5 Foods with Unique Health Benefits for Your Family

One of the best things that you can do for your family is to remain committed to providing healthy meals while you eat together. Carving out this time each day to nourish your body with nutritious foods and your soul with great conversation will provide immense benefits to the overall health and well-being of your family. Make the most out of this time together by choosing foods that carry a big bang for the buck. Here are five foods that deliver unique health benefits to your family.

Oats

There is no better way to start your day than with a bowl of heart-healthy oatmeal. In addition to being rich in vitamins and minerals, oats also boast a soluble fiber known as beta-glucan. This fiber is known for its powerful ability to lower levels of LDL cholesterol. When looking for the best type of oatmeal, you would be wise to choose steel cut oats over instant varieties. The soluble fiber in steel cut oats is also helpful when looking to control blood sugar levels so that you are able to prevent diabetes. The high amount of fiber in oatmeal will also keep you full longer, helping everyone in your family to avoid the temptation of snacking throughout the morning.

Tomatoes

While tomatoes do indeed offer a wide array of vitamins and minerals, their most distinguished benefit is the amount of lycopene. This compound has been linked to a reduction in the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. Lycopene is most strongly linked to a reduction in prostate cancer. You will find the highest concentration of lycopene in the skin of the tomatoes. Tomatoes are also low in calories while still being a good source of fiber. This fruit is bursting with copious amounts of vitamin K1, vitamin C, potassium, and folate, making it an easy way to consume a host of nutritional benefits at once. You can serve tomatoes raw in salads or as tomato sauce. Even ketchup contains these vitamins, minerals, and lycopene in small amounts.

Olive Oil

As an integral part of the healthy Mediterranean diet, olive oil is one of the best products to keep in abundance in your pantry. This oil is rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, helping to reduce inflammation in the body. In addition to the high content of fatty acids, olive oil also is loaded with antioxidants that serve to protect the blood cholesterol from oxidation. Olive oil has also been shown to protect against heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. For the most superior taste and health benefits, consider the opportunity to buy olive oil online. When it comes to olive oil, there is a distinct difference between ordinary grocery store brands and high-quality imported oils.

Avocados

When looking for healthy fats, you will not do much better than boosting your family’s consumption of avocados. This food is also full of B vitamins, vitamin E, and vitamin K. These vitamins combine to increase levels of good cholesterol. Recent studies have demonstrated that avocados may be helpful in decreasing the risk of developing cancer. They also may assist in improving nutrient absorption, giving you confidence that your family will get the most out of the healthy diets.

Yogurt

Yogurt provides a host of unique benefits not found in other types of foods. While most people recognize the food for its excellent calcium and vitamin D provisions, many do not know that yogurt is also rich in both prebiotics and probiotics. Known as a healthy bacteria, probiotics are vital for healthy digestive system function. This organism is beneficial to anyone, especially for those who may suffer from digestive issues such as IBS. Yogurt also boasts an abundance of prebiotics. These compounds support the growth of the probiotics, working in tandem to promote optimal digestion. As one of the only foods that offers both probiotics and prebiotics, yogurt deserves a place on your kitchen table.

Making the effort to incorporate these five foods into your family’s nutritional plan will provide immense benefits both now and down the road. All five of these delicious staples deliver unique nutritional properties that are hard to replicate with other foods.