Did you know these are also good anti-cancer agents? The nutrients of this healthy food also make it a very good detoxifier, keeping away problems related with toxins such as arthritis, rheumatism, gout, itches, boils, rashes, renal calculi and hardening of the skin. It is very rich in fiber or roughage, making it the best thing to help cure almost all stomach disorders by curing constipation. Some of its other health benefits include healthy skin, immunity, bone healthy, pregnancy nutrition, regulates high blood pressure and protects eyes from Macular degeneration, cataract and repairs damages from UV radiations. Try steaming broccoli, placing it in the blender and making it a puree with light seasoning as a side for your entree.
