Let’s face it, eating healthily on a daily basis is no small feat. You have to do the research, figure out how you can combine all the ingredients you just spent your month’s rent on purchasing and then, in the end, you probably won’t even like the taste. Why is it that donuts and coffee are so much more enticing than broccoli and kale?
Obviously, the latter isn’t exactly a good example of a healthy meal, but it’s what most people perceive healthy eating as, i.e. awful vegetables and vitamin water. However, that’s far from the truth and there are plenty of great tasting foods that you can have as part of a dish or simply on their own. Here are five that you should be eating.
Dark Chocolate
Believe it or not, chocolate can be great for your health. But this is very dependent on the type of chocolate. Your average slab that’s filled with biscuits and peanut butter is no good. However, dark chocolate, when eaten in moderation, of course, does have numerous positive effects on your health.
The flavonoids found in dark chocolate do a good job at increasing good cholesterol and decreasing bad cholesterol. For perspective, milk chocolate has a mere 14 milligrams of these flavonoids, whereas dark chocolate has around 53.
Salmon
Whether you’re eating it on its own or dipping a rice-covered cube of it into soy sauce, salmon is one of the best tasting foods out there. Luckily, it’s also very healthy. The omega-3 fatty acids that salmon is rich with are great for reducing the risk of heart disease, depression, and even cancer.
It also protects against Alzheimer’s and memory loss, which may not seem concerning now, but it will matter more and more as you progress through your adult life. Keeping active and reading are key here, as well; examinedexistence.com has more information on why reading is important.
Walnuts
This bite-sized treat can be taken with you as a snack on the go and provides a variety of health benefits. The omega-3 fatty acids are great for fighting cholesterol, improving your mood, and protecting your skin against the sun. They also help regulate sleep.
Garlic
Not only does it ward off vampires, garlic is also a powerful disease fighter and can ward off more real issues such as E. coli. The Allicin compound in garlic is a great anti-inflammatory and can prevent high blood pressure. Just be sure not to expose it to high heat for more than ten minutes, as this way it loses its potency.
Spinach
Forget the stigma that you were likely exposed to when it came to avoiding spinach as a kid, it really doesn’t taste as bad as people make it out to. As a matter of fact, spinach in its natural form is flavorless and can be added to almost anything without it really being noticed. This includes smoothies and salads. It’s also great for eye health and helps fight the development of cancer. Though you shouldn’t expect gigantic arm muscles, as those come from hard work and determination, not green mush in a can.