We used to think that healthy foods are not tasty at
all. You usually don’t like healthy foods. But that is wrong! You can
eat healthy and enjoy your meals at once! So here I’ve picked some of my
favorite healthy tasty foods!
Watermelon
No other fruit says summer like the subtly crunchy, thirst quenching watermelon. Sweet, juicy watermelon is actually packed with some of the most important antioxidants in nature. Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, notably through its concentration of beta-carotene. It’s rich in the B vitamins – that gives you energy!
Watermelon is not only great on a hot summer day, this amazing thirst-quencher may also help quench the inflammation that contributes to conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis. Because this food has higher water content and lower calorie content than many other fruits (a whole cup of watermelon contains only 48 calories), it delivers more nutrients per calorie-an outstanding health benefit!
Dark Chocolate
Recent studies have suggested that cocoa or dark chocolate may possess certain beneficial effects on human health. Dark chocolate, with its high cocoa content, is a rich source of the flavonoids and gallic acid, which are thought to possess cardioprotective properties. Cocoa possesses a significant antioxidant action, perhaps more than other antioxidant-rich foods and beverages. Processing cocoa with alkali destroys most of the flavonoids. So there won’t be health benefits in choco-wine mix. Some studies have also observed a modest reduction in blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation after consuming approximately 100g of dark chocolate daily. But chocolate is still a calorie-rich food with a high fat content, so daily intake of chocolate also requires reducing caloric intake of other foods.
Grapefruit
Tart and tangy with an underlying sweetness, grapefruit has a juiciness and many health promoting benefits. Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system. Grapefruit can reduce blood levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. By eating half a grapefruit with each meal, you will lose nearly 3.6 pounds and those who consume grapefruit juice for three times in a day will lose 3.3 pounds in a week. This has the ability to recharge your metabolism and also supplies a nutritional boost. Also it will not only help you in losing your weight, but also helps in fighting against cold symptoms, heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Apples
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away," is fact, not just folklore. The nutritional stars in apples-fiber, flavonoids, and fructose-translate into apples' ability to keep us healthy. Apples contributed to the significant reduction in heart disease. One medium (5 ounces) unpeeled apple provides over 3 grams of fiber, more than 10% of the daily fiber intake recommended by experts. Apples have long been touted as an excellent source of flavonoids that act as antioxidants, moping up oxygen free radicals that can damage DNA. If you want to get the benefits of apples it’s better to choose the whole fruits than apple juice.
Walnuts
Walnuts are a delicious way to add extra nutrition, flavor and crunch to a meal. Walnuts contain the most Omega 3 fatty acids in the nut family. Add to this the fact that they contain lots of cholesterol reducing plant sterols and is the nut with the highest anti-oxidant levels. Nuts are a quick, easy snack when you are on the go and in addition to all the healthy fats they provide, they also have a fair amount of fibre, protein and low glycemic carbs to make them an ideal tasty healthy snack.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a member of the cabbage family, and is closely related to cauliflower. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and beta-carotene. One cup (chopped) has 25 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Especially if you are pregnant, be sure to eat broccoli. A cup of broccoli supplies 94 mcg of folic acid, a B-vitamin essential for proper cellular division because it is necessary in DNA synthesis. But don't overcook broccoli - instead, steam lightly to preserve phytonutrients.
Tomatoes
The sweetest and the juiciest summer vegetable. It’s not just tasty but really good for your health. Tomatoes are well known for the lycopene. Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant and has some cancer-preventing properties. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily. A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Consume tomatoes with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat.
Olive Oil
Anyone coming from the Mediterranean region of the world would tell you about the health benefits, as well as the wonderful flavor, of a good dose of olive oil on salads, pasta, fish and almost anything else. Olive oil also includes polyphenols, a potent anti-oxidant. It provides protection against heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol levels (the bad) and raising HDL cholesterol levels (the good). There is also evidence that olive oil helps in the fight against colon cancer. Despite all the benefits, olive oil also tastes great and can be drizzled on almost anything. Just remember not to overdo it – Olive oil is still a fat and very caloric dense.
Honey
This wonderfully rich golden liquid is the miraculous product of honey bees and a naturally delicious alternative to white sugar. In addition to its reputation as Nature's nutritive sweetener, research also indicates that honey's unique composition makes it useful as an antimicrobial agent and antioxidant. Honey has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds and ailments, but scientists are just beginning to study the natural sweetener's antiseptic and antibacterial qualities.
Strawberries
The last but not the least! I love these sweet juicy red berries! They are not just the sexiest berries but they are among the healthiest ones! The anthocyanins in strawberry not only provide its flush red color, they also serve as potent antioxidants that have repeatedly been shown to help protect cell structures in the body and to prevent oxygen damage in all of the body's organ systems. Also strawberries emerged from our food ranking system as an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese. They also qualified as a very good source of dietary fiber and iodine as well as a good source of potassium, folate, riboflavin, vitamin B5, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, vitamin K, magnesium, and copper.
So you can see that all these delicious foods are also “delicious” for your health! Enjoy your eating!
Watermelon
No other fruit says summer like the subtly crunchy, thirst quenching watermelon. Sweet, juicy watermelon is actually packed with some of the most important antioxidants in nature. Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, notably through its concentration of beta-carotene. It’s rich in the B vitamins – that gives you energy!
Watermelon is not only great on a hot summer day, this amazing thirst-quencher may also help quench the inflammation that contributes to conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis. Because this food has higher water content and lower calorie content than many other fruits (a whole cup of watermelon contains only 48 calories), it delivers more nutrients per calorie-an outstanding health benefit!
Dark Chocolate
Recent studies have suggested that cocoa or dark chocolate may possess certain beneficial effects on human health. Dark chocolate, with its high cocoa content, is a rich source of the flavonoids and gallic acid, which are thought to possess cardioprotective properties. Cocoa possesses a significant antioxidant action, perhaps more than other antioxidant-rich foods and beverages. Processing cocoa with alkali destroys most of the flavonoids. So there won’t be health benefits in choco-wine mix. Some studies have also observed a modest reduction in blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation after consuming approximately 100g of dark chocolate daily. But chocolate is still a calorie-rich food with a high fat content, so daily intake of chocolate also requires reducing caloric intake of other foods.
Grapefruit
Tart and tangy with an underlying sweetness, grapefruit has a juiciness and many health promoting benefits. Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system. Grapefruit can reduce blood levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. By eating half a grapefruit with each meal, you will lose nearly 3.6 pounds and those who consume grapefruit juice for three times in a day will lose 3.3 pounds in a week. This has the ability to recharge your metabolism and also supplies a nutritional boost. Also it will not only help you in losing your weight, but also helps in fighting against cold symptoms, heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Apples
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away," is fact, not just folklore. The nutritional stars in apples-fiber, flavonoids, and fructose-translate into apples' ability to keep us healthy. Apples contributed to the significant reduction in heart disease. One medium (5 ounces) unpeeled apple provides over 3 grams of fiber, more than 10% of the daily fiber intake recommended by experts. Apples have long been touted as an excellent source of flavonoids that act as antioxidants, moping up oxygen free radicals that can damage DNA. If you want to get the benefits of apples it’s better to choose the whole fruits than apple juice.
Walnuts
Walnuts are a delicious way to add extra nutrition, flavor and crunch to a meal. Walnuts contain the most Omega 3 fatty acids in the nut family. Add to this the fact that they contain lots of cholesterol reducing plant sterols and is the nut with the highest anti-oxidant levels. Nuts are a quick, easy snack when you are on the go and in addition to all the healthy fats they provide, they also have a fair amount of fibre, protein and low glycemic carbs to make them an ideal tasty healthy snack.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a member of the cabbage family, and is closely related to cauliflower. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and beta-carotene. One cup (chopped) has 25 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Especially if you are pregnant, be sure to eat broccoli. A cup of broccoli supplies 94 mcg of folic acid, a B-vitamin essential for proper cellular division because it is necessary in DNA synthesis. But don't overcook broccoli - instead, steam lightly to preserve phytonutrients.
Tomatoes
The sweetest and the juiciest summer vegetable. It’s not just tasty but really good for your health. Tomatoes are well known for the lycopene. Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant and has some cancer-preventing properties. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily. A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Consume tomatoes with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat.
Olive Oil
Anyone coming from the Mediterranean region of the world would tell you about the health benefits, as well as the wonderful flavor, of a good dose of olive oil on salads, pasta, fish and almost anything else. Olive oil also includes polyphenols, a potent anti-oxidant. It provides protection against heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol levels (the bad) and raising HDL cholesterol levels (the good). There is also evidence that olive oil helps in the fight against colon cancer. Despite all the benefits, olive oil also tastes great and can be drizzled on almost anything. Just remember not to overdo it – Olive oil is still a fat and very caloric dense.
Honey
This wonderfully rich golden liquid is the miraculous product of honey bees and a naturally delicious alternative to white sugar. In addition to its reputation as Nature's nutritive sweetener, research also indicates that honey's unique composition makes it useful as an antimicrobial agent and antioxidant. Honey has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds and ailments, but scientists are just beginning to study the natural sweetener's antiseptic and antibacterial qualities.
Strawberries
The last but not the least! I love these sweet juicy red berries! They are not just the sexiest berries but they are among the healthiest ones! The anthocyanins in strawberry not only provide its flush red color, they also serve as potent antioxidants that have repeatedly been shown to help protect cell structures in the body and to prevent oxygen damage in all of the body's organ systems. Also strawberries emerged from our food ranking system as an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese. They also qualified as a very good source of dietary fiber and iodine as well as a good source of potassium, folate, riboflavin, vitamin B5, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, vitamin K, magnesium, and copper.
So you can see that all these delicious foods are also “delicious” for your health! Enjoy your eating!
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