You’ve almost certainly eaten this bright red “fruit” in the past week – it’s one of the plants that almost every diet has a place for. This juicy and tasty veggie has lots of antioxidants, as well as vitamin C and lycopene, and antioxidants that prevent and reduce cell damage.
By eating a daily dose of tomatoes, you’ll be helping to reduce cancer rates, lower cholesterol, and reduce your chances of heart disease. If you’ve been getting burgers or salads sans tomatoes, it might be in your best interest to switch it up. Surely good health is worth it.
The Queen of the Healthy Foods
This grain staple has risen in the ranks of famous healthy foods in recent years, and it's easy to see why. First, obviously, it's high in fiber. It's also surprisingly high in protein, and we all know how good protein is for maintaining your metabolism.
It includes lots of essential amino acids and has a low glycemic index – another food to add to your list if you're worried about your blood sugar. It's also gluten-free, so it's a great way for those who shy away from wheat products.
Wave Away the White Rice for Better Health
Rice is enjoyed by billions around the world every day, from the Americas to the far east of Asia. While white rice is the more traditional food, brown rice is a little bit healthier. First and foremost, it's full of fiber – almost all fiber, in fact. For information on why fiber is so good for you, see almost every other entry on this list.
It's a low glycemic index food, good for keeping your heart and blood in peak condition. Keep your body running warm and burning energy without getting worn out, and get a large amount of your daily magnesium at the same time with a serving of brown rice.
The Heart of Health
If you're looking for the right foods to eat to make your entire body healthy, artichokes are the way to go. They come with the prerequisite nutrients, they lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, they regulate blood pressure, and they improve digestive health.
You get the picture. It's the kind of veggie you sometimes can't bring yourself to eat. But eating shouldn't always be about the way food tastes. Sometimes – a lot of the time – what you eat should focus on the health and materials of the food, not just the flavor.
Power-Packed Spinach Is Ready to Fight
Popeye certainly had the right idea when he downed a can of spinach to get the energy he needed to fight the latest bruiser in his way. Spinach is low in calories but high in fiber, water, and iron, all things that keep you feeling energized and full, so you'll eat less junk and burn more fat. While it won't swell your muscles instantly, it's a wonderful health food.
You'll also get zinc, vitamins A and K, and a nice crunch. Early reports of its nutritional content may have been overblown, but there's no reason to avoid this leafy food.