Introducing Superfoods Into Your Diet: A Quick Guide
When it comes to nutrition, it can be hard to give your body the essential vitamins and minerals it needs. That’s often because you may enjoy eating foods that aren’t the best for you and may not particularly like foods that are healthy. This creates a dilemma in what foods to eat because you’re not eating the right foods, which means that you’re not getting the proper nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. But did you know that you can introduce healthy foods into your diet and not notice it? You might not think this is possible, but it certainly is. Superfoods are a great option to add to your diet and there are easy ways to do this.
- Add Apple Cider Vinegar to Salad Dressings
Apple cider vinegar boasts a variety of benefits. It aids digestion, regulates blood sugar, boosts the immune system and promotes weight loss. Apple cider vinegar aids digestion because it contains acetic acid, which is a very powerful antimicrobial agent that helps the body restore its natural stomach acid levels. When acidity in the stomach is high, your body won’t properly absorb nutrients. The next time you make your own vinaigrette, don’t use white vinegar. Add apple cider vinegar instead. - Put Nuts in Pesto
According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, nut consumption can contribute to a longer life and better health. In traditional pestos, pine nuts are a common ingredient. However, you can add even more antioxidants to your mix by putting in a handful of tree nuts. You can also toast them for added flavor. - Substitute Sugar With Canned Pumpkin
Consuming sugar in high amounts can negatively impact your health. Sugar is known to cause weight gain, blood sugar problems and an increased risk of heart disease. Luckily, there are many sugar substitutes such as stevia, xylitol, honey and erythritol. You can also swap sugar for canned pumpkin. Pumpkin has a light natural sweetness. It’s also great for replacing fats like eggs and oil in your baked goods and helping them stay fluffy and light. If you want to enjoy a delicious treat, add pumpkin to your brownies, cookies, cakes and other goodies. This will increase your Beta-carotene and add anti-inflammatory benefits all while keeping your calories on the low end. - Use Greek Yogurt Instead of Sour Cream
Cream and dairy products can be hard on the stomach while also adding extra calories. To combat these issues, you can substitute the heavy creams with Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is a great source of protein, probiotics and vitamin D. Compared to regular yogurt, Greek yogurt will keep you fuller for longer. As a result, you won’t be hungry and eat again right after. Overeating greatly contributes to weight gain. Therefore, Greek yogurt indirectly promotes weight loss and reduced calories. - Include Avocados on the Side
Avocados are a great source of nutrition. They’re not just good for making guacamole, but they also help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL). Avocados are very versatile. You can add them to salads, puree them into sauces, pair them with steamed veggies and slice them into sandwiches. - Blend Leafy Greens Into Your Smoothies
If you don’t enjoy eating greens like kale, spinach or collard greens, you can add them to your smoothies and get the essential nutrients this way. Using green superfood powder is a great way to incorporate essential vitamins and nutrients into your diet without detecting the taste. For even better flavor, you can add things like strawberries, bananas and mangoes to your smoothies.
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard. You should be able to enjoy foods that you think taste good. Don’t let taste stop you from altering your diet because there are many innovative ways you can make superfoods either taste better or go undetected in your meals.