When it comes to your health, the best-proven way to take care of yourself is to not only eat well but ensure that you obtain adequate nutrition from eating healthy foods. While the common notion is that healthy food does not always great, the reality is that their are many foods that are incredibly healthy that to the typical person would taste good. Here are some of the common heart-healthy foods that taste great.
Cheese
While cheese may seem unhealthy to many at first given its high fat content, the reality is that cheese carries a great source of calcium, protein, and vitamin B12. Cheese’s fat content makes people assume that it leads to obesity and other heart problems, however it tends to do the exact opposite. Calcium is great for removing excess fat from the blood stream, and can prevent osteoperosis. Additionally the proteins found in cheese have been found to actually lower blood pressure, which can significantly reduce the chance for heart attacks
Avocados
For those who like to indulge in chips and guacamole, while the chip may not very healthy, it is in fact transferring a healthy food as its main ingredient. Avocado’s are a high fat fruit, but it contains monounsaturated fat that is known to help with good skin and hair, and contains other minerals and antioxidants that have been found to lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as increase HDL cholesterol. They are regarded as one of the best weight loss foods especially in the abdomen region due as they do a great job regulating and reducing blood sugar.
Popcorn
If you’ve ever been to a movie theater and have bought that large popcorn with butter, it may not be as much of a sacrifice to your body as you think. Believe it or not, popcorn actually are a whole grain that has no sugar and is loaded with fiber. Its important to make sure that you get popcorn that is not filled with refined oils, as these popcorns reduce the overall health benefits. Air popped popcorn tends to be the best.
Sweet Potatoes
For people who tend to have a sweet tooth, not everything that tastes sweet is necessarily bad for you. Sweet potatoes carry that sugary taste but are from unhealthy, as like many kinds of potatoes, they carry a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber. Along with their high levels of antioxidants, sweet potatoes pack a lot of nutrients that are great towards reducing oxidative damage, as well as reducing chances of developing cancer.
Hummus
Along with Guacamole, another healthy dip or spread that people may find beneficial for their health is hummus. Hummus is made primarily from pine nuts and chickpeas, both of which are highly packed with fiber and protein, as well as a high concentration of other vitamins and minerals. Along with reducing LDL cholesterol as well as improving digestive health, perhaps the greatest health benefit of hummus is reducing fasting insulin, crucial to improving blood sugar levels.
Yogurt
Similar to cheese, yogurt is another dairy product that is great for overall health that many people enjoy eating cause of its sweet taste. Yogurt is commonly consumed with berries or blended with berries to act as a health dessert, and in this case that is definitely true. Like cheese, yogurt contains higher quality protein and fats, as well as numerous vitamins and calcium. Most importantly, it is a probiotic, wich is critical to supporting digestive health. Just try to make sure that if you eat yogurt you stick to whole milk products with low or no sugar.
Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter is a versatile product that can be used for basically any meal of the day, and is a common spread on bread or even on some fruits. Peanut Butter obviously is derived from peanuts or other legumes, which are naturally comprised of high protein and unsaturated fatty acids, as well as fiber. Peanuts and peanut butter naturally also contain more antioxidants than fruit, and its composition is good at making people feel full. Although peanut butter is overall healthy, its best only to consume moderate levels of it since many products contain added sugars or oils that should be avoided in large portions.
Watermelon
While fruits in general are considered healthy foods, one fun fruit that people indulge on during the summer months that is actually really healthy is watermelon. Watermelons as explained in their name contain a lot more water than most fruits, but still pack the same amounts of nutrients and vitamins. Since watermelon is mostly water, it tends to carry less natural sugar as well as fewer calories, and along with their higher fiber content can keep blood sugar levels in check. They are a great recovery snack after a work out to prevent muscle soreness as well.
Dark Chocolate
People who love chocolate think that its a bad habit because chocolate is considered a candy substance full of sugar. However those who tend to favor dark chocolate over milk chocolate may actually be improving their health rather than worsening it. Most chocolate that consumers tend to eat is milk chocolate which uses much less cocoa and more sugar to create the sweetness that people crave. However for those who tend to go for dark chocolate, they actually are consuming more cocoa and less sugar. Cocoa by itself is actually sugar free and loaded with antioxidants and fiber which consumed in moderation can reduce your risk of heart disease and improve overall mental health.
Berries
Finally, while all fruits in moderation are considered acceptable, the fruits that you can tally as the most healthy are in fact berries. Whether strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, or blueberry, is it this family of fruits that pack the highest levels of antioxidants, that are great for overall mental health, and fiber for great digestive health and potential weight loss. Berries are a great healthy snack because they can be eaten on their own or added to many other things to make an ordinary snack a healthy one. If you care to learn about our cardiac and radiologic diagnostic interpretation service, reach out to us today for more info.
