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Nutrition

Health Benefits of Everyday Food

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As we all know, eating a balanced diet is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Often we are so concerned with trying to cram as many ‘super-foods’ into our mouths that we overlook the nutritional benefits of everyday food. There are so many foods that we eat all the time that provide us with vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and the list goes on, so instead of spending three times as much on the newest supplement, why not take a look at the list below and see what you think?

Coffee

Commonly associated with caffeine, the health benefits of the average cup of coffee are completely overlooked. This is odd when research has shown that it reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as reducing the risk of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease. A study by Harvard has found that men who drink six cups of coffee a day have a 20% reduction in their risk of developing prostate cancer.

That little known benefit goes hand in hand with the more famous ones that coffee has like increased focus, memory performance, and enhanced muscle recovery. So next time you get offered a coffee, don’t turn it down because it isn’t ‘healthy.’

Berries

The great thing about berries is that they can be used in or on pretty much anything you fancy; try sprinkling a few on top of your cereal, or what about making a smoothie? The options are endless. But berries don’t just taste nice. They also contain loads of helpful nutrients like polyphenols.

Polyphenols help to reduce inflammation in our body, which is especially good news for those who have arthritis. Berries have also been proven to improve our memories as well as reducing the risk of heart disease and breast cancer. So instead of buying the standard apple, grab some berries!

Spinach

When we were younger, I’m sure we were all told to “eat our greens,” and at the time, I’m sure we didn’t see the point. But now I can see why eating them is so important and one of my favorites is spinach.

Jammed full of vitamins B, C, and E, this lovely leaf is precisely what you should put in your salad or on your pizza. Also, containing iron, calcium, and omega-3, there is very little wrong with spinach. After all, if it’s good enough for Popeye, then it’s good enough for us.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a huge part of world cooking from Chinese cuisine to Mexican you will find tomatoes. Not only do they taste great, they, like the other foods on this list, but also have loads of health benefits that you may not know about.

Perhaps surprisingly, the nutrients found within tomatoes are more readily absorbed by the body if they are cooked or processed. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is one of the most powerful antioxidants; it has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer as well as numerous benefits for the skin, such as decrease appearance of wrinkles and helping to prevent sunburn.