Most of us know that we need to eat well, but some foods are more nutritious than others. If you want to get healthy, here are some superfoods to orient your diet around.
Berries, besides tasting great, are wonderful for our bodies. They are high in fiber, which helps our digestion. But more importantly, they are full of antioxidants, which have been shown to fight disease. That’s because they are energized by the sun, which creates polyphenols that have a powerful antioxidant effect on our bodies. When it comes to berries, the darker, the better. The darker berries, like blackberries and red grapes, are higher in vitamin C and those mighty polyphenols.
We should also try to eat leafy greens every day. Yes, they make a good base for a salad, but greens, like spinach and kale, can be added to stir-fries, stews, beans, and more. You can even make a bed of leafy greens and pour your lentil stew or other savory dish on top of them! Delicious! Leafy greens are high in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and phytochemicals. Out of the leafy greens, darker is also better, so chard and kale are the best to eat. On the other hand, iceberg lettuce has very little nutritional value.
Cruciferous vegetables include cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, turnips, and brussel sprouts. They are superdense in nutrients, high in fiber, and rich in vitamins that help detoxify our bodies.
Whole grains are also essential to our diet because they contain many nutrients, including fiber, vitamin B, vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, iron, and phosphorous. The soluble fiber in whole grains also acts as a prebiotic. Whole grains help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, so they are good for people with diabetes. They have even been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 16%. We should be looking to eat rye, oatmeal, amaranth, quinoa, and whole wheat flour. When baking, switch to whole wheat to increase your intake of whole grains. Bleached flour is not as nutritious.
For protein, your primary source should be beans and lentils. Some examples are black beans, peas, red lentils, garbanzo beans, and kidney beans. These lentils and beans will give you a fantastic source of protein without the animal fat that clogs up your arteries and veins. Using beans and lentils as your primary protein source also introduces nutrients to your body you wouldn’t get from eating animal protein alone. With lentils and beans, you also don’t have to worry about the antibiotics and other chemicals found in meat.
Another protein-rich food is nuts. Nuts are great to snack on a few times a week. They are full of protein, minerals, vitamins, and monounsaturated fats. But they are calorie-dense, so be careful!
If you do eat meat, fish is best. Fish is still high in toxins, especially mercury, but it is a lean source of protein with omega fatty acids that are healthy for us. Avoid red meat because it is full of chemicals and cancer-causing. Also, avoid chicken and eggs because they are high in cholesterol.
The other superfoods you should eat at least once a week are carrots, bananas, cucumbers, and garlic. Bananas have calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. Garlic is a potent antioxidant.
If you can plan meals around these superfoods, you will see an amazing improvement in your health. When you combine superfoods with alkaline ionized water, your body will get the hydration, antioxidants, and nutrition that it needs to function at its highest potential. Plus, you’ll look and feel great!
