Since 2012 has just begun, why not make a resolution to start incorporating the 5 healthiest foods into your diet?
Black rice is now being considered one of the new superfoods. It contains very high levels of health-boosting antioxidants, which are also found in blueberries called anthocyanins. To compare the two, if you took a spoonful of black rice bran and a spoonful of blueberries, the bran would have more antioxidants. Antioxidants are important for neutralizing any free radicals in the body that can cause damage to the cells and also cause chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Beet greens are the top leafy portions of beetroots, which can be steamed or stir-fried with olive oil, garlic, and lemon, or can also be added to different soups, into risotto, quiches or stir-fries. These are very rich in vitamin C and one cup contains at least 60 percent of the recommended daily intake. Vitamin C helps to support immune function and also helps in wound healing.
Beet greens also contain beta-carotene, which is found largely in carrots and helps to aid in healthy eyesight and gums.
If you’re thinking about having a baby, beet greens are also great for pre-pregnancy diets since they have a lot of folate and iron.
Kefir is considered to be a probiotic food and is a fermented milk drink that contains more than 30 beneficial bacteria. Kefir in your diet will promote a healthy balance of intestinal flora, which can help to improve digestion, boost immune health, and help to produce vitamins B12 and K. Kefir also gives a healthy dose of calcium and magnesium, which looks after the nervous system and vitamins A and D, which support immune functioning. Kefir is also rich in protein and the amino acid, tryptophan, which is found in turkey and known to have a calming effect to help aid in sleep support.
LSA, which is a combination of ground linseeds, sunflower seeds, and almonds, is an easy variety to add into meals for extra nutrients. LSA, is very rich in protein and helps to keep blood-sugar levels low and also to curb the sugar cravings that can arise.
LSA also provides a good amount of omega-3 healthy fats, which promote a healthy heart and brain function since it contains important minerals such as calcium, zinc and magnesium. If you have cereal in the morning, think about adding this to it.
Purple berries have about a 50 percent higher count of antioxidants than any other given berry. These include: acai, elderberry, blackcurrant and chokeberry. The dark purple color that they have indicates that they are full of antioxidants called anthocyanins. These are also rich in vitamins A and C, which help to boost the immune system. Also, these will help to protect from chronic diseases as previously mentioned, cardiovascular disease and cancer but also help to slow down the aging process.
Printer-friendly version