It’s no secret that the food we consume affects our health, body shape, and mood. Not only that, but our diets also provide us with the nutrients and calories we need to fuel our daily activities, including our workouts. This means that you can’t solely rely on exercise to lose weight or stay in shape; you’ll also need to follow a well-balanced diet for optimum results. If you plan on changing your eating habits to achieve your fitness and health goals, you’ll need to do a lot more than simply choosing fruits over ice cream. To become fitter and healthier, you need to know what types of food to eat and how often you should eat them. So, on that note, here’s a list of food that will help you achieve your goals in 5 Useful Foods That Will Help You Become Fitter & Healthier!
1. Oatmeal
There’s nothing better than a bowl of oats for breakfast to boost your energy for several hours to come. Oats are also filled with zinc and fibre that can reduce stress levels, improve immunity, promote weight loss, lower cholesterol levels, and improve heart health. We’re talking about organic, plain oatmeal here, though, not the flavoured, single-serving varieties you find at the grocery store. These are packed with sugar, and therefore excess (empty) calories.
2. Salmon
Salmon is rich in omega 3 fatty acids that provide numerous health benefits, from slowing down age-related memory loss to improving cardiac health. Some studies also show that the polyunsaturated fatty acids found in salmon and other types of fish can combat and help prevent obesity. Furthermore, a single, 3-ounce serving contains 20 grams of protein, making salmon a great choice for those looking to build muscle and burn fat.
3. Yogurt
Like milk, yogurt is rich in calcium, vitamins B and D, and phosphorus. Not only does it boost fat-burning, promote satiety, and prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures, but it’s also packed with active cultures that increase the number of germ-fighting bacteria along your gastrointestinal walls.
The probiotic bacteria found in miso, tempeh, yogurt, and other fermented food help improve gut health, digestion, and immunity. They may also help decrease belly fat. To get the most benefits from these probiotics, it’s best to buy yogurt that is less than a week old and stay away from brands that are packed with added sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.
4. Eggs
There’s a reason why eggs are considered the gold standard of nutrition. For starters, they are an excellent source of protein, which, in addition to boosting your metabolism, also helps boost tissue repair and promote satiety, allowing you to consume fewer calories while burning more. Not only that but under each shell, there are 4 grams of muscle-building amino acids and 113 mg of choline, an essential nutrient involved in many different bodily functions.
5. Blueberries
Whether you add them to your yogurt, salad, cereal, or smoothie, blueberries are some of the best fruity foods you can eat. They pack more vitamins, fibre, minerals, and free-radical-fighting antioxidants than any other fruit. These small but mighty berries can boost your immunity, enhance your brainpower and memory, lower LDL cholesterol levels, and reduce muscle damage after strenuous physical activity.
Staying in optimal shape and health is impossible without a well-balanced diet. You need to make sure your body gets all the nutrients and calories it needs from different food groups to achieve the shape you’ve been dreaming of and of course, to keep your health in tip-top shape. It’s all about including nutrient-dense, immunity-boosting, and muscle-building foods into your diet, and the ones listed above will certainly get you on the right track!
What are your favourite health and vitality-promoting foods? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
