Wellness is about taking a proactive and holistic approach to your health. Many of us only think about our health when something is wrong but adopting a wellness perspective can help you prevent problems before they start.
One of the best ways to begin a wellness lifestyle is through diet. Because we eat everyday, food allows you to supply your body with the nutrients it need to stay healthy and active. Try incorporating these 10 foods into your diet more often and in greater quantities every day, not just when you’re sick.
1. Sweet peppers. When many of us think about vitamin C, citrus fruits are what come to mind. While they do contain a lot of this immune-boosting nutrient, did you know that a red pepper actually contains twice as much vitamin C as an orange?
2. Broccoli. Broccoli is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables, packed with vitamins A, E and C as well as other antioxidants that help keep you healthy.
3. Spinach. Like broccoli, this superfood contains a high concentration of antioxidants along with folate, which your body uses to repair itself. Eat spinach raw or lightly cooked for the best nutritional benefit.
4. Mushrooms. Selenium is powerful antioxidant that also helps prevent cancer and heart disease. You’ll find a healthy dose of selenium in all kinds of mushrooms as well as disease-fighting B-vitamins like niacin and riboflavin.
5. Green tea. Black, green and herbal teas are great for your health and it’s recommended that you have at least a cup every day. Green tea, which contains flavonoids and polyphenols for immune health, is an especially good choice.
6. Garlic. Garlic not only tastes great, it also has a variety of anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties. Most notably, garlic contains sulfur compounds like allicin that help keep your immune system strong and working properly.
7. Ginger. Long a staple in non-Western medicine, ginger has been shown to reduce inflammation, aid with digestion and fight illness.
8. Yogurt. You may know that a large portion of your body’s disease-fighting bacteria is found in your stomach. Yogurt supplies your immune system with a healthy dose of this natural, good bacteria.
9. Poultry. There’s a good reason to eat chicken noodle soup when you’re sick. Poultry contains high levels of B-vitamins, selenium and phosphorous, which provide a powerful boost to your immune health.
10. Shellfish. Oysters, clams and mussels all contain zinc, which is another antioxidant that has been proven to fight and even prevent illness.
Kevin Arnold
Kevin Arnold writes about health, wellness and travel. For more tips and information, check out all of his posts at www.pureroom.com/blog.
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