Top 10 Healthiest Foods

The top 10 healthiest foods are packed with nutritional benefits. In fact, they have more nutrients per calorie than the majority of foods. They contain vitamins, minerals and fiber to help thwart all kinds of diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and more.

1.

 The Food Network lists berries as the number one food to eat for better health. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are outstanding nutritional sources high in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants with stress-fighting benefits that help boost brain function and memory. High in vitamin C, berries also have properties known to stop cancer-causing damage.

2.

 You've heard the old adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." It's not a surprise that apples are listed as number one among the top 10 healthiest foods at Medical News Today. Apples have a lot to offer nutritionally. They provide a good source of pectin, and the fiber found in apples has been shown to lower cholesterol and glucose levels.

3.

 Salmon is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit the heart. It's a good protein to add to your diet that's low in saturated fat and cholesterol; it falls at number six on the list of healthiest foods found at the Mayo Clinic Health Source.

4.

 Number three on the healthiest foods list at the Food Network, vegetables offer a rainbow of health benefits. Yellow vegetables and leafy greens provide carotenoids which the body converts to vitamin A. Vegetables promote healthy skin, hair and vision and even protect against prostate cancer. Green veggies are high in cancer-fighting sulforaphane and quercitin.

5.

 Red beans, including small red beans, pinto and dark red kidney types, offer a great low-fat resource for dietary fiber, protein, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and thiamin. They are listed as number five among the top 10 healthiest foods by the Mayo Clinic Women's Health Source.

6.

 Nuts provide a rich source of nutrients. Almonds are a healthful choice providing fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron, calcium and vitamin E. The monounsaturated fat in almonds is good for the heart and aids in lowering cholesterol levels.

7.

 Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene, a good source of fiber and are also rich in vitamin C, vitamin B-6 and potassium. This fat-free, healthy food is also comparatively low in calories.

8.

 We hear a lot about whole grains as related to healthy eating, and for good reason. They make the top 10 list at the Food Network not only because they are an inexpensive source of protein, B vitamins, fiber and minerals, but also because adding healthy whole foods to your diet helps to prevents heart disease and diabetes.

9.

 Garlic has long been noted as good for your health. Several studies have proven that adding garlic to your diet can lower blood pressure and decrease LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol.

10.

 Coming in at number 10 at Food Reference.com, turkey provides one of the leanest sources of protein that is also low in calories. One health benefit to eating turkey is that it contains selenium. Studies show that selenium slows cancer development and builds up the immune system.

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