Ten Power Packed Foods to Keep You In Tip Top Health
Here are ten top power packed foods designed to give you good health, vitality, and enough energy to get you through a busy day.
What is the secret to a long and healthy life? The power packed food that we eat consistently would be the number one secret, and not all foods are created equal. Choosing and eating the right foods may help increase your life expectancy as well as the quality of your life.
These foods are by no means a definitive list however adding them to your diet will certainly pack a nutrional punch!
- Beans – Beans of all kinds (kidney, navy, lentils, chickpeas, Northern) are high in protein.
This is plant protein so it contains very little fat, carbs and calories. If fibre is a problem in your diet, eating a healthy portion of beans each day can keep your digestive system healthy. Soaking beans first can help prevent gas if that is a problem.
- Oatmeal – Oatmeal is a great food that lowers blood cholesterol.
You can make it yourself with rolled oats or eat the instant kind if you are in a hurry. Oatmeal is a filling grain that also provides much needed fibre to keep hunger at bay and your blood sugar constant. Try some of the “ancient” grains such as amaranth and quinoa which are also excellent choices.
3. Fruits – Fruits are filled with antioxidants such as Vitamin A and C. 
Antioxidants fight free radical damage in the body and reduce the risk of cancer. Berries such as blueberries and grapes have the highest amount of antioxidants. Choose an array of fruits in a wide variety of colours for maximum health. The antioxidants in fruit boost the immune system to fight the effects of aging in the body.
4. Allium foods – These type of foods includes garlic, onions, leeks and shallots. 
Garlic is known for lowering cholesterol. Allium vegetables help guard the body against the risk of cancer and many other ailments. They also help lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots. Eating these power packed vegetables in their natural state especially garlic increases their health benefits.
5. Salmon – Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of heart disease and other conditions like atherosclerosis. Wild salmon is a fatty fish but it contains good fats that have been proven to dramatically increase health and wellbeing. 
Salmon is a rich protein source and ideal for growth and repair of muscle tissue.
6. Flax seed – Like salmon it contains omega-3 fatty acids. These seeds also contain omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, and are excellent in the fight against high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. 
Ground flax seed can also be added to fruit smoothies, sprinkled in yogurt, eaten with cereal or added to pancake mix. Flaxseeds are a powerhouse food and should be used as often as possible in our diet.
7. Peppers – Peppers are colourful. They contain antioxidants like beta-carotene and Vitamin C. Peppers range from mild and sweet to very hot and spicy. All peppers contain a substance called capsaicin. 
Capsaicin has the properties of an anti-inflammatory, a pain reliever, lowers cancer risk and heart disease. They are a great accompaniment in salads, salsa and all sorts of dishes.
8. Nuts and seeds – Nuts are high in fat but those fats are the good kind. 
Peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and pistachios are all providers of good fats and protein. Crush them into a fine powder and use as a coating instead of higher carb bread crumbs. Nuts also help to lower cholesterol. Eat them right out of the shell, but be aware they are delicious and calorie dense and therefore very easy to overeat.
9. Açai – This little purple berry indigenous to the Amazon Basin has had lots of media attention lately. 
It is rich in antioxidants and increases energy. Its very versatile and most people take Acai as juice in the morning as part of breakfast, or as supplements for ease.
10. Yogurt – The fat free variety is good for you. Yogurt contains calcium, Vitamin B, and protein. 
If you don’t drink milk, yogurt is a good
alternative to up your calcium levels, which is important as we age, especially for women. Live yogurt also contains friendly bacteria to help promote a healthy digestive system. There are more varieties of yoghurt than ever before in our supermarkets, so its easy to find one that suits you.
This is by no means a definitive list of power packed foods, but by including these super foods often in your diet, you are continually feeding your body with all the nutrients you need to live a long healthy life.