4 Healthy Food Choices for a Healthier Life, Weight Loss and Improved Nutrition

By Drew on 2nd July, 2009

Munch on Unusual Foods and Get Some Excellent Benefits

Some foods just do not get the credit they deserve. There is so much hype and fuss surrounding different diet plans, supplements and miracle pills that it is easy to forget about some of the healthy options that are natural, and readily available. To be honest it is a shame that some of the healthiest foods available are often ignored and cast aside. Think about celery for instance. It only gets credit when it is stuffed inside of a Caesar, never as a great food choice on its own. Well if you want to get healthy and want to eat right, then take notice and start utilizing the following foods. Here is a list for the top 4 healthy foods that you are probably avoiding.

Healthy Food Choice #1-Celery

Every large stalk of celery contains just 10 calories and has no fat. It seems that celery has gotten the short end of the “stalk” in recent years as people recognize it as a snack food with no nutritional benefits; this is simply not the case. Doctors are noticing that the patients who consume about four sticks of celery a day are coming in with modestly decreased blood pressure. Aside from the blood pressure benefits celery is a great snack food that can fill you up without adding too many calories or packing on the Weight Watchers points.

Healthy Food Choice #2-Seaweed

While seaweed is quite a popular side dish in Asia it very rarely gets taken seriously in the Western world, and it really should. 1 tablespoon of dried seaweed only comes with 20 calories and 4 grams of protein. The plant itself is loaded with potassium and calcium and dried seaweed makes a great substitute for salt. If you want to start taking advantage of seaweed you can buy sheets from a local health food store and grind it up into a powder. It can instantly be used for seasoning salads, soups and other dishes without the drawback that comes with pouring on the salt.

Healthy Food Choice #3-Hemp Seeds

Yes hemp is classified in the same category as cannabis, but these are not the seeds that you want to be smoking. Hemp seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These are well known for reducing the risk for strokes and heart disease. Just one ounce of these super healthy seeds can provide your body with 11 grams of protein. This isn’t the usual useless protein that is found in all your average vegetables either. Because of the essential amino acids that can be found in hemp seeds the protein it provides is comparable to your usual sources such as meat and dairy. It is easy to fit hemp seeds into your diet as well. Mix them up in a stir fry or add them to your morning oatmeal and you will be benefiting almost immediately.

Healthy Food Choice #4-Lentils

It will not comes as a shock that lentils are actually good for you, but you have to admit that you probably haven’t thought of adding them to a meal in years. Simple, boiled lentils can provide 16 grams of fiber from just one cup. The colored lentils, such as red, orange and black, can give your body a boost from antioxidants as well. And although you may be reluctant to try it, lentils are a great way to substitute calorie packed pasta in certain meals. Grill some chicken and lay it on a plate full of lentils and you have a super healthy meal can fight disease and make you feel better.

So there you have it. It is time to stop ignoring certain foods just because they aren’t at the front of the checkout line in clear view. Take a trip to the local health food store and look into these healthy foods as alternatives to some common food choices. Sure you may be tempted to go for the expensive, chemically enhanced diet pills, but the truth is that natural products out there can be more than enough to give your body the boost it craves. Get a little creative with your meals, try new things and feel the comfort of upping your intake on some excellent food choices.