What can’t walnuts do? They’re rich in antioxidants, which help remove bad cholesterol from your bloodstream. Just like fish, they have lots of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for your heart. Like sweet potatoes, they promote a healthy gut biome.
They can even help your metabolism by controlling your diet – they contain materials that reduce your appetite and hunger – scientists have even spent time monitoring brain scans and have found that walnuts may increase activity in the area of the brain that helps people resist tempting foods like cake and french fries.
Nothing Like a Little Bit of Spice
Chili peppers contain a lot of nutrients, and they're also capable of speeding up your metabolism. They offer manganese, iron, potassium, and magnesium, all essential minerals the human body needs. You might not love the spice, but adding hot foods of any kind is a healthy additive to your meals.
Chili peppers also have vitamin C, which offers tons of health benefits – you'll get healthier hair, skin, and a stronger immune system. Plus, all that heat in your body really warms you up and gets you moving, so your metabolism will be better in no time.
Your Health Will Turn Green With These Beans
Whether you had store-bought beans or ones from your own little garden, chances are you've sampled plenty of these beans under your mother's watchful eye. Mom was right all along, guys.
Green beans are heart-healthy, which keeps your most important organ going and helps you lose weight. They're naturally low-calorie and low in sodium, and even if you aren't into eating these plain, there are hundreds of dishes and meals to make out of this green staple. Get vitamins C and K, as well as folate and silicone, to improve your health even further. Oh, and say it with us now: they're high in fiber.
Lettuce Never Lets You Down
This veggie has lots of water, and we all know how good that is for you, for a myriad of reasons. However, lettuce is also high in nutrients, like all the other leafy vegetables in the world, including things like iron, potassium, calcium, and manganese.
It's also said to possess anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and antioxidant properties. If you're getting dinner with your friends, opt for the side salad instead of the fries, and you might feel yourself getting healthier as you eat. Even better, these leafy goods are frequently found at low prices, so it's easy to fit into any budget.
Crack Open Better Health
Protein is one of the things that keep you moving and that keeps your metabolism going. Peanuts are a natural source of protein, as well as a number of key vitamins such as B3, E, B1, B6, B2, and B9, and minerals like potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, all things that keep your body running and burning fuel at peak efficiency. And don't worry! Peanuts have plenty of fiber.
Grab a handful of these treats for a mid-afternoon snack, or add them to a meal like stir-fry, salads, and soups. Like any nut (peanuts are technically legumes, but that's splitting hairs), they're high in calories, so snack responsibly.