Top Health Foods
Food is Medicine. Period. With Covid-19 in full force, we need to focus and re-focus on optimal nutrition to stay healthy. Think about when you take pills. You take a pill to have an immediate effect on your body; high blood pressure, manage cholesterol, relieve pain, improve mood, fight infection, etc.
Food is like a pill. The effects of what you eat are immediate. Within ten minutes of eating a Big Mac hamburger, your blood sugar begins to rise and dopamine (a feel-good neurotransmitter) is released in the brain. That saturated fat is addictive. 970mg of sodium trigger hunger and dehydration after 30 minutes. Blood pressure goes up and kidneys are working harder. So the hamburger is like a pill that causes negative effects. What if you eat foods rich in antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins? The effects from these foods are immediate too. And the long term benefits are well researched and known.
Look in your refrigerator and pantry right now. How many of these foods are there? If you see none of these top health foods, it's time for a change.
Salmon, Tuna, Chicken, Spinach, Cabbage, Bananas, Sweet Potatoes, Avocados, Whole Grains. These provide Vitamin B6, needed to produce serotonin, the main neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep. too little serotonin is associated with depression. It is needed daily.
Salmon, Oysters, Anchovies, Mackerel, Sardines, Mussels, Walnuts, Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds. These provide Omega 3 DHA, the main Omega-3 fat in the brain. It is needed for production of BDNF, a hormone that protects neurons and promotes new brain cell growth.
Onions, Asparagus, Artichokes, Garlic, Bananas, Oats. These are probiotics and deliver the good microbes in our gut that are needed for health.
Yogurt, Sauerkraut, Kefir, KimChi or other fermented vegetables, Miso Soup, Kombucha, Tempeh. These foods are probiotics and provide live bacteria and yeasts to replenish the good bacteria in our microbiome.
Kale, Garlic, Blueberries, Potatoes, Shellfish. These foods are packed with micronutrients and vitamins like Vitamin C, K, A, B12, D, Zinc, Copper, potassium and fiber
These are just a few food examples that show how we can use food as medicine. I am not suggesting this is your entire diet but for optimal health you want to make sure you are eating most of these foods regularly.
