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The 7 Healthiest Foods You're Probably Not Eating

It’s hard to keep up with the ever-growing list of foods that keep us happy, healthy and, let’s face it, alive the longest. Here are our favorites.
Ashley Neglia
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It’s hard to keep up with the ever-growing list of foods that keep us happy, healthy and, let’s face it, alive the longest. Here are our favorites.

 

Sardines

The Healthiest Food You’re (Probably) Not Eating

There are a plenty of fish in the sea, but not all of them pack as much of a nutritional punch as the tiny sardine. Although small in size, sardines are packed to the gills (literally!) with essential vitamins and minerals that sharpen the mind, keep the heart healthy, and bring your energy up, up, up! Plus, their bones are easy to digest, which makes these scaly superstars one of the most calcium-rich, non-dairy foods out there.

 

Canned Pumpkin

Best Food for Weight Loss

Peter, Peter pumpkin eater may have been on to something. Pumpkin is more than just a delicious pie filling. It’s low in calories (only 80 per cup) and high in dietary fiber with a side of protein to boot, which means it’s a great tool for weight loss. What’s more, it’s also a nutritional powerhouse that’s chock full of beta-carotene – key for healthy eyes and a strong immune system.

Suggested recipes: Pumpkin Soup with Ginger,Pumpkin Turkey Pasta, Pumpkin-Apple Casserole

 

Peanuts

Most Underrated Health Food

Almonds and walnuts may be the hippest nuts on the block, but the peanut deserves some respect. This lowly legume contains just as many heart-healthy fats as its tree-hugging brethren and boasts more protein than any other nut. What’s more, the peanut has one of the highest concentrations of biotin, which may help boost keratin production to strengthen hair and nails.

Learn more about the health benefits of nuts.

 

Oysters

Best Food to Help You Win a Beauty Contest

Sure, they’re slimy and can be moderately dubious if you don’t get them from a trusted source, but the high zinc content in oysters may help keep hair full, nails strong, and skin clear.

 

Seaweed

Best Food for a Good Night’s Sleep

Just because Thanksgiving turkey feast only happens once a year, it doesn’t mean you can’t sleep like a baby every night. Next to turkey, seaweed has one of the highest levels of the amino acid tryptophan compared to any other food. What’s more, it contains high levels of iodine, which helps keeps the thyroid functioning properly and hormones in check.

 

Blackcurrants

Best Food to Beat Disease

Move over blueberries. Blackcurrants have the highest levels of the disease-fighting antioxidant anthocyanin (the pigment that makes berries dark blue and red) compared to any other fruit. What’s more, this unassuming berry contains more than three times the amount of vitamin C found in oranges, making it an immunity-boosting powerhouse.

 

Teff

The Healthiest Food You’ve Never Heard Of

This smallest, ancient grain (teff seeds were found in a pyramid dating to 3359 BC!) proves that big things do come in small packages. With as much calcium as cooked spinach, high levels of vitamin C and a new kind of dietary fiber that helps maintain blood sugar and healthy weight, teff is poised to be the next superfood.

 

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Before You Go

Grandparents.com: 9 Foods That Soothe An Upset Stomach
Mint(01 of09)
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Sip some mint tea and it will relieve gas and decrease cramping, says Jacqueline Wolf, M.D., physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of A Woman’s Guide To a Healthy Stomach. “However, mint also relaxes the high pressure zone between the esophagus and stomach and may give some people heartburn.” If you’re prone to heartburn, you might try chamomile tea or another soothing herb tea. Avoid sugarless mint gum because its artificial sugars may cause gas, bloating and burping, Wolf adds. (credit:Kris Timken via Getty Images)
Plain Yogurt(02 of09)
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Dr. Wolf says no studies show that this helps, but you may benefit from the probiotics in plain unsweetened yogurt, particularly if you have diarrhea that has been caused by a course of antibiotics. The yogurt could add healthy bacteria to your gut, which can reduce pain and make it feel better. (credit:Jonathan Kantor via Getty Images)
Apple Cider Vinegar(03 of09)
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You know apple cider, but you may not know about this vinegar, which is a fermented juice made from apples. Upset stomach is sometimes believed to be caused by a lack of acid in the stomach, not too much acid, as is commonly assumed. When too little acid is the case, putting more acid in your tummy can help. Apple cider vinegar also contains a host of nutrients including vitamin B and vitamin C. The vinegar itself can be strong to the taste, so mix a tablespoon or two in hot water, add a little honey, and you'll be good to go. (credit:Maximilian Stock Ltd. via Getty Images)
Rice(04 of09)
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Rice is an easy-to-digest food that increases the absorption of fluid, says Dr. Wolf. Eating some white rice when you’ve had the runs may restore your stool to normal and make your stomach feel better because the starch of the rice will coat your stomach. (credit:John Block via Getty Images)
Ginger(05 of09)
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To relieve nausea or vomiting, Dr. Wolf recommends ginger, which has anti-nausea properties. You can pour boiling water over slices of ginger and let it steep for several minutes, or find prepared ginger tea at your grocery store. (credit:Ryouchin via Getty Images)
Aloe Juice(06 of09)
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Extracted from the aloe plant, which is commonly used to soothe burns, aloe juice has been known to coat your stomach and relieve heartburn and stomach aches. The juice, which is sold in health food stores, can also help push toxins out of your system and clear things out. But keep in mind that it can also act as a laxative, so watch how much you take. (credit:mashuk via Getty Images)
Bananas(07 of09)
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This easy to peel fruit is easy to eat—and digest when your belly feels blah. Bananas can help firm up your stool, says Claudia Gruss, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association and a practicing gastroenterologist at the Arbor Medical Group in Norwalk, Connecticut. They also have potassium, which is good for you if you’ve been unable to eat due to prolonged illness. (credit:Creative Crop via Getty Images)
Toast(08 of09)
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Toast is a good option when you feel a little hungry after stomach distress, says Dr. Gruss. Top it with some jam and you’ve got an easily digestible mini-meal that will be tolerated by your tummy and give your body some sugar as well. And some health web sites suggest that the char that forms when you burn toast can have a soothing affect on the stomach, so you may want to try overcooking it a bit. (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)
Fennel (09 of09)
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High in antioxidants, fennel is known to have natural anti-gas properties, and can also help flush toxins from your system. Try eating a half a teaspoon of fennel seeds, or cut some fresh fennel to chew on. (credit:© Emoke Szabo via Getty Images)
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