10 Foods You Aren't Eating But Should Be

When it comes to eating healthy, most of us are familiar with the typical healthy foods that are associated with getting fit and trim.

For many years, these were the staples on which I lived and while they do work and are plenty good for us, they’re boring.

Chicken breasts
Fish
Fruits and vegetables
Lean meats
Eggs
Almonds
Oatmeal
Sweet potatoes

And unless you are super committed to your diet and don’t mind eating the same things every day, you’re going to want to mix things up.

Below is a list of 10 ultra healthy foods that most people don’t regularly eat (and may not even have heard of!).

You may have to shop around for some of these and maybe even order some online, but most are right in your local grocery store.

Here they are:

1) Grass-Fed (Organic) Beef

When it comes to shopping smart and even spending a few extra bucks, buying grass-fed beef (versus grain fed) is one of your best bets. Not only does it have vastly higher Omega-3 fatty acid and CLA levels, but it’s hormone and antibiotic free.

2) Macadamia Nuts

These rich, buttery nuts are full of antioxidants, help reduce cholesterol levels, lowers triglycerides, and are effin’ delicious! They’re not cheap but the taste and nutritional profile make them a wise addition to your grocery cart.

3) Okinawan Sweet Potatoes

This superfood isn’t actually a potato at all, it’s in the morning glory family. These bright purple “potatoes” are known for their very high antioxidant levels and have about 150% more than blueberries. Here is a recipe you can try and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it once you do.

4) Turmeric

This spice is said to have so many benefits that if you don’t use it, you’re missing out! Some of its benefits include:

Being a natural anti-inflammatory
Helping to neutralize free radicals in the body with its incredible amount of antioxidants
The curcumin in it may help fight of cancer and even heart disease
May be effective in treating depression

I personally sprinkle it on chicken and like the citrus flavor of it, but there are tons of ways to use it for recipes. This is a pretty tasty dish too.

5) Wild Caught Salmon

Wild salmon is a fantastic source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can can only be obtained through your diet. Benefits of proper Omega-3’s include reducing risk of heart disease, improving brain and immune function, and can help with arthritis and even anxiety.

Just look for the “wild caught” tag at the seafood counter and try to avoid “farm raised”.

6) Brussels Sprouts

These cruciferous veggies are the bomb! I won’t lie, I don’t like them, but the health benefits are too numerous to ignore. They’re loaded with vitamin A and C, calcium, potassium, and fiber and contain a cancer fighting phytochemical called indole. Plus they are made up of more than 25% protein. Just eat em!

7) Swiss Chard

This collard green doesn’t get much love or attention but it should. It’s got loads of iron, potassium, vitamin A, C, and E as well as being one of the best sources for vitamin K. Getting creative when cooking it will help with the flavor and this recipe is a good place to start.

8) Lemons

Lemons are often used as a natural detox and have high levels of vitamin A, C, E, and B6 as well as magnesium, potassium, and riboflaven. These antioxidants are shown to help prevent diabetes, hypertension, and GI problems so start dropping those slices into your water every day.

9) Grass-Fed Butter

This one is a but tricky to find in the stores and you’ll probably have to go to an organic market like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, but it’s worth the trip to get it. High fat dairy from grass-fed cows is one of the best sources of vitamin K, which is very important for heart health.

I recently read that in countries where cows are grass-fed, cutter consumption is associated with a dramatic reduction in heart disease risk.