- (Note - Being vegan, we disagree with
the addition of yogurt to the list....all dairy is unhealthy for a variety
of reasons. See www.notmilk.com. If yogurt is eaten, at least make
- certain it is organic...the same with
eggs. - ed)
-
- You can't go wrong when you make room
for more healthy foods in your diet. Unlike the worst foods you can eat,
these are foods that have a great taste and are good for you. Adding them
to your daily routine is a great idea, whether you want to get in shape
for the summer swimsuit season, to lose weight or just get a little bit
healthier. Of course, these aren't all of the best foods you can eat (that
list would be too long), but it's a great place to start.
-
- Almonds -- While walnuts contain up to 90% of the recommended daily amount
of omega-3 fatty acids per serving, almonds are very high in monounsaturated
fats, which have also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. They
are high in calcium and fiber, low in saturated fats and are very
satisfying. A great way to incorporate more almonds into your diet is by
using a natural almond butter on your toast or in sandwiches, instead of
a processed peanut butter, which may have sugars, stabilizers and hydrogenated
fats added to it.
-
- Oatmeal -- Oatmeal is high in soluble fiber, protein, vitamins B1, B12
and E and is low in fat. It has been shown to lower cholesterol when eaten
regularly, and has been associated with the reduced risk of many cancers,
including colon cancer. Steel cut oats, which are made by cutting a whole
oat groat (the most nutritious form) into a few pieces, are the best way
to get the maximum benefit from your oatmeal, but regular rolled oats are
a good choice, too. Avoid instant oatmeals and, if plain is too boring,
top a bowl with any kind of fruit or some of your own spices.
-
- Yogurt -- Yogurt is high in calcium, potassium, and many vitamins.
Yogurt forms when bacteria transforms lactose into lactic acid, meaning
that yogurt products are much better suited for people with lactose intolerance
than other types of dairy - but it is definitely best to choose yogurts
with live active cultures as opposed to super-processed ones. Buy plain
yogurt and add your own sweeteners. Plain low fat yogurt can be used
as a substitute for higher fat cream or sour cream in dips and dressings
and topped with fruit and honey for breakfast or dessert.
-
- Dark chocolate -- Every time you turn around someone is saying
something else about the health benefits of dark chocolate. It has antioxidant
flavinoids which come from cocoa, not the fat, in the bar. This means
that the darker the bar, the better. There have been indicators that milk
may interfere with the absorption of these antioxidants, which is what
makes dark chocolate a better choice than milk chocolate.
-
- Berries -- All fruits are good for you, but since only one type can make
the list, berries are it. Berries include anything that ends with "berries,"
as well as bananas and avocados. They are high in fiber and excellent
sources of vitamin C, zinc, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium. Since
they taste so good, they're easy to incorporate into your diet. Add avocados
to salads, blueberries to yogurt and bananas to cereal. Even if you're
having something decadent, like ice cream, toss in a handful of berries,
too!
-
- Chard (or swiss chard) -- This vegetable was a tough choice because
so many have so many nutritional benefits. Second place goes to sweet potatoes,
but chard takes the nutritional cake. It is low in calories and packed
with: Thiamin, Folate, Phosphorus, Zinc , Dietary Fiber, Vitamins A, C,
E, K and B6, Riboflavin, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper
and Manganese. The easiest way to prepare chard is by sauteing it until
just tender with a bit of garlic.
-
- Eggs -- Eggs may have a fair amount of cholesterol in the yolks, but
each large egg has only 70 calories (on average) and approximately 4.5
grams of fat. They have approximately 10% the recommended daily amount
of protein, mostly coming from the egg white, and a nearly perfect balance
of amino acids. Eggs also have a nutrient called choline, which it thought
to improve brain function and memory. If you're watching your cholesterol, instead
of using two eggs, use one egg and two whites in your next scramble
or omelet. To make it really good for you, go easy on the cheese and
top your eggs with a healthy helping of salsa!
-
- Salsa -- Salsas are basically sauces comprised of chopped fresh
vegetables, often including tomatoes, peppers and onions, but almost anything
can go into them. Picking salsa is, admittedly, a sneaky way to add
more than one vegetable to an 8-item list, too. Salsas are flavorful, low
in fat and calories and very satisfying - a much better choice for topping
tortilla chips, meats and other dishes than cheese (or "cheese sauce")!
If you add avocado, you'll be adding some natural fats, but also a whole
lot of potassium, fiber and vitamin C.
-
- http://www.slashfood.com/2006/05/08/slashfood-ate-8-best-foods-you-can-eat
|
