There are some foods, my dears, which are so good for us that we really should be eating them every single day. Of course we're not perfect, but we can aim for as close to perfect as possible. The first step to eating these daily super-foods is knowing what they are, no? So what are these foods you should eat every day? I got ya!
Read more ¿Qué Más?: 5 Foods you should stop eating NOW
Click through the gallery of 10 foods you should be eating every day and put them on your shopping list so that you always have them handy. Don't be daunted if 10 seem like a lot, the truth is that you are probably already eating some of these daily and many of them are easy to combine with each other so you won't feel like you're spending your whole day trying to get yourself and your family to eat.
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Frijoles
See what I mean about some of this stuff being easy to get in your diet? Frijoles are a staple in my home. Beans have all this fiber in them that help cut cholesterol.
Recipe to try: Homemade pinto beans
Blueberries
Blueberries are tiny and yet they are packed with antioxidants that help keep all kinds of diseases at bay. You can put them in pancakes, you can put them in smoothies, you can sprinkle them in cereal, there are a lot of ways to incorporate them into your daily meals.
Recipe to try: Kale and blueberry smoothie
Garlic
The sulfur compounds in garlic give it disease fighting super powers and you only need about one clove a day of it to reap the benefits. How easy is that? I don’t even know how to cook without using garlic, I put it in pretty much every savory dish that I make, don’t you?
Olive Oil
This is another super easy good for you ingredient that you probably already use every day. Olive oil helps lower the bad (LLD) cholesterol while helping to raise the good (HDL) cholesterol. Opt for virgin, extra virgin or cold pressed oils to get the most oomph out of them. You need about a tablespoon a day in your diet, so cook with them or use them in salad dressings.
Broccoli
This is one that I have a hard time remembering to eat daily. Luckily, my 3-year-old can’t get enough of it so she reminds me. The sulfur compounds in broccoli help slash your risks of cancer and who doesn’t want that?
Recipe to try: Spinach and broccoli Ecuadorian empanadas
Yogurt
I’m sure you’ve heard that yogurt is good for you before. It has calcium for strong bones and probiotics, bacteria that are good for you and help get rid of other bacteria in your belly that is bad for you. Yogurt can also protect you from urinary tract infections, yeast infections and ulcers.
Recipe to try: Piña colada green smoothie with yogurt
Oats
Avena, baby! Oatmeal is full of fiber and helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Not to mention it’s filling and very satisfying.
Recipe to try: Slow cooker banana oatmeal
Flax seed
My mother got me hooked on linaza. A tablespoon of ground flax seed a day provides you with much needed fiber. Flax seed also has lignans, a chemical compounds that acts like estrogen in the body and helps reduce the rates of cancers. You can sprinkle ground flax seed in your oatmeal, put it in your smoothies or add it to any of your baking recipes.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has wonderful healing powers. Canela has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, helps with blood sugar control in people who have diabetes, it can prevent blood clots and it tastes so good. Add it to your coffee, hot chocolate or oatmeal.
Tea
If you are a tea drinker like your abuela, good for you and keep it up. Tea is one of the best sources of natural antioxidants available to us. The antioxidants in tea can help fight heart disease, prevent strokes and cancer. Tea also helps get rid of the bad cholesterol. You want to drink anywhere from two to five cups of tea a day between meals.
