The Top 5 Ingredients in Healthy Eating Plans

Everyone knows what is required to devise healthy eating plans.  Still, when faced with the various selections available at the majority of modern mega-marts, our good intentions fly out the window and we end up with carts filled with cookies, soft drinks and chips.  None of which will do a bit of good if you want to eat well.

Fighting temptation does get easier once you stay on a healthy eating plan for a while.  You see how much better you feel and your body stops craving the junk food so much.  There are certain ingredients which you need to have in your kitchen at all times.  Let’s look at the top 5.

Leafy greens – I know that you have heard the milk industry’s ads for years about how you should get your calcium from milk, and yes, it is a source.  A better source, really, is leafy green vegetables.  Calcium is more readily accessible when it comes from a plant source.  Stock up on things like broccoli,kale, bok choi, mustard and collard greens and others.  You receive a fiber boost at the same time.

Raw Nut products – Raw nuts and nut butters of every kind provide a protein boost, some heart healthy fats and fiber.  They keep you feeling full for hours and are great for you to pack along when you are out and about.  Tossed on salads, eaten by themselves and enjoyed on top of other items, they add a good crunch and flavor.

Proteins – Each meal should contain some protein.  That doesn’t mean you have to pack in pounds of protein each day–quite the contrary.  You need to be looking at a few ounces at each meal, though.  Get your protein from organic whole eggs, grass fed meats, wild caught fish and organic poultry.  Milk products, which must only be consumed raw, aren’t a source of protein – they’re essentially a garnish.

Water – People do not drink enough water each day.  One estimate suggests that you should take your body weight and multiply it by 2/3.  That, in ounces, is how much water you need to be drinking, each day. 

Each cell in your body needs enough water to function properly.  Your body is comprised primarily of water.  If you need to, make a large pitcher of herbal tea and store it in the fridge to supplement your water intake.  Stay away from juices, milk, coffee (barring one cup of black coffee a day), soft drinks or — heaven forbid!– any of those artificially sweetened concoctions that are horrible for you nutritionally.

The right oils – There are only two oils you should use, olive oil and coconut oil.  Olive oil has all the publicity it can needs, but coconut oil has a mixed reputation, and it’s not true. 

High in lauric acid, coconut oil helps fight both viral and bacterial infections.  It has medium length fatty chains that help the liver function optimally and the fat is converted directly into energy – not fat.  Use coconut oil for frying and high temperature usage, use the olive oil for everything else, including baking.

As you can see, the top 5 foods for healthy eating plans are both healthy and tasty.