Power Foods

     A while back I talked about some of the important benefits fruits can provide to your body, but recently I've been wanting to do a similar post. Fruits and vegetables are a really important staple to include in your diet. A lot of fruits fight against cancer, and others provide their own unique benefits. They can help treat insomnia and even reverse diabetes. Below I'm going to go more in depth on some specific fruits, vegetables, and other summer-y power foods.

     Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C, and fiber, but what exactly does that mean? Antioxidants are little fighting powerhouses in the body, and they help to boost the immune system as well as combat illnesses. For hundreds of years, blueberries were the cure to coughs and colds. Studies have also shown that the antioxidants in blueberries can help improve memory, regulate blood pressure, preserve eyesight, and treat depression. Plus the fiber in these guys can help treat UTIs and keep your digestive tract healthy. You can serve 'em up on yogurt or in smoothies, but I prefer just to eat them plain.
     If you don't know too much about healthy eating, then you probably weren't expecting to see chocolate on this list, but dark chocolate is the healthy cure to your sweet tooth. It improves heart health by reducing the "bad" cholesterol and blood pressure while also improving blood flow to the brain. It also can help prevent diabetes! I'm not saying you should go out and eat all the dark chocolate you can find, obviously this should be eaten in moderation. It's still chocolate and it contains plenty of sugar and calories, but just swapping out your milk chocolate snack for the dark chocolate choice could do you some good. Note that chocolate with the highest amount of cocoa is going to give you the most health benefits.
     Avocados are packed full of healthy fats, the kinds you need for energy and to regulate your cholesterol. They're known to prevent Alzheimer's, boost heart health, lower blood pressure, protect from prostate and breast cancer, and slow down nature's effect on your skin. Plus the folic acid in avocados can provide a lot of health benefits to pregnant women and also reduce the risk of strokes.
     Bananas are cheap, nutritious, and easy to get a hold of all year round. You're probably aware that bananas contain lots of potassium, and it's true! Bananas are one of the best sources of potassium, and essential component to heart health. Bananas also contain loads of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C, which are just a few components that give this super fruit the ability to strengthen bones and promote kidney health. Bananas are a great addition to any smoothie or fruit salad, or you can just eat them plain... maybe even dipped in dark chocolate?
     Cucumbers are also really cheap in the summer, and they're great snack foods if you're looking for something low in calories. Their low calorie count is due to the fact that their mostly made up of water, which also works to keep you hydrated. During these hotter months, hydration is key. They also have been proven to make your hair grow faster, prevent multiple types of cancer, reduce cholesterol, and fight bad breath.
     For me, strawberries are synonymous with summer. Packed with fiber, Vitamin C, and lots of antioxidants, strawberries make a great summer snack. They're great immunity boosters as well as protectants from cancer and eye problems. Strawberries also fight wrinkles, but they're most beneficial to your heart.

     It's getting late, so i'm going to end this post here. There are a lot of great foods that I didn't mention, so hopefully I can find the time to write another one of these posts soon. I hope you learned something from this post, or were at least encouraged to treat your body to some healthy lovin'! Let me know in the comments what your favorite healthy food is!