Top Ten Power Packed Foods
What is the secret to a long and healthy life? It is in the food that we eat. As you well know, all foods are not created equal. Choosing and eating the right foods may help increase your life expectancy as well as the quality of your life.
Here are ten of the top power packed foods designed to give you energy, vitality and all around good health!
1. Beans – If they give you gas, take precautions before you eat them. Soaking them first can help. Beans of all kinds (kidney, navy, lentils, chickpeas, Northern) are high in protein. This is plant protein so it contains very little fat, carbs and calories. If fiber is a problem in your diet, eating a healthy portion of beans each day can keep your digestive system healthy.
2. Oatmeal – Oatmeal is coming into popularity as a food that lowers blood cholesterol. You can make it yourself with rolled oats or eat the instant kind if you are in a hurry. Oatmeal is a filling grain that also provides much needed fiber to keep hunger at bay and your blood sugar constant.
3. Fruits – Fruits are filled with antioxidants such as Vitamin C and A. Antioxidants fight free radical damage in the body and reduce the risk of cancer. Berries such as blueberries and grapes have the highest amount of antioxidants. But choose an array of fruits in a wide variety of colors for maximum health. The antioxidants in fruit boost the immune system to fight the effects of aging in the body.
4. Allium foods – This class of foods includes garlic, onions, leeks and shallots. Garlic is known for lowering cholesterol. Allium vegetables healp guard the body against the risk of cancer and many other ailments. They also help lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots. Eating these power packed vegetables in their natural state especially garlic increases their health benefits.
5. Salmon – Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of heart disease and other conditions like atherosclerosis. Wild salmon is a fatty fish but it contains good fats that has been proven to improve health in children and adults. Salmon is rich in protein which is of great use after an exercise session to build muscle tissue.
6. Flax seed – Like salmon it contains omega-3 fatty acids. These seeds also contain omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. You get a lot of power to fight high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes with this seed. Ground flax seed can be added to fruit smoothies, sprinkled in yogurt, eaten with cereal or added to pancake mix to name a few.
7. Peppers – Peppers are colorful. They contain antioxidants like beta-carotene and Vitamin C. Peppers range from mild and sweet to so hot you’ll be calling the fire department. All peppers contain a substance called capsaicin. Capsaicin has the properties of an anti-inflammatory, a pain reliever, lowers cancer risk and heart disease. They are good in salads, salsa and all sorts of dishes.
8. Nuts and seeds – Nuts are high in fat but those fats are the good kind. Peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and pistachios are all providers of good fats and protein. Crush them into a fine powder and use as a coating instead of higher carb bread crumbs. Nuts help to lower cholesterol. Eat them right out of the shell with no additives.
9. Açai – This berry has been in the news lately. It is rich in antioxidants and increases energy. You can get more done and look better while doing it. You can get Acai juice and supplements in your health food store.
10. Yogurt – The fat free variety is good for you. Yogurt contains calcium, Vitamin B, and protein. If you don’t drink milk, yogurt is an alternative to get your calcium in to build strong bones and teeth. Live yogurt also contains friendly bacteria to help promote a healthy digestive system.
Building a better healthier body begins with what you eat. Try these super foods to get started on the right foot.
“I’ve been on a diet for two weeks and all I’ve lost is two weeks.”
- Totie Fields
Diet’s don’t work. What did you do to change your way of life? Did you start exercising? Did you get rid of the deep fried foods? Did you lose the take-out?
The word diet is about how we eat, but unfortunately it has a negative connotation it doesn’t deserve. Diet is how we eat, period. It’s not atkins, weight watchers or jenny craig
Health food always is good for us! I try eat health every day, but its kinda expensive! I found out, Spinash, Eggs, Apples, Squash, and Blueberries are excelent for be health. Just the Blueberry is a little be expensive. Try it, you gonna see the results soon than you think !!
Buying foods that are in season will help a lot with the cost. Also if you are looking for fruits and vegetables, try farmers markets instead of the grocery stores. You can buy in blueberries in bulk during the season and freeze them youself
Save a lot of money!
Beans really aren’t too healthy for you no matter what the type. The acai berry hasn’t been proven to be of great worth. I’d steer clear of it until more study has been done. I personally think it’s a modern snake oil scam.
Beans are a very healthy protein option. For those with high cholesterol, it can mean a big difference in their numbers to go more towards a vegetarian diet. Also for vegetarians there is the worry of them not getting enough protein if they don’t research their diet. Plus they are high in fiber.
If you read again what I said about the acai berry, you will see that I did not hype it up to cure all like so many ads do. Do some quick research and you’ll see it’s full of antioxidants and does have energy qualities. I can vouch for the energy qualities myself when I’ve taken it.
It is important for you to ingest foods and drinks with high amounts of protein. Protein is broken down by your body in order to fuel muscles and to promote the body’s various systems. Different foods offer their respective amounts of protein, so it is important to check nutritional information. Additional protein can be ingested via health bars, weight training supplements, and sports nutrition supplements.
Vitamins and minerals are a vital component of a healthy diet. Vitamins and minerals facilitate the body’s functions and potential. For instance, vitamin B complex can help the body burn carbohydrates and vitamin C contributes to skin and eye health. A balanced diet offers a lot of vitamins and minerals, yet isolated dietary vitamins are available to those who need help finding all needed nutrients.
Some people are amazed to find soft drinks, sodas, and other refreshments negatively influence their diets. In some cases, a drink such as a ‘shake’ can contain just as many calories as a meal in addition to a ton of fat calories. Drinks can definitely add inches to your waist, so search for health drinks. If you’re a person who enjoys drinks as snacks, then consider pre-mixed nutritional drinks or get a blender and experiment with fruits and vegetables.
Drinks are a definite diet killer. It is very easy to take in over your daily calorie allowance in drinks alone, let alone adding your meals into your day. High calorie drinks should always include some form of protein in them and should be a meal replacement. Or taken from your diet except as a major treat every once in a while.
I’m seeking to get yourself a multivitamin. I am desiring to obtain a liquid vitamin. Is there a very good product or better location to buy them from. Any assist will be significantly appreciated.
I shop a lot locally. Living in Seattle I have a ton of natural food stores to choose from. I would recommend doing a search and seeing what you have. Whole Foods is a good option for many.
strong bones can only be obtained by taking lots of calcium and magnesium supplements and daily exercise:~`
I disagree whole heartily that the only way to obtain strong bones is by taking supplements. There are plenty of foods rich in calcium and magnesium that are also needed for other nutrition in our body. Don’t forget the vitamin D for calcium absorption as well.
Also, not just any exercise will do. Weight bearing exercise is needed and especially impact exercises that cause a slight stress (or stronger depending on your health) on your bones and cause them to heal stronger. That is the basis for exercise, is breaking our body down so it will heal stronger and be stronger for the next time it completes the movement.
Thank you for sharing this great aritcle! I think that it is important to have a good balanced diet. I love yougart I eat it everyday. I also love oatmeal it is a great breakfast and then I have yougart of a snack.
You definately do not need to take extra supplements to get stong bones, calcium rich foods is a much more healthy and natural way to achieve this.