When it comes to
healthy foods that boost your metabolism, help you lose weight, make you look,
feel and perform better, there are none better than the 7 foods I've outlined
for you below.
So here we go...
Top Healthy Food
#1: Nut Butters
Unless you have a nut
allergy, you should eat nut butters several times per week. Nut butters are a
good source of healthy fats, fiber, iron and magnesium.
Some of the best nut
butters include Almond butter, Macadamia Nut Butter and Dry Roasted, Organic Peanut
Butter. Unfortunately, nut butters are high in calories and it's very easy to
overeat them as they are so damn tasty, so you have to limit your consumption
to 2 to 3 tablespoons per day or else you will start gaining weight.
Top Healthy Food
#2: Sweet Potatoes
Ounce for ounce, sweet
potatoes will provide you with more nutrients and energy to help you power
through your workouts than any other carbohydrate food found in the grocery
store.
If you haven't tried
Japanese Sweet potatoes yet, you're in for a treat. They are my favorite sweet
potato and they are very nutritious and very filling.
Sweet potatoes are
high in fiber, Vitamin A, and many other important vitamins and minerals.
Top Healthy Food
#3: Greens (Spinach, Kale, Broccoli)
Greens are very alkalizing
(energizing to your blood cells) and also help to detoxify your body. If you
can't stand eating cups of greens every day, get a juicer and drink your
greens.
After just a few days of eating several cups of
greens (or juicing them), you will feel more energized, lighter, and your skin
will look better and younger.
Greens contain a
potent source of plant nutrients called phytophenols, which protect and boost
your immune system and fight the development of cancer cells.
Though not officially
considered greens, Kiwifruit and green, granny smith apples also contain high
amounts phytophenols, so be sure to include them into your diet as well.
Top Health Food #4:
Berries
Strawberries,
blueberries, raspberries and blackberries contain the lowest amount of calories
per serving and more nutrients per ounce than most other fruits combined.
Berries are low in
natural sugars and high in dietary fiber. I eat one to two cups of berries 3 to
4 times a week and I have never looked and felt better and healthier in my entire
life.
If you could only eat
one type of fruit, definitely choose berries every time.
Bonus tip: Choose
organic berries over conventional whenever possible.
Berries absorb the
most amount of pesticides and insecticides than any other fruit, which means
you'll be eating a bunch of potentially harmful toxins along with your berries
unless you choose organic.
Top Healthy Food
#5: Wild Caught Salmon
If you've read my
previous articles, you know that wild caught salmon is one of the best sources
of the omega-3 essential fat.
Wild caught salmon is packed with Omega 3 fatty
acids which have been proven to increase your HDL good cholesterol and decrease
your LDL bad cholesterol. Wild caught salmon is also very high in protein,
which you'll need plenty of if you're breaking down your muscles on a regular
basis during intense workouts.
Top Healthy Food
#6: Unrefined & Virgin Coconut Oil
Unrefined Coconut oil
is high in a fat called MCT (medium chain triglycerides) which your body uses
up as energy and does not store as body fat (unless you eat far too much
coconut oil than your body has a need for at one time)
Coconut oil is also
antimicrobial, meaning that it cleans your stomach of bad bacteria.
This can cause
bloating and gas in some individuals, but should go away after a few days of
eating coconut oil. Use coconut oil when you cook, spread it with nut butters
(my favorite way to eat coconut oil) or eat it straight out of the jar if you
really enjoy its' taste.
My favorite healthy
energizing snack food is a brown rice cake topped with 1 teaspoon of coconut
oil, 1-2 tablespoons of almond butter, 10-12 raspberries and sprinkled with
cinnamon - absolutely delicious!
Top Healthy Food
#7: Himalayan Sea Salt
Unlike regular table
salt, Himalayan sea salt is very high in essential minerals that your body
needs for proper muscle contractions and to maintain a healthy electrolyte
balance. (an electrolyte imbalance can trigger muscle cramps and irregular
heart rhythms, which can be a serious health threat.)
Himalayan sea salt has
a unique, distinct taste that goes well with meats and fish.
If attaining a healthy
weight and optimal health and energy are your goals, you'd be foolish to not
include at least 4 of the above top 7 healthy foods into your diet on a daily
basis, they really are THAT good for you.
Adi Crnalic is a
certified personal trainer, lifetime natural bodybuilder and a fitness,
nutrition and fat loss expert and coach. His articles have been featured in
several publications including Fitness & Physique Magazine, The Fitness
Expert Network and others. Visit his blog for more fat loss, exercise and
nutrition articles: http://www.purebodystudios.com/fitness-blog.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adi_Crnalic
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