6 Foods to Explore For a Healthier Diet

As you move towards a whole foods diet, there are various ingredients to be on the lookout for because of the special health properties they offer. In this day and age, an increasing amount of people are looking for ways on how to prevent disease and promote a higher level of well being. Healthier food choices help prevent type-2 diabetes, lung cancer and heart disease. Below are six suggested foods and ingredients you may want to incorporate into your next meal:

1. Spinach - When you prepare dinner and include spinach as a side dish, you will gain access to a high level of nutrients, which accounts for at least 50% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, and also supplies a decent amount of vitamin C. Additional features that make spinach a healthy addition to any meal includes reasonable amounts of iron, calcium, and folate. When looking for a few recipes including spinach, consider Cheesy Spinach Casserole or Spinach Rice. Spinach makes a nice addition to omelets and other egg dishes as well.

2. Basil - This herb offers a distinct flavor and accommodates many different recipes. Basil is known to lower high blood pressure, and is healing to the respiratory system. Basil is a common ingredient in Italian cooking.

3. Asparagus - With a high level of folate, asparagus is a great vegetable to include in recipes when cooking for a pregnant woman. The vegetable tastes great with a little honey, lemon juice and butter and is heavenly when sautéed in garlic. If your kids won't eat it, you can find clever recipes that include asparagus in guacamole.

4. Pumpkin - You don’t have to wait until Autumn to enjoy the fiber, iron, folate, and excellent source of vitamin A contained in this large squash. As a rule of thumb, canned pumpkin actually contains more vitamin A than freshly cooked pumpkin – so whip out a can and use it in your next baking recipe, squash soup or vegetable dish.

5. Apricots - The sources of beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium and iron contained in apricots makes them a great choice for healthy eating. For those looking for a decent dieting treat, apricots are great because they are low in calories – three apricots only provide 50 calories. When cooking, try baking apricots with chicken or including them in your next granola or muffin recipe.

6. Nuts - Although high in calories, nuts are a smart addition to the daily diet as they contain healthy fats, including Omega 3s, and they can lower your cholesterol. They're also a great source of fiber.