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15 Best Foods To Revitalize Both Mind And Body
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If you are anything like most of our readers, you simply crave alternative health methods! Do you love becoming healthier by using natural means to support your immune system? Love finding ways to stop everyday little health issues without making a trip to the doctor or pharmacy? Who doesn’t love taking the natural path in life?!
Most people rely on supplements, shakes, tablets, diets, and a dozen other ways to try and improve their health, but the truth is that all we really need to do, most times, is look to Mother Nature and the way she designed this planet to work in perfect harmony.
It’s been said that there is a plant, seed, herb, or spice on this earth for every single disease known to man — we just haven’t discovered them all yet!
Therefore, to be the healthiest person you can possible be, you simply need to spend time outdoors, get some exercise, sleep at night, and eat more of the natural foods that are all around you. If you truly want to feel the power of natural foods, eat a lot more of the following 15 foods. You will really understand what it means when people say, “you are what you eat.” These foods will revitalize both mind and body in ways that even scientists don’t fully understand. Give them a try, and feel your best!
1. Kombucha
This fermented drink is loaded with more healthy revitalizing compounds than you can shake a stick at. Consumed for centuries all over the world, this drink is made by fermenting healthy types of bacteria and yeast. Although this drink is lightly fermented, it really does give you a feeling of “SWOOSH” when you drink it! This has tons of healthy probiotics that will improve your digestive system, where about 90 percent of your immune system lies. It also has all of the B vitamins, which are very important for vegans. B vitamins are vital for a healthy mind and for keeping depression at bay. Kombucha also has plenty of antioxidants for long-lasting energy. If you haven’t tried this super drink, you are missing out!
2. Turmeric
No list would be complete without this super food giant! Turmeric, whose active ingredient is curcumin, is perhaps the most powerful herb in the world. With potent anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal compounds, this disease-fighting herb has shown to work wonders on everything from Alzheimer’s disease to arthritis to cancer! Add this spice to all sorts of dishes, including vegetables, rice, and soups. Or, if you prefer, simply mix a tablespoon in a glass of warm milk and drink it every day for revitalization of both mind and body that you can really feel!
3. Apples
There are many, many reasons to heed that old adage about an apple a day. Apples improve the immune system, reducing cholesterol, which can stop heart disease, as well as help with all types of digestive problems. Apples also can improve your brain function, memory skills, and mood. Just one or two apples each day increase the levels of acetylcholine in your brain, which is a very important neurotransmitter vital for memory. Apples also remove toxins in the brain, which can cause things like dementia. There are dozens of ways to get your apple on if you really aren’t a fan of the flavor. Try squeezing your own apple juice, or try some of the many different varieties until you find one that tickles your taste buds.
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4. Coconut Oil
Hands down, it’s the healthiest oil anywhere in the world! Coconut oil is an absolute must have for many people, and once you start to feel the health benefits it can bring, you will be adding your name to the list of those who can’t go without their coconut oil! This oil not only gives you true energy that your body can really put to use immediately, it also burns fat, fights brain diseases and deterioration, it has anti-viral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial compounds that cannot be beat. Use coconut oil for your cooking as it can withstand high temperatures that olive oil cannot handle.
5. Coconut Water
We just can’t get enough coconuts! Beside coconut oil, coconut water must be one of the best drinks for super hydration, B vitamins, and electrolytes that will truly restore your body after a hard workout. Coconut water also has plenty of blood pressure-lowering potassium, and B6, which helps to relieve stress on your nervous system. Drinking a cup or two of coconut water each day will go a long way towards restoring balance in the body, thus revitalizing you in a tasty way!
6. Ginkgo Biloba
Well-studied and well-documented, this herb dates back thousands of years and its medicinal properties are well-known. Ginkgo biloba is one of the most potent antioxidants and is often recommended to fight premature aging. It can make your skin look younger, and it can make you feel younger to boot! How many herbs can claim that? Ginkgo biloba is also a natural way to boost the memory and improve cognition. This herb also improves circulation, which means it increases blood flow to the brain, helping you to revitalize your thought process and make you feel more alive. This herb can be consumed via supplements, or you can simply add some to your favorite herbal tea.
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7. Honey
How sweet it is! Honey has been used for untold centuries for its anti-fungal and antibacterial compounds, but modern science has also shown us that this sweet treat also has anti-viral and anti-allergy compounds as well. Although how honey actually works is not fully understood, this super good tasting treat can be consumed in reasonable amounts daily (except for those with health issues such as diabetes or for babies under a year old). Honey is a natural brain protector with powerful antioxidant compounds that will improve your memory. You can add it to just about anything you like, or enjoy a sweet tablespoon right out of the jar.
8. Blueberries
Although all berries offer an incredible wealth of health benefits, blueberries really stand out. Loaded with tons of antioxidants, they only improve when frozen! Blueberries rejuvenate the brain cells by stimulating the production of fresh cells while stopping brain-killing free radicals in their tracks. These little sweet jewels also have phytonutrients and bioflavonoids that stop premature again while improving memory function. Eat them anyway you like, anytime you can!
9. Kale
Always on super food lists, this vegetable helps with numerous functions in both the body and the brain. Kale is loaded with healthy fats, minerals, vitamins, and phytonutirents that improve memory, boost your libido, give you natural energy, and it even keeps moods swings to a minimum. Kale accomplishes all this because of its nutritional structure as well as its powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. When you consider the healthy fats, iron, vitamin C, and B vitamins kale contains, along with its anti-inflammatory nature, you get an idea as to why this green leafy veggie has long been considered a force with which to be reckoned.
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10. Watermelon
Who doesn’t love the taste of watermelon? On top of that sweet taste, watermelon is a terrific choice for rehydration in the summer months. Even in other times of the year, watermelon is loaded with vitamins A, C, a few B vitamins, and phytonutirents, not to mention antioxidants for beautiful skin, beta-carotene for the eyes, and citrulline! Watermelons are also a terrific source of potassium, which lowers stress levels and lowers blood pressure as well! Potassium is really important as it not only is necessary for muscle and nerve function, but it also removes excess salt from the body. Although we think of watermelon as a summer fruit, imagine how nice some watermelon water would be to give you a burst of those summertime feelings even in mid-December.
11. Lemons
No matter how you slice them, lemons are a “sweet” gift to us from Mother Earth. The refreshing, clean scent alone that revitalizes the mind is enough to keep lemons around, but when you add some juice to a glass of water or tea, you have a revitalizing force which can restore the body to a more alkaline state. Lemons are loaded with immune-boosting vitamin C, potassium, iron, bioflavonoids, B vitamins, magnesium, and calcium, just to name a few of their healthy ingredients. With its powerful anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic compounds, lemons restore your natural pH to the body, while helping the liver and kidneys to cleanse themselves naturally.
12. Almonds
Think of almonds as Mother Nature’s multi-vitamin! These tasty little nuts are full of macronutrients and micronutrients that simply can’t be beat for revitalizing brain function, skin healthy, muscle building, anemia prevention, erectile problems, and energy galore. Almonds are full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, as well as carnitine and riboflavin, which are true brain foods. Try some almond butter for a change of pace.
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13. Fish
Although all fish have something beneficial to offer the body and mind, fatty fish such as sardines, salmon, trout, and tuna are all perfect for your health for so many reasons. Fatty fish are full of protein and brain-improving fats, which make this the perfect brain and brawn food! The omega-3 fatty acids in fish have long been shown to improve heart health, but they also help with depression, memory, and immune system function, and are fabulous inflammation fighters. Is it any wonder that guidelines recommend eating at least two servings each week for terrific health?
SEE ALSO: Top 10 Of The Worst Foods To Never Eat Again
14. Ginger
Similar to turmeric, ginger is a “miracle” herb that can do very much the same things that turmeric can, but with the added benefit of stopping nausea and vomiting. Ginger has anti-cancer compounds; super antibacterial capabilities (by some accounts, even better than prescription antibiotics); as well the ability to cure common digestive problems such as upset tummies. This herb can stop inflammation in the brain and body, which makes it terrific for stopping headaches and arthritis. Ginger tea tastes great, but you can also use this in just about any food dish you like.
15. Eggs
Complete eggs (not just the whites) are so full of nutrition, they are often called Mother Nature’s perfect food! Eggs offer plenty of nutrition and benefits to both brain and body. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and protein, eggs have enough protein to build muscle as well as enough amino acids for superior brain support. Eggs are a great way to get your B vitamins, which are vital for neural processes, memory, and stress support. Eggs do contain cholesterol, but you can relax: This doesn’t raise blood cholesterol levels. There is a multitude of ways to enjoy eggs whether you hard boil them and add them to your salads or vegetable dishes, scramble them with rice, fry them, poach them, or what have you. You cannot beat the incredible, very edible, egg.
Add more of these foods to your diet for 30 days, and see if you don’t feel better and find that you can think more clearly than ever before! Be sure to get plenty of sleep, vitamin D from the sun, and some exercise to really enjoy all the revitalizing benefits of these super foods.
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