You really are what you eat! That is why there are days when you end up feeling more like a cream-filled Twinkie than the lean cut of beef. To get the body you want and a healthy life, you need to make every bite of food you put in your mouth count. You have to build your diet around the most potent, nutrient-dense, disease-fighting, muscle-growing foods.
But where do you start? What foods are the healthiest? Here, we give you an A–Z list of superfoods that will keep you fit and healthy!
Avocado
Avocado contains more potassium, which helps lowers blood pressure. It is also rich in glutathione, which protects the body from toxins, helps neutralize bad fat, and is the most powerful antioxidant, fighting the free-radical damage to cells that accompanies aging.
Read Also: Is Avocado Good For Your Brain?
Bananas
Bananas are among the most convenient food sources of potassium. This mineral is essential for maintaining proper heart function and regulating normal blood pressure.
Read Also: 10 Reasons To Enjoy Bananas
Cinnamon
Seasoning a high carb food with cinnamon can help lessen its impact on your blood sugar levels. Cinnamon slows the rate at which the stomach empties after meals, reducing the rise in blood sugar after eating.
Read Also: Does Cinnamon Oil Improve Heart And Sexual Health?
Eggs
The antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin (found in the yolks) help protect the eyes from light and free radicals (and may even help prevent eye degeneration that can present with age).
Read Also: Can Eating Hard Boiled Eggs Help Burn Excess Fat?
Flax
Flax seeds are high in fiber content; research suggests that the omega-3s in these seeds can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Read Also: How Flaxseed Lowers Cholesterol And Prostate Cancer Risk
Ginger
Modern research has confirmed that ginger reduces nausea and vomiting from multiple causes: morning sickness, postoperative upset, chemotherapy treatments, and motion sickness.
Read Also: Is Ginger Garlic Paste Good For Your Health?
Hemp
Hemp contains essential fatty acids and protein. These fatty acids include polyunsaturated fats and omega-3s that help fight coronary heart diseases, cancer, and even symptoms of depression.
Read Also: Hemp Seed Everyday For Better Health
Inca Berries
Incan berries, also known as cape gooseberries, are packed with vitamins C and A, iron, niacin, and phosphorous. They’re also high in protein and fiber.
Jalapeno Peppers
Jalapeños are filled with capsaicin, a compound found in spicy peppers that’s credited to speeding up metabolism and suppressing appetite.
Kale
Kale is also a good source of potassium, with about 8 percent of the recommended daily intake per cup but significantly fewer calories than most high-potassium foods, such as bananas.
Read Also: 10 Foods That Beat Kale In The Superfoods List
Lemon
Citrus fruits like lemon are packed with vitamin C, which is essential for the body to produce collagen that helps keep blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bones healthy and strong. It is also filled with the antioxidants known as flavonoids, which help reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce inflammation, and fight some cancers.
Read Also: Why You Should Start Your Day With Lemon Water
Milk
Studies suggest that milk provides the optimal ratio of carbohydrates and protein for consumers. It also helps improve performance, adaptation, and leads to better body composition.
Read Also: Is Drinking Low Fat Milk Really A Healthy Choice?
Nuts
The skin of nuts is loaded with anti-aging flavonoids. All nuts are full of protein, fiber, essential fats, and many vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, which improves memory.
Read Also: Benefits Of Soaking And Sprouting Nuts
Oatmeal
Oatmeal, like many whole grains, contains plant lignans, which are converted by intestinal flora into mammalian lignans. One lignan, called enterolactone, is thought to protect against breast and other hormone-dependent cancers as well as heart disease.
Read Also: Shed Those Extra Pounds With Oatmeal Water
Pumpkin
It is one of the very-low-calorie vegetables. Just 100 g of this fruit provides just 26 calories and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; however, it is rich in dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals, and vitamins.
Read Also: 6 Surprising Health Benefits of Pumpkin
Quinoa
It is considered a super-food as it contains all the eight essential amino acids and is a rich source of calcium and iron. Quinoa is an energy-sustaining food eaten by many top athletes.
Radish
Studies suggest that certain compounds in radishes may be able to help stop some cancers. Research suggests that another compound found in radishes, anthocyanins (also found in cherries), may help prevent some cancers and even aid in muscle recovery after a tough workout.
Read Also: 16 Detox And Health Secrets Of Wonder Root Radish.
Spinach
Rich in vitamins and minerals, spinach is concentrated in health-promoting phytonutrients such as carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin) and flavonoids to provide you with powerful antioxidant protection.
Turmeric
Turmeric is loaded with many healthy nutrients such as protein, dietary fiber, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc.
Read Also: Can Turmeric Help Treat My Depression?
Ugli Fruit
Uglis are actually a type of tangelo from Jamaica. This citrus fruit is a cross between a grapefruit, Seville orange, and tangerine. One fruit contains about 140 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin C and about 90 calories.
Vegetables
Regardless of the variety you choose, it is going to have at least a handful of redeeming qualities, from high levels of vitamins and minerals to a good dose of fiber. Green veggies are a great source of iron and calcium; red veggies are usually packed with lycopene and anthocyanins; and allium veggies like garlic and onions are full of antioxidants that help protect against free radical damage to the body’s cells.
Read Also: Which Fruits And Vegetables Help Lower Cholesterol Levels?
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass increases red blood-cell count; cleanses the blood, organs, and gastrointestinal tract; simulates metabolism and also the thyroid gland.
Read Also: Wheatgrass For Weight Loss Plus A Drink Recipe
Xigua
It’s low in sugar, high in vitamins A and C, and also an amino acid called citrulline, which helps the body produce another amino acid arginine. Arginine can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Yams
Yams are low on the glycemic index, meaning that they can be consumed without affecting blood sugar levels, making them a great source of sustained energy. Yams are also a great source of fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, and manganese, which are important for the proper production of serotonin, nervous system function, and wound healing.
Zucchini
Zucchini helps reduces inflammation and aids weight loss. Zucchini is the best source of dietary fiber that will keep your body in shape for the long run. It also contains vitamin A, magnesium, folate, potassium, copper, and phosphorus.
Read Also:Nutrition Rich Carrot And Zucchini Fritters Recipe