Five of My Favorite Foods to Sneak into Your Diet For Better Hair, Skin, Nails, and Overall Health
As I've said multiple times before, I am looow maintenance. I put significant effort into daily life but I don't like doing so for things I'm not super passionate about. One example: eating healthy. I'm a fairly active person- I love tennis and sprint on the Spring track team at school- but making over my diet is a whole other story. Although I personally don't have a huge problem with this because I eat home-cooked Indian food every day, my diet could still use some improvement. The same goes for most people. For some, a busy schedule keeps them from watching their diet, while for others, their income does. Neglecting your diet will inevitably lead to some sort of health problem, big or small. Many times the first signs show up in our hair, skin, and nails, three things no one wants looking bad. Beauty aside, it's always important to keep up your health. Whether you need a few ideas on how to be even healthier or are looking for some solid sources of nutrition to enrich your currently lacking diet with, here are five foods you can easily accomplish your goals with.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds are native to Mexico and are commercially grown there, in several northern South American countries, and in Australia. They pack a lot of punch for their tiny 1-mm wide diameter- they're rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals. These seeds are great for weight loss because of their unique water-absorbing properties, which help keep you full. These properties also allow you to use them to make chia gel, which in turn can be used to make chia pudding or can serve as a nutritious vegan egg replacement. Incorporating these seeds into your diet is so easy because of their small size and tastelessness. The best part is that you only need two tablespoons a day to get your daily fix of this superfood. The seeds can go unnoticed in everything from breads to smoothies. Sprinkle them on top of salads or mix them into dips for crunch. Add them to baked goods for extra texture and thickness. Blend them into smoothies for creaminess or simply mix it in if you want some crunch. There are so many possibilities. The only downside is the high price, which can be attributed to the exclusivity of the chia plant to the specific regions I mentioned earlier. One way to beat this is by buying online. If that isn't an option, I strongly recommend going to your local grocery store (even if the price is high and the bag is small) and at least trying it out once.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a staple in many diets across the world. Its simplicity makes it easy to incorporate into a multitude of dishes. It's also cheap, which makes it easily accessible for many. I'm lucky enough to have homemade yogurt on a regular basis as a part of my Indian diet! As a dairy product, it helps keep bones strong with calcium. It also contains vitamins B and D and the trace minerals potassium and magnesium. Perhaps most importantly is the "good bacteria", the little guys that make the yogurt itself. They help with your digestive processes (take it from JLC) by aiding the existing bacteria in your system. They can't be found in such abundance in many other foods. Yogurt is a very simple food and therefore is very versatile. Just remember to always buy low-fat or fat-free varieties to keep unnecessary fat out of your diet. Although you can use regular or Greek yogurt, Greek is more sought after for its thick texture. The only difference between the two is that Greek yogurt is strained so there's less water and more yogurt per serving. You can use yogurt as a base for dips or icing or as a replacement for sour cream (which is full of fat and is basically tasteless anyway). You can add it to smoothies, baked goods, or to your next saute for added richness. Best of all, you can enjoy it alone, maybe with some mix-ins like nut butter or chocolate chips.
Spinach
Spinach is native to Southwest Asia but is eaten widely all over the world. It's full of trace minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Spinach is very simple and nutritious green that retains its distinct mildly sweet taste that pairs well with a variety of foods. You can use it as a replacement for lettuce in everything from salads to sandwiches. Since it cooks down quickly and easily, you can saute it with pasta, rice, other veggies, or alone. It makes a great pizza topping along with freshly sliced tomatoes and mozzarella. Bake it in casseroles and other savory dishes. Finally, one super popular way to use spinach is in green smoothies. The mild taste keeps it from overpowering the flavors you actually want to taste.
Bananas
I must admit that I rarely eat bananas right out of the skin. Although that's technically the healthiest way to enjoy it, there are so many other things to do with this unique and conveniently low-priced tropical fruit. They're a good source of potassium, manganese, fiber, biotin, and more. I love frozen banana treats because the texture always comes out so good. Make chocolate covered banana pops or coins with some melted chocolate, bananas, and a freezer. Freeze bananas whole and blend them up for a raw ice cream substitute. I always use them to make frozen smoothies. If you need an egg substitute, simply replace each egg with one mashed ripe banana. Bananas are great in baked goods like quick bread and muffins because they add texture and moisture.
Unsweetened cacao powder
Chocolate is good for you. Wait, what? Let me explain. Hershey's chocolate, what with its high fructose corn syrup and illegal amount of sugar, is bad. Chocolate in its raw form, aka cacao, is good. Whether it be in baking square or powder form, cacao is an amazing source of antioxidants and trace minerals. Here I featured cacao powder because it's the most versatile form. You can add it to milk, smoothies, and other drinks. Add it to baked goods for a chocolatey kick. Mix it with chia gel for healthy DIY chocolate pudding. You can basically add it to anything it can be dissolved in when you're having chocolate cravings.
Which ideas sound good to you? I know I need to get baking with spinach and cheese. Comment and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com with your thoughts and ideas.
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