Food is more than just fuel for the body, it has active ingredients that are very beneficial for the body. It can help to improve your health and prevent diseases and illnesses. There are certain nutrients in foods that are very important in making sure our body is functioning at its optimal and remaining as healthy as possible. We have come up with a list of 4 active ingredients that can take over products in your medicine cabinet.
1. Fibre
Fibre is one of those active ingredients that does more than just make you feel full, which can aid in weight loss. It helps to stabilize blood sugar by attaching itself to the sugars in foods we are eating and reduce the affect they have on the body. Fibre is also a great way to insure good digestive and colon health.
Some great food that contain fibre:
- Apples & Pears
- Nuts & seeds
- Broccoli
- Dark leafy greens
- Legumes
2. Plant Sterols
Plant sterols or plant oils are a great source of fat that do not affect the blood- vessel wall like animal fat do. They are also a great way to help lower cholesterol levels and improve your immune system
Some great food that contain plant sterols:
- Variety of fruits and vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
- Whole grains made with barley, brown rice, oats and quinoa
3. Omega- 3
Omega- 3 is a great sources of healthy fat that helps to reduce cholesterol… Yes, healthy fats actually reduce cholesterol!! They also help to increase heart health and they help to reduce inflammation in the body. So they are great for people with injuries or arthritis.
Food that contain a good source of omega-3:
- Cold water fish
- Seeds such as flax seeds, pumpkin
- Nuts such as walnuts
4. Probiotics
Probitotics are naturally found in the body however due to stress, antibiotics and other harmful factors the “good” bacteria in the gut gets reduced and it is a good idea to help our bodies increase the number of these good bacteria through food and supplementation. Probiotics are great when it comes to aiding the digestion process and research has also shown that they can help skin issues, boosting immunity and reducing allergies.
Foods that contain “good” bacteria:
- Yogurt
- Dark chocolate
- Pickles
- Kefir
