making the commitment to start improving your nutrition? if so, there are certain foods that you should be making sure you get in on a regular basis. while counting calories and tracking macros is an important part of succeeding with your health journey, don\u2019t overlook the importance of eating the healthiest foods as well.<\/p>\n
when you nourish your body with plenty of nutrient dense foods, you\u2019ll have more energy, you\u2019ll help improve health, and you\u2019ll naturally find your hunger and food cravings are decreased as well.<\/p>\n
so which foods are your best bets? what are the \u2018golden ticket\u2019 items to get onto your plate each day?<\/p>\n
let\u2019s go over the seven healthiest foods you must be eating if you hope to see optimal health and weight loss results.<\/p>\n
healthiest foods: salmon<\/h2>\nwhen choosing your protein sources, it doesn\u2019t get much better than salmon. salmon packs a double-whammy of benefits thanks to the fact it includes not only a high-quality source of protein, which is needed to help with tissue repair and building but also because it offers a good dose of omega-3 fatty acids as well.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
omega-3 fatty acids are an essential fatty acid that you must be taking in as the body cannot produce them on its own.<\/p>\n
most people are not currently getting enough in their daily diet, so salmon can help bring your intake up.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\none study published in\u00a0atherosclerosis<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>found that salmon could potentially benefit heart health.<\/p>\n
healthiest foods: spinach<\/h2>\n
next up on the list of healthiest foods<\/a> that you must be taking in if you hope to achieve optimal health is spinach. spinach is loaded with vitamins and minerals, making it a standout superfood.<\/p>\n
some of the nutrients you can expect to receive from spinach include vitamin k, vitamin a, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, copper, vitamin b2, vitamin b6, vitamin e, vitamin c, and potassium.\u00a0clinical nutrition research<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>found that spinach is often touted for its health benefits because of its nutrients.<\/p>\n
healthiest foods: berries<\/h2>\n
next up on the list of foods you must be eating are berries. berries are loaded with antioxidants, making them another superfood to be taking in. what\u2019s more is that they\u2019re relatively low in sugar<\/a> content as well compared to other fruits.<\/p>\n
![\"raspberry](\"\/\/www.digitopmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/raspberry-ketones-image-1024x712.jpg\")
<\/p>\nblueberries are another excellent addition to your diet plan as they are rich in antioxidants that can enhance brain health and help to improve memory in aging adults, according to the\u00a0journal of agricultural and food chemistry<\/a>.<\/p>\n
regardless of which berry you choose, you can feel confident it will be a great addition to your meal plan. they\u2019re also highly versatile \u2013 try having them as a snack on their own, adding them to a bowl of greek yogurt, or sprinkling them over your salad to liven things up. “a great and healthy smoothie contains ingredients like greek yogurt, frozen berries, and frozen bananas; hemp and flax seeds are other favorites you can add as well.” states laura davidson, chef & owner of a beautiful plate<\/a>.<\/p>\n
healthiest foods: avocado<\/h2>\n
another fruit that too often gets overlooked is that of the avocado. avocados are rich in dietary fats, unlike other fruits, so stand out from the rest. their nutritional profile is unique in that they are low in sugar, high in fiber<\/a>, and high in healthy unsaturated fatty acids.<\/p>\n
avocado are an excellent source of vitamin e, which is a powerful antioxidant in the body that can help to improve cholesterol profile and heart health (see study in\u00a0the new england journal of medicine<\/a>), promote healthier looking and feeling skin, hair, and nails, along with helping to slow down the aging process.<\/p>\n
![\"avocado](\"\/\/www.digitopmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/avocado-for-weight-loss-1024x768.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nhealthiest foods: coconut oil\/milk<\/h2>\n
one healthy fat that\u2019s catching on in popularity and for a good reason is coconut oil and milk. coconut oil is a saturated fat, but don\u2019t let that scare you. this saturated fat is very healthy for the body (see research in the philippine journal of coconut studies<\/a>).<\/p>\n
the saturated fat in coconut milk is medium chain triglycerides, which are utilized differently in the body compared to most saturated fat varieties. medium chain triglycerides are treated more like carbohydrates and can release their energy immediately, giving you a nice energy boost when you need it. for this reason, coconut oil is a popular choice among those who are using a lower carb diet<\/a> and who are looking to get their energy levels up.<\/p>\n
in addition to providing more energy, coconut oil has a higher thermic effect of food, meaning your body may expend more energy just breaking down the coconut oil than other forms of fats, research from the american journal of clinical nutrition<\/a> suggests. furthermore, it\u2019s also great for strengthening your immune system as well.<\/p>\n
healthiest foods: sweet potatoes<\/h2>\n
as far as carbohydrates are concerned, you simply can\u2019t go wrong with sweet potatoes. don\u2019t let the name \u2018sweet\u2019 fool you into thinking this isn\u2019t a healthy food. while sweet potatoes do contain some naturally occurring sugars, they\u2019re also rich in dietary fiber<\/a> and other important nutrients that fuel a healthy body.<\/p>\n
![\"healthiest](\"\/\/www.digitopmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/healthiest-foods-on-earth-1024x678.jpg\")
<\/p>\nsweet potatoes are one of the healthiest foods on earth and also a rich source of beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant that can help foster greater immune health, according to the faseb journal<\/a>. additionally, the\u00a0journal of medicinal food<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>found that sweet potatoes have a high nutritional content.<\/p>\n
healthiest foods: garlic<\/h2>\n
finally, while not considered a \u2018food\u2019 per se, garlic is something that you do want to include in your menu each day if possible. this delicious flavoring ingredient offers a wide array of health benefits including helping you reduce your cholesterol profile (see study in atherosclerosis<\/a>), strengthening your immune system and helping you ward off the common cold (see study in the\u00a0journal of hypertension<\/a>).<\/p>\n
salmon | spinach | berries | avocado | coconut milk\/oil | sweet potatoes | garlic | q&amaking the commitment to …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14751],"tags":[243,14737,14786],"acf":{"is_medically_reviewed":true,"medically_reviewed_by":{"id":46,"user_firstname":"andria","user_lastname":"corso","nickname":"andriacorso","user_nicename":"andriacorso","display_name":"andria corso","user_email":"sumer@sumer.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2017-08-04 13:06:22","user_description":"andria corso is an award-winning life and leadership coach and fitness expert with 20 years\u2019 experience working with clients to create success in all areas of their life. full bio<\/a>","user_avatar":false},"q_and_a":[{"question":"what are the 3 foods you should eat everyday?","answer":"