5 Healthy Plant-Based Foods You Should Eat Everyday

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Many believe that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be expensive or time-consuming, but that is not necessarily so. The foundation of a healthy life is often very simple: exercise regularly, drink water, and eat a nutritious diet, mostly plant-based diet to take advantage of the vitamins, minerals, fiber and anti-oxidants these wonderful foods have to offer. Below, 5 plant-based foods that should be consumed daily for optimal health are discussed.

Nuts
Nuts are wildly popular among the health-conscious for many reasons. For one thing, they are an excellent protein source for vegans and vegetarians. They are easy to bring along as snacks or in packed lunches, they can be eaten with no preparation, and the fact that they are high in both fiber and protein will help keep the body feeling full and satisfied. Many nuts also contain “good” monounsaturated fats which aid in weight loss and promote cardiac health.

Leafy Greens
Leafy greens – including vegetables like arugula, kale, spinach, collards and chard – are a nutritional powerhouse and necessary for a balanced diet. For instance, just one cup of kale can provide 206% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for Vitamin A, 134% of the RDA for Vitamin C and a whopping 684% of Vitamin K. These greens can all be delicious parts of salads, soups, casseroles and pasta dishes, just to name a few.

Whole Fruit
Whether fresh or frozen, whole fruit is a top pick for those following a healthy dietary regimen. To begin with, they remain one of the best ways to satisfy the sweet tooth but although they do contain sugars, they are also high in fiber so the sugar breaks down more slowly in the body and does not spike up the blood sugar levels. They are also rich in vitamins, minerals, cancer-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals that bring many health benefits.

Orange Vegetables
While all vegetables can be a part of a healthy diet, orange vegetables in particular are an excellent choice to help nourish the body and boost overall health. This group includes squashes and pumpkins, carrots and sweet potatoes and bring with them loads of Vitamin A, which support a healthy immune system and good vision.

Legumes
The legume family includes beans, peas and lentils, among others, and this group of foods is one of the best known sources of plant-based, high-fiber protein, making it an excellent option for vegans, vegetarians and those who simply want to cut down on their consumption of meat. One cup of lentils, for instance, can provide an impressive 18g’s of protein.

Keeping healthy does not have to be a complicated matter. And a diet which includes daily servings of the foods mentioned above will go a long way to keeping the body healthy and happy.

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Sandeep Godiyal
Sandeep has written many health field articles for both Internet and print publication. His areas of expertise including traditional medicine, alternative and naturopathic and natural treatments, wellness, medical marijuana, diets and fitness.