Most of us are all too familiar with the phrase, ‘five fruit and veg a day,’ and while some of us will be conscious to match this in our diet everyday it can also become confusing knowing what is actually good for us. Which foods are in fact good for our health and which have high nutritional value. We have explored this question and come up with the following foods which tick all the right boxes. These foods are not only nutritious but versatile and easy to keep!

Health Foods #1 – Brown Rice

Brown, unrefined rice that has had the least amount of polishing and refining contains a vast quantity of nutrients. These nutrients include fiber, folic acid, potassium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, panthothenic acid, pyridoxine and low amounts of sodium. Rice is wonderfully easy to incorporate into a variety of dishes.

Health Foods #2 – Seeds and Nuts

Seeds and nuts are a great source for protein, good fats, some fiber and a host of minerals. A good note here is that the nutrients within nuts and seeds can be difficult for the body to absorb. However when combined with food high in vitamin C, then absorption is much easier.

Health Foods #3 – Garlic

Garlic is a long history in medicinal medicine due to its potent antibacterial properties. More recent research has uncovered garlic to be an effective treatment against heavy-metal poisoning. Other conditions that garlic is known to be good for include sinusitis, bronchitis and catarrh just to name a few. Remember the old wives tale of wearing a string of garlic around your neck to prevent getting sick with the flu? Not such a farfetched story in fact! Garlic is best when eaten raw and the nutrients are still intact. When adding to cooked meals try adding it just before serving to help keep its beneficial properties intact.

Health Foods #4 – Raw Honey

Raw honey is rich in nutrients including vitamin C, D, E and a few vitamin B’s as well. Honey also has a long line of traditional uses both medicinally and culinary; being particularly effective in treating coughs and colds. Recent studies have noted how honey has healing properties and can be useful in reducing scars and promote healing after an operation.

Health Food #5 – Cacao

Believe it or not be cacao in its pure form is known as a super food due to its high antioxidant properties – in fact it contains one of the highest amounts of anti-oxidant properties. Cacao provides other valuable nutrients such as mineral magnesium, some B vitamins and mono-oxidase inhibitors; these inhibitors allow for our feel good hormones, serotonin and dopamine to stay in our blood stream for a prolonged period of time. So the crack about chocolate making you feel good is in fact true! So to get the most out of cacao go for dark chocolate, preferably nothing less than 75%.

These are just a few examples of which foods are great for our bodies. Try incorporating these and other known health foods into your daily diet. It won’t be long before you start feeling the benefits of better health!