If you eat healthily and exercise, you may wonder if there is anything else that you can do to improve your health. Thankfully, there are always things that we can add to our diets to help us maintain peak performance. Here are some of the added bonuses and superfoods you can add to your daily diet that you may never have considered.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit is one of those fruits that fell out of fashion in the late 90s after being associated with 1980s weight loss but it is making a comeback again. Although it is known for its weight loss properties, it is also filled with vitamins, especially vitamin A and C. It also contains magnesium, calcium, and potassium. These are minerals that are essential for overall health.
Apples
You have probably heard the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, although any fruit can keep a person away if you throw it hard enough. All jokes aside, apples are excellent pieces of fruit. They contain high levels of vitamin C and low levels of calories. What is really surprising is how eating apples has been linked to lower levels of diabetes and reduces your risk of cancer.
Maca Root
If you are looking for a superfood that can boost your immune system, then maca root might be the thing for you. Not only is it low in fat, but it is also high in some impressive vitamins that are hard to find anywhere else. And these vitamins are great for reproductive health. So if you are thinking about having a baby, including maca root in your diet could increase your chances of conception. If you are not ready or past the baby stage in your life, as a woman, it can help regulate your moods and hormones.
Blueberries
Blueberries have been labelled as a superfood for years, and for a variety of reasons. Inside these tiny blue balls, there are a ton of antioxidants and phytoflavinoids. They are also filled with potassium and vitamin C. What does this all mean? Well, studies have shown that including blueberries in your diet can help reduce your chances of developing cancer and heart disease. Overall, these little fruits pack a punch so don’t be afraid to add a handful to your salads or breakfast.
Kiwis
The kiwi fruit is one of the cutest fruits there is, mainly because there is a little bird that looks just like it. However, we aren’t talking about eating the kiwi bird (which you aren’t allowed to do because they are a protected animal) we are talking about the fruit. This little fruit contains a high amount of dietary fibre and you can even eat the skin. Soe varieties of kiwi have been grown to have less fuzzy skin, so you can eat it like an apple instead of having to scoop out the inside.
Rhubarb
If you have only ever had rhubarb in a pie, you are missing out. Rhubarb is one of the unsung superfoods because it is so high in antioxidants. It is so jam-packed, it has been shown to protect from certain cancers, and can even repair the damage that has been caused by free radicals. It is also great for weight loss and reducing cholesterol levels. And the best thing about rhubarb is that is really easy to grow in your garden if you plant it in full sun,
Melon
Melons come in a variety of styles, which can make it hard to choose which one to eat. However, if you are basing your decision on which one is healthier, we are going to make it even harder because they are all healthy choices. Watermelon is great during the summer as it has the ability to lower your body temperature and prevent heatstroke. Honeydew melons contain a massive amount of antioxidants, but cantaloupe melons contain the most antioxidants. Whatever one you choose, will be a great addition to your diet.
Oranges
Many of the superfoods we have talked about so ar have excellent properties when it comes to keeping you healthy. But what about keeping you looking younger too? This is where the humble orange comes in. Just like its cousin, the grapefruit, it is packed with good stuff to keep you healthy. Oranges have also been shown to help with collagen production which is essential for smooth skin. It also is great for helping the body produce iron and help prevent anaemia.
Bananas
Unlike a lot of the other foods we have talked about, bananas do not contain as much water like some others. However, they are packed with fibre which can help you feel fuller for longer. There has been some controversy over the years as people have questioned how many bananas are healthy, especially after Banana Girl appeared. Generally, one or two bananas a day are ok, as long as your body can handle the potassium. It is also important to remember that eating too many bananas can cause weight gain.
Mango
The humble mango has become another favourite as people discovered the sweet taste and the high vitamin content. A mango can contain up to 50% of your daily vitamin C intake. However, because it is full of fibre, you shouldn’t drink anything for around 30 minutes after eating one as it can cause stomach pain. Mango doesn’t contain that much water, so if you drink after eating one, the fibre in the fruit binds with the water and cause stomach pain. Apart from this, eating half a mango a day has proven to be very beneficial for your skin, hair, and wound healing.
Avocado
This may be one of the few fatty foods that you will be recommended to eat. This superfood is high in healthy fats and high in calories. However, don’t worry about eating them and getting fat. There have been many studies on the effects of avocados on our bodies and they have been shown to prevent weight gain. Avocados have become popular over the last few years as people discovered how versatile they can be.
Lychee
There are very few fruits in this world that have been linked to anti-cancer properties, but the lychee is another one that is currently benign studied as it has strong links to preventing cancer. If you are going to eat lychees, make sure that you do it first thing in the morning when you get out of bed. Lychees have been shown to block sugar absorption, which can be great during the day when you are eating. However, during the night, our sugar levels drop naturally, and this can cause problems. It is best to stick to a small handful of these fruits to get the most out of them.
Kale
As a general rule, green leafy vegetables are considered healthy, but kale takes the crown for the best of the veg. Kale is packed with iron, antioxidants and has been shown to remove toxins from the body. If you are buying kale from your local shop, be sure to choose organic kale. Unfortunately, kale is a big offender when it comes to holding on to chemicals, so try and buy organic to stop you from eating any nasty chemicals.
