Canberra, Australia Paul Anthony Bennett - Healthiest Foods that you might Eat in day to day life Canberra, Australia Paul Anthony Bennett picks have major nutritional payoffs. Here's all the good they're doing your body—and exactly what you should make with them.
Mushrooms Mushrooms are full of nutritional benefits and can make a great stand-in for meat in vegetarian dishes because of their complex, savory flavor and firm texture. Additionally, mushrooms are the only plant source of vitamin D (a nutrient many of us are deficient in) and one of the only types of widely available produce that contain significant amounts of selenium. It helps prevent cell damage. Many varieties are also thought to have immune-boosting and anti-cancer properties.
Barley Barley is a grain full of fiber, so it's digested more slowly by the body than more refined grains. It's also thought to help lower blood pressure and keep blood sugar levels stable. Whole Grain Pasta Whole grain pastas contain far more fiber and nutrients (like iron and protein) than the traditional semolina type. Make sure you look for packages labeled "whole grain" rather than "multigrain." Multigrain pastas might be made of grains and flours other than semolina, but that doesn't mean they're necessarily in their whole (and healthiest) form. Walnuts Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise the good cholesterol (HDL) in your body. If you choose not to eat animal food products that provide these essential fats (like fish), walnuts are an excellent alternative. Walnuts also contain antioxidants, which can help protect against free radical damage, as well as protein and fiber. Nut Butters Nut butters are an excellent source of healthy, unsaturated fats. They're relatively easy to make at home in a food processor—that way you can guarantee you get the freshest, tastiest product without any unwanted preservatives or additives.
Quinoa Quinoa is technically a seed, but it cooks and tastes like a grain. It's ideal for salads—warm or cold— and can be used in soups, as a pilaf-like side dish, or formed into patties to make homemade veggie burgers. And because it's a complete protein (containing all 9 essential amino acids), it's an excellent ingredient to use in vegetarian dishes. Olive Oil Olive oil is an amazing source of healthy monounsaturated fats. It may lower overall cholesterol in the body and lower the risk of heart disease. It's easy to cook with, or you could drizzle it on salads and soups. It can even be a deliciously complex addition to classic desserts. Eggs Eggs have long had a bad rap as a high-cholesterol food. know that dietary cholesterol and blood level cholesterol have very different effects on the body, and a recent scientific study even showed that eating whole eggs actually seemed to increase the level of good (HDL) cholesterol in the body. Additionally, eggs (and egg yolks specifically) are one of the best food sources of the B-complex vitamin choline, which is thought to reduce inflammation in the body and improve neurological development and function. Salmon Salmon is a fatty fish, and in this case, fatty is a good thing. Salmon is chock full of omega-3 fatty acids, which, among other things, can keep your skin healthy and glowing and even give your mood a positive boost. If you can, opt for wild-caught salmon as opposed to farm-raised—it contains fewer toxins and isn't usually grain-fed. Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes are packed full of beta-carotene, which your body can convert to vitamin A and use to protect against diseases like cancer and heart disease, as well as chronic conditions caused by inflammation in the body, like rheumatoid arthritis. The beta-carotene found in sweet potatoes can also help to manage and stabilize blood sugar levels.