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We’ve all heard about superfoods – foods with mystical powers to cure whatever it is that ails you and that will help you live forever. Umm…okay, sure. The list I’m going to give you is a bit different. These are foods that you should be eating even though they haven’t been touted as the next great miracle cure. These are just some of the foods that are in my pantry and fridge all the time, foods that have helped me lose weight and feel great.
1. Oats: I love oats! I eat them every morning for breakfast, whether it be my or my all-time favorite, . The reason I eat oatmeal for breakfast is because it keeps me feeling full for hours. Oatmeal is full of soluble fiber, which helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. But I don’t recommend buying the pre-packaged, instant stuff, it’s usually loaded with added sugar and the oats are over-processed. Try to use the whole rolled oats or steel-cut oats.
2. Blueberries: Oatmeal by itself is no fun, you’ve got to add some healthy flavor to it. I like to add organic blueberries on top of my morning oatmeal. Why blueberries? Because blueberries have more antioxidants than most other fruits and vegetables, making them a powerhouse fighter against heart-disease, cancer, and memory loss. Try to eat them raw though as cooking them destroys valuable vitamin C.
3. Beans: “Beans, beans are good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you…” I know you have all heard that saying before. My kids say it every time I serve beans at dinnertime. Beans are good for your heart thanks in large part to their soluble fiber, which soaks up cholesterol so the body can dispose of it before it sticks to your arteries! Beans also contain more protein than any other plant food, but it’s an incomplete protein, so make sure to to complete the protein any time you eat it.
4. Kale: If you are like me and are afraid to try kale, stop worrying, it’s actually quite good. I was afraid to try it for so long. I thought it would be strong tasting and hard to eat. But I’ve found many ways to eat it where you can hardly taste it. I each day, , or sauté it in olive oil and garlic. The fiber (5 grams in one cup) and sulfur in kale aid with digestion and liver health. The Vitamin C it contains hydrates your body and increases your metabolism, leading to weight loss and healthy blood sugar levels. The fiber in kale also lowers cholesterol. So if you’re not eating kale…go buy some!
5. Almond Butter: I am in love with almond butter. I used to love peanut butter, but I recently found out that I’m intolerant to peanuts (bummer, I know!), so I switched to almond butter…and I’m so glad I did. Almond butter has less saturated fat than peanut butter, but it also has 2x more magnesium and fiber, 692% more calcium, 86% more iron, and 169% more vitamin E! Make sure to buy the “natural” almond butter that has only 1 ingredient…ALMONDS!
6. Cinnamon: Another flavor enhancer I use a lot is cinnamon. Yep, you guessed it, I add it to my daily oatmeal. But I also add it to many of my favorite recipes, including these healthy and these . Cinnamon is one of the most powerful healing spices. It’s become most famous for it’s ability to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
7. Walnuts: Most nuts are healthy for us provided that you eat them raw and “unsalted.” But walnuts are especially healthy because of their high levels of omega-3’s which help counter inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. They also contain more antioxidants than any other nut. I like to sprinkle some chopped walnuts on top our side salad at dinnertime.
8. Quinoa: Although referred to as a grain, it is actually a seed from a vegetable related to Swiss chard, spinach and beets. It is a high-quality protein with 9 essential amino acids. It’s also low in calories and gluten-free, which is great for those with gluten allergies. I’ve actually replaced all of our rice with quinoa. For a protein-packed meal, try my !
9. Garlic: Garlic has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Most of its disease-fighting potential comes from its sulfur compounds, which act as antioxidants, providing many of its cardiovascular benefits. Just six or more cloves of garlic a week can slash your risk of colorectal, stomach and prostate cancer in half compared to eating one clove a week or less. I add a clove or two of garlic to most of our dinners, which is why most of my dinnertime will include garlic in them.
10. Green Tea: If you , you probably saw my post about my nightly routine of drinking tea. Personally, I love Sleepytime tea, but another tea I like to drink is green tea. Unlike most teas where you steep the tea bag in some hot water, I actually add to my daily smoothie. Matcha powder is way more powerful than loose leaf green tea, it’s like 10 cups of green tea in 1 tsp! Green tea contains powerful antioxidants that help with your bone health, oral health, weight loss, and cancer prevention.
Obviously this list is just some of the healthy foods I like to consume on a daily or weekly basis. If you have any questions about this article, please leave a comment or .
I would love to know what some of your favorite healthy foods are. Please leave a comment below
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