Top 5 Healthy Foods You Should Be Eating - Add these to your diet!

Cruciferous vegetables are some of the nutrient-dense food we can put into our bodies. These veggies are packed with anti-cancerous properties and contain nutrients like glucosinolates. These are key elements in eliminating waste products from the body. Furthermore, our gut microbiome thrives on the fibre present in these vegetables. Healthy gut flora means better immunity, reduced chronic diseases/inflammation and better digestion. Make sure to include vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, kale, pak choi, mustard greens and Brussels sprouts in your daily diet.

Green vegetables like spinach, beet greens, kale, arugula, micro greens, and collard greens are among the best greens to eat daily. Green leafy vegetables have antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin to help prevent age-related degeneration. Furthermore, greens are loaded with Vitamins A, B, C, E and K. You can also find fibre, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Consuming greens will help to maintain your bone health, prevent heart diseases, and cancers, and improve your gut health. For more tips on how to incorporate healthy food items to your meals, have a look at sites like The Dine and Wine.

Add legumes like chickpeas, kidney beans, cowpea, mung beans, black beans, butter beans and cannellini beans into your regular diet. You can reap the benefits of plant-based protein without the added cholesterol and saturated fats. Legumes are extremely nutrient-dense and filled with fibre, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of legumes may prevent diabetes and high blood pressure. The antioxidants found in legumes fight cellular damage that occurs naturally with age, thereby preventing inflammation and age-related degeneration. Lentils have similar benefits and can be a healthful addition to your soups, sauces and pasta dishes.

Make sure to add nuts, seeds or nut butter to your diet. Cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, macadamias and hazelnuts are loaded with vitamins, minerals and plant-based protein. Nuts are rich in monounsaturated fats. These are important in keeping your cardiovascular system healthy. Nuts can also help prevent diabetes and control blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Add a handful to your daily granola and porridge, or make them your go-to snack between meals to reap the benefits. For those with nut allergies, seeds like pumpkin, chia, flax, sunflower and sesame will bring about similar health-promoting properties.

Make whole grains your primary source of carbohydrates. Whole-grain rice, flour, quinoa, spelt, millet, rye and oats have a low glycemic index. Whole grains gradually release blood sugar to maintain your energy levels throughout the day. You will also get the goodness of fibre to maintain regularity and prevent cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. The naturally occurring phytonutrients in whole grains protect the body at a cellular level. It may help in preventing cancers and macular degeneration.