What you eat has a great impact on your body and mind. If you eat a balanced diet consisting of healthy nutritious food, you are bound to be healthy and happy. A lot of diseases like obesity, cholesterol and diabetes are a result of the mistakes we commit during our meal times. Therefore, opting for the right food is the first step towards a healthy life.
Making healthy choices is challenging and having all the super foods at one go is going to mess with your tummy. Here we present to you the healthiest foods that are highly nutritious and insanely delicious that will help you stay fit and healthy.
LEMON
This sour, juicy fruit is not only versatile, but is hand’s down the healthiest food in this planet. There is no doubt it is one of the key ingredients in health-boosting concoctions. Lemon is a rich source of antioxidants and vitamin C. The anti-inflammatory properties of lemons help to fight free radicals, thus, reducing the risk of cancer. Squeeze lemon to your juices, sprinkle it to your salads or add a slice to your tea and water to boost your immunity and remain healthy.
An easy way is to add it to the marinade and grill the meat or vegetables: Grilled Lemon Chicken, Ginger Lemonade
LENTILS
Having a serving of lentil everyday is an inexpensive way to enrich your meal. Lentils are the oldest and the healthiest ingredient in our diet. They are packed with proteins and fibre and are beneficial for our health by promoting growth, boosting metabolism, lowering cholesterol and improving satiety. Lentils also enhance the flavour and texture of food and are a boon for vegans and vegetarians when it comes to meeting their nutrient requirements. Make some extremely versatile recipes like: Dal Panchmel, Muparuppu Payasam.
AVOCADO
Having one avocado means charging your body with almost all essential nutrition including fibre, vitamins B, E and folic acid that are important for building a healthy body. Avocados are a rich source of potassium and monounsaturated fats that help in lowering cholesterol and guarding your heart from any kind of damage. They also contain glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that prevents cancer. The best quality about avocado is that you can have them any way you want, be it in your smoothies, salads or toasts.
Try a yummy guacamole dip.
SPINACH
These green leafy veggies we have grown up eating have been playing a vital role in our overall growth and development. They are low in calories and are an instant energy booster packed with vitamins A, K, potassium, magnesium and folate. Spinach protects your vision, improves your bone density and lowers blood pressure, thereby preventing any risk of stroke.
Try some more interesting ways to use Palak (Spinach): Spinach and Paneer Crepes, Spinach Soup, Spinach Fried Rice.
GARLIC
We all have been using garlic to liven up boring dishes and make some mouth-watering recipes; but do you know they are loaded with nutrition? They contain generous amounts of calcium, potassium, selenium, copper, manganese, vitamins C, B1 and B6. Garlic reduces the risk of heart diseases by lowering blood cholesterol levels. The anti-bacterial properties of garlic help to get rid of harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi and keep you safe from infections and diseases.
Try out some of our super simple, yet extremely delicious garlic based recipes: Crusty Garlic Bread, Chilli Garlic Prawns. Garlic Pickle
OLIVE OIL
Being highly beneficial for the health in several ways, olive oil is rightly termed as liquid gold. It is a rich source of monounsaturated fat that is known to control blood sugar and pressure levels. Regular consumption of extra virgin olive oil is known to decrease the probability of heart diseases, diabetes, obesity and even cancer. Risk of metabolic syndrome and weight gain can also be reduced by having a diet rich in olive oil.
Read our articles to know how you can incorporate Olive oil in Indian cooking: How to use Olive Oil in Indian Cooking.
DARK CHOCOLATE
The delicious, bitter-sweet dark chocolate you have been treating yourself with has been serving oodles of goodness to your health. The presence of fibre, copper, magnesium, iron and manganese make dark chocolates a nutritious treat. They also contain a number of health-promoting antioxidants. Consuming dark chocolates improves blood circulation, prevents blood clots, lowers blood pressure and oxidation of LDL cholesterol and improves the cognitive function. However, it is important to choose your chocolates that contain at least 70% of cocoa.
Check out some of our dark chocolate recipes to make chocolate eating more interesting.
1 comment
Avacado is not easily available in India. Give an alternate Indian vegetable or fruit. why Olive oil which is costly; when we have some Indian oils like coconut oil, gingelly oi, karadai thel, etc. Dark chocolate is also costly. Affordable alternative is required