Talking about diets and healthy eating seems to be the rage these days. Whether you're choosing a plant-based regimen, low carb eating style, Mediterranean, or Paleo diet doesn’t matter. The goal is to incorporate foods that will give you the most nutritional benefits while allowing you to lose weight. Too many people focus on weight loss rather than nutritional benefits. Eating healthy can improve many things, including weight.
Plant-based foods are powerful in how they help the body. You need at least ten servings every day of fruits and vegetables. Did you know that blueberries can help to improve your blood pressure and give your arteries the flexibility of a teenager? It’s just one of the powerful fruits that can provide many benefits.
Eating More Polyphenols and Flavonoids
It all comes down to polyphenols and flavonoids. What are polyphenols? Well, they are a chemical that is found in red fruits, onions, cereal, spices, and black radishes. Flavonoids are found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli, cocoa, some teas, and wine.Research has proven that polyphenols can improve your health by lowering your cholesterol levels, improving your blood pressure, enhancing artery function, preventing platelets from clumping, giving the arteries flexibility, and improving the overall lifespan. This is a topic that has had hundreds of studies conducted to prove the validity of these claims. One study out of the UK stated that those who eat more grapes, nuts, flax seeds, and lignans have a longer life span. The polyphenols do wonders for the body.
Uncanny Studies
Another study that took place in the UK examined the arteries of 500 people. These people consumed a diet that was rich in raw vegetables and dairy items that were high in fat. It was interesting because those who ate fruits and drank wine, while avoiding dairy items, showed promising test results.Excited with the outcome, researchers decided to conduct a study on 34,000 women who were in the post-menopausal phase. Menopause is one of the most challenging times in a woman’s life, and many look for hormonal supplements to help combat the symptoms. However, in this study, the ladies were required to eat foods that were rich in flavonoids, which included dark chocolate, red wine, strawberries, apples, pears, and bran.
The study showed that these women all improved their health and reduced their risk of heart disease. It was uncanny because they didn’t need to cut carbohydrates or avoid bread. They only needed to add these healthy foods into their diet.
Shopping For Your Health
If you’re ready to make a polyphenol rich foods list for the next time you go shopping, then here are some foods and spices that you must include.- Dark Chocolate
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Cloves
- Flax Seed Meal
- Elderberries
- Chestnuts
- Celery Seed
- Star of Anise
- Strawberries
- Coffee
- Basil
- Capers
- Thyme
- Spearmint
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Broccoli
- Apples
- Black Grapes
The Intelligently Placed Fork
Food is fuel for the body, and proper nutrition is healing. In days gone by, people used spices, herbs, and certain foods as a natural form of medication. The next time you prepare a meal for your family, remember that the food you serve can make or break your destiny. Do you provide polyphenol-rich foods that are enhancing the body, or do you serve sugary processed junk that is doing more harm than good?If you’re sick of feeling run down and tired, and you are fighting inflammation and disease in your body, then move away from comfort foods and look towards things that can improve your healing and vitality. The path to health starts with eating vegetables and fruits and seasoning your cooking with the proper herbs and spices. It can help you to live a life free of disease. It’s all about knowing where to put your intelligently placed fork and letting nature do what it was meant to do.
Don’t buy into the dieting fads that come and go. Use nature as your guide. Plant-based diets are always the best option. No fruit or vegetable should be off-limits to you, while some you may need to consume in moderation. You don’t need to give up bread, throw out the potatoes, and never eat an apple again. Get your required servings each day and watch your health improve.
