If you want to be healthier, a fridge makeover may be just what you need. Here’s the list of top 10 foods with health benefits to add on your plate.
It just takes a simple move from your couch to fridge to stay healthy. Adding these nutritious foods to your everyday meal can be a game-changer for leading a healthy lifestyle. Experts at the Texas A&M Health Science Center reveal the top 10 foods that you need to munch on regularly to stay fit.
‘Include almonds, avocados, apples, beans, blueberries, broccoli, cranberries, leafy greens, oily fish and sweet potatoes frequently in your diet to lead a healthy lifestyle.
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Almonds Go nuts with this healthy snack. Adding a handful of this antioxidant to your daily diet can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. A study in the Nutrition Research Journal suggests that diet quality improves when eating the tear-shaped nuts on a consistent basis.
Apples
While eating an apple a day doesn't keep the doctor away on its own, they are a good source of dietary fiber for your diet. One study found that compounds from apples can help slow aging and extends the length of your life. Additionally, eating the white fruit more often can protect against stroke.
Avocados
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Beans
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Blueberries
Blueberries are abundant in anthocyanins, which give the fruit a blue pigment and are filled with antioxidants. Studies show that these anthocyanins help reduce and prevent chronic inflammation. Additionally, it's recently been suggested that increasing intake of blueberries can help with erectile dysfunction in men and short-term memory in children and elderly.
Broccoli
Add another scoopful of broccoli to your dinner plate tonight. This powerhouse vegetable contains many health benefits; it's high in vitamin C and folic acid, as well as a good source of fiber and potassium. One compound in the green giant called sulforaphane can fight and treat cancers and reduce inflammation in chronic diseases like heart disease. In order to get the most out of your broccoli, avoid freezing or boiling the vegetable.
Cranberries
Like broccoli, cranberries have a wealth of health benefits. While active ingredients in cranberries are well known for treating urinary tract infections, these same ingredients can prevent bacteria from sticking to your teeth. Additionally, cranberries can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease and various types of cancer.
Leafy greens
Spinach, kale and cabbage, often referred to as leafy greens, can pack a punch of health benefits if added to your diet. Filled with vitamins C, K and E, folate, carotenoids and fiber, studies show that leafy greens may help prevent cancer. For adults, the USDA recommends eating three to four cups of leafy greens weekly.
Oily fish
Oily fish is a great source of protein, low in fat and abundant in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis, lower blood pressure and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. The American Heart Association recommends eating 3.5 ounces of oily fish twice a week.
Sweet potatoes
While you might find this creamy orange vegetable on your dessert table at Thanksgiving, sweet potatoes have high nutritional value. Nutrients in the spud provide anti-cancer, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory benefits. Even more, the leaves of sweet potatoes can be treated like leafy greens and help reduce malnutrition.
Source-Newswise