5 Foods with Surprising Health Benefits

The Right Foods = Success with Health

There are a lot of foods out there that come with obvious health benefits. From apples and spinach to almonds and salmon, there are a lot of healthy choices at your disposal, but whether you’re trying to lose weight or just get fit, it often feels like there are never enough options.

If you’re like me you probably find boredom can set in quickly on any eating plan, and that can spell serious trouble when it comes to seeing results. Without enough of the right foods in your kitchen cravings can get out of control fast.

Luckily, there are a lot of foods out there with some pretty surprising health benefits. These foods can help add some variety into your daily eating routine, satisfy cravings, and boost your health in some serious ways.

Here are the 5 foods that top my list…

5 Surprisingly Healthy Foods to Satisfy Your Taste Buds

1. Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil

I’m starting off this list with an item that’s been getting a lot of publicity of late. But just in case you haven’t hear, coconut oil is one of the best oils to include in your diet, whether it’s raw or used in cooking. Unlike hydrogenated coconut oils that were used a couple of decades ago (and shown to be quite unhealthy), the coconut oil that’s on the market today is much less processed and comes with a ton of health benefits such as being good for your skin, immunity and even with weight management.

In addition to giving you healthy skin and supporting a healthy metabolism, coconut oil is a great ingredient to help you fight cravings. Try Nutiva Organic Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil in your stir fry, in a dressing, or blended into a smoothie.

2. Peppers & Pepper Flakes

Bell peppers offer a wealth of benefits for your health. First off, they’re great at boosting metabolism and helping your body burn more calories and fat. This can be a huge advantage on a fat loss plan. There’s also new research out suggesting that eating peppers on a regular basis can significantly lower your risk of a number of serious diseases, including Parkinson’s disease.

Crushed red pepper flakes are also great for your health, and can actually prevent you from overeating. So whichever way you like to enjoy them, include more of these flavor-rich foods in your diet.

3. Nuts, Nuts, and more Nuts

Nuts are an important ingredient on any healthy eating plan, whether you want to burn fat or increase muscle. They’re often misinterpreted as an unhealthy option due to their fat content, but it’s important to remember that the fats in nuts are healthy fats. These healthy fats actually help boost your metabolism and even support brain health.

What’s even better, nuts are great for satisfying cravings of pretty much any kind. Check out these Cajun Lemon Pepper Almonds – they also include a little heat to further rev up your metabolism!

4. Dark Chocolate

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about dark chocolate, but what’s really going on with this sweet indulgence? In moderation, research shows that dark chocolate can help avoid your less desirable cravings for junk food and sugary treats. The fat in chocolate does a great job of satisfying cravings for longer periods of time, and they also give your metabolism a bit of a boost.

Secret Tip: try melting some dark chocolate and dipping strawberries in them with your partner, chocolate also has a good aphrodisiac effect!

5. Instant or Quick Oats

When people think of oats as part of a healthy diet, they normally think of steel-cut oats, which are not the easiest food to prepare (they take a long time to cook). But if you’re tight on time, instant oats and quick oats still offer a healthy punch. And if your mind goes to concerns about carbs, these are the kinds of carbs you should be getting. Oats are a lot less processed than many other grains, especially wheat.

They’re also really high in fiber, which is one of the best ingredients to make you feel full and help you avoid cravings. So try starting your day with them to give you a long boost of energy, or eat them as a mid-morning snack. Just watch the added sugar!

Looking for more healthy ideas? Also check out these 7 Superfoods You Can Mix Into Any Dish.

Have any questions or feedback about these 5 Foods with Surprising Health Benefits? Please leave a comment below…