10 of the Healthiest Foods on the Planet
The idea and experience of food elicit as wide a range of responses as there are human beings. To some, it is purely a necessity, while to others it offers the experience of luxury and entertainment. Regardless of your personal opinion about and relationship with food, it’s hard to argue with how incredibly important it is to human existence since food always has been and will always be the gateway to health — be it good or bad — for you and your family.
Achieving optimum health through the foods you eat is not a science fiction ideal, especially if you make sure to get your produce and meat from organic sources.
From drinking ginger root tea to adding a little garlic to a delicious kale salad, you really can make your body hum like a well-oiled machine, and some foods contribute to that reality more readily than others. Here is a look at some of the healthiest foods in the world and how they enhance your well-being.
Ginger Root
Ginger has been used for centuries as a digestive aid, and it can also bring relief to anyone suffering from nausea or vomiting. It’s also a noted anti-inflammatory and has been credited with stopping cancer cell growth.
Walnuts
High in protein and good fat, walnuts are an ideal food, especially when you’re on the go. One of the only non-fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids — credited with everything from heart health to alleviating depression — walnuts are also believed to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.
Apples
It turns out there is a reason for the old adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are incredibly rich in vitamins and antioxidants. From combating free radicals that lead to disease to lowering cholesterol levels, apples offer a lot in the way of health benefits. They even go to work on your teeth by assisting in plaque removal.
Broccoli
Broccoli, especially when it is consumed raw or lightly cooked, is a powerful food. Full of fiber, potassium, calcium and other important nutrients, consumption of broccoli has been credited with reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. It’s also so high in vitamin C that it’s effective in combating the common cold.
Sweet Potatoes
Shockingly good for you — especially when you eat the skin — sweet potatoes are a vitamin and nutrient factory. Rich in fiber, vitamins A, C and B6, iron, calcium, beta carotene — which is needed for the body to be able to process and utilize vitamin A — as well as complex carbohydrates, if you were stuck on a desert island and had only one food to eat the rest of your life, the sweet potato would be a good choice.
Avocado
More than 75 percent of the avocado’s calories come from fat, but because that fat is monounsaturated, you should eat it without fear. Everybody needs fats to think, metabolize, work, love and feel, and the fat in an avocado is the perfect kind. They are also full of fiber and vitamins B, K and E. Researchers have found a link between avocado consumption and low cholesterol, and some studies suggest that avocado can be instrumental in destroying certain kinds of oral cancer cells.
Kale
From detoxification to cancer-fighting properties, kale is a wonder cure that is just as good raw as it is cooked. It lowers blood pressure, is high in fiber and provides more than your daily allowance of vitamins K, A and C.
Lemons
The juice of just one lemon has more than your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Not only does vitamin C keep colds at bay, it also raises good cholesterol, fights depression and helps to strengthen bones. Lemons also may inhibit cancer cell growth, and they act as an anti-inflammatory.
Garlic
A very powerful antioxidant, garlic inhibits the growth of bacteria and even combats deadly E. coli. It also works to lower blood pressure and promote heart health.
Quinoa
A perfect grain, quinoa is high in protein and also provides necessary monounsaturated fat. It is known as an anti-inflammatory and offers a great grain alternative — especially for people who can’t have gluten.
Good health is only a handful of good foods away. Fill your daily diet with these and other rich-in-nutrients foods, and you’ll enjoy a lifetime of good health and good eating.
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