When you go to a typical grocery store you will see an absolute bombardment of so-called healthy foods. All-natural this, diet that, it is enough to make your head spin. So, how do you weed through all the choices and find what you should actually eat?
While there are no hard and fast rules for healthy eating, you should get a good mix of food and eat as balanced of a diet as possible. There are also certain foods that many dietitians consider standbys. These foods are ones that they will recommend be eaten every day along with proper diet and exercise.
Here are six foods that, according to many dietitians, should be made into a staple in your daily diet:
Walnuts are a great food for everyday snacking and can even be added to yogurt and cereals to jazz up the flavor. A handful of raw organic walnuts provide a wealth of benefits, as well as a mouthful of pure taste delight. In addition to a number of vital vitamins and nutrients, walnuts also contain a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
In fact, a recent study found that eating 43 grams of walnuts a day for eight weeks reduced non-HDL cholesterol significantly in elderly patients. This means a significant decrease in coronary heart risk.
Beans and Peas
Beans and peas are a cost effective way to help you with weight loss. These plant based proteins help fill you up and provide you with a number of health benefits as well and because there are so many types they are a versatile tool that can be used with almost every meal.
Studies show that just ¾ of a cup of beans and peas each day can help you with weight loss and help improve your cardiovascular system. Great taste and heart health, what more could you ask for?
Kale offers very low calories and an almost overabundance of vitamins and other nutrients. Vitamins C, K, and even folate are all packed into kale. This leafy green vegetable even helps ward off type 2 diabetes.
Kale can easily be enjoyed by incorporating the veggie into your salads. You can also add some to your eggs in the morning or make kale chips by mixing some pieces of kale in extra virgin olive oil and then roasting them in your oven. Lightly salt for the perfect anytime snack.
Yogurt is an absolute daily must for both men and women alike. Yogurt is a great food to grab on the go and it promotes pro-biotic growth in the stomach, which can be especially important for women. In addition, yogurt is packed with vitamins B2, B12, calcium, and potassium.
Yogurt is also easy to incorporate into your diet. Add your favorite yogurt to some fruit and low fat milk for a delicious and natural smoothie. Or, just eat it as a standalone at least once a day.
When made the right way popcorn is a great low calorie snack that is gluten free. It is rich in fiber and antioxidants and has even been linked to reducing the chances of getting specific types of cancer. Just be sure you are choosing the right type of popcorn.
Instead of buying that calorie rich and fat laden movie style microwave popcorn, opt for hot air popped kernels. Or, use a bit of extra virgin olive oil to help you pop those kernels on your stove top.
The old adage goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Actually, that is very close as it might just help you keep your weight gain away. Apples are very high in fiber, especially in the peel, which means eating apples makes you feel full. When you feel full you eat less and tend to lose weight.
This is in addition to the many vitamins and minerals that apples contain. And, because there are so many different types of apples to choose from, you will not get bored with them. Go for a Red Delicious one day a Granny Smith the next and then go from there. When it comes to apples, you can’t go wrong.
Daily is the Key
One of the keys to being healthy is what you eat. This means incorporating these foods in your daily diet and making sure you eat them in some form each and every day. While it may seem tedious at first you will easily learn to incorporate these foods into your daily routine and quite likely even start to look forward to them.
Fortunately, all of these foods are easy to find and relatively inexpensive. With all the benefits that they offer, it is really no wonder why so many dieticians swear by these foods.