In this world of processed foods, preservatives and supermarket shelves chock full of junk foods, it’s important to know that there are some foods out there that are truly healthy for you. The problem that we face is having to sift through all of the misconceptions, half-truths and outright lies about the foods that we eat. No wonder why people are confused about healthy eating when we are told to “Eat Cheerios to help lower your cholesterol.” Or “Three or more glasses of skim milk a day are a great way to lose weight”. In order to set the record straight, I have compiled a list of the Top 5 Healthiest Foods on Earth and how they are beneficial to living a long healthy life.
These five super foods are proven disease fighters and energy boosters.
Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer and depression. Eating just 3 ounces of salmon provides almost 50 percent of your daily dose of niacin which can help protect against Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.
A single red potato contains as much cell-building folate as one cup of spinach or broccoli. One sweet potato contain about 8 times the amount of cancer fighting And immune-boosting vitamin A that you require daily. Letting your potato cool before eating can help you burn close to 25 percent more fat after a meal due to a fat resistant starch.
3. Dark Chocolate
That’s right, I said dark chocolate. How could something that tastes so good also be good for you? Just 1 ounce daily can help reduce your blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals. The cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids, which are antioxidants that are shown to reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol and increase “good” HDL levels. Dark chocolate contains almost 4 times as much flavonoids as milk chocolate.
A single stalk of broccoli contains more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin K requirement and almost 200 percent of your recommended daily dose of vitamin C. These are two essential bone-building nutrients. It is also known to help stave off numerous cancers. To get the full benefit that broccoli has to offer, microwaving it will preserve up to 90 percent of its vitamin C while steaming or boiling holds on to just 66 percent of the nutrient.
Just one lemon provides you with more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin C requirements. It may also help raise your good cholesterol levels (HDL) and strengthen bones. Lemons contain Citrus flavonoids which can help inhibit the growth of cancer cells and act as an anti-inflammatory. Studies have shown that adding a slice of lemon to your green tea can increase your body’s ability to absorb the antioxidants in the tea by about 80 percent.
These are just a few of the truly healthy foods that you should incorporate into your diet every day. Not only do they provide long lasting health benefits for you, they taste great too.
Article by: Bruce Blaustein
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