Healthy Foods for Those of Us on a Budget

There are two types of people in this world: those who eat the inside of the kiwi and leave the skin, and those who eat the skin and the insides! We’ll leave it up to you to debate who is in the right there, but one thing we can all agree on is that kiwis are extremely nutritious. Full of vitamins C and E, natural antioxidants, and anti-aging nutrients, kiwis are some of the best health foods out there.

There’s a reason why health-conscious people always choose sweet potato fries over regular fries, and that’s because sweet potato is so much healthier than its regular alternative. Yes, sweet potatoes can be turned into delicious fries, but they’re actually packed full of vitamins. To be more specific, eating a single sweet potato will provide you with 400% of the vitamin A your body requires on a daily basis. That’s pretty impressive.

While eating a whole bar of white chocolate isn’t the healthiest thing in the world to do, it’s long been known that dark chocolate has major health benefits. If dark chocolate is above 70%, its sugar content goes down, and its antioxidant and potassium levels go up. Not only that but it’s also known to protect people from cardiovascular disease and blood clots. All in all, it’s one of the best health foods you can add to your pantry.

While some people hate cabbage, there’s no denying the fact that it’s one of the best things to add to your diet if you’re looking to maintain a healthy and happy body. And, let’s be honest, it doesn’t taste of much, so it’s pretty easy to add it to your meals! If you do choose to cook with this healthy food, you’ll be able to easily add the likes of vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, and sulfurous substances.

Yogurt comes in so many different shapes and forms, and you probably don’t need us to tell you that the yogurts with candy and additional flavors aren’t very nutritious – despite being very delicious. However, plain yogurt is extremely healthy, as it’s full of good bacteria that will keep your gut and your body in full working order. Alongside this, it’s also high in calcium and bone-strengthening nutrients that your body needs.

Healthy foods are essential to a healthy body, and one of the best ways to ensure a healthy body is to keep your immune system in working order. Many nutritious foods can boost your immune system, and blackberries are some of them! These fruits are full of antioxidants, which help your body fight off illnesses and viruses and defend itself from things that try to bring it down.

Whether you like it cooked on top of your pasta or you like it uncooked in your salads, there’s no doubt about the fact that spinach is a versatile health food. It’s also packed full of nutrients, too. Spinach can boost your levels of vitamin E and magnesium, and it’s also a great food for those who want to boost their immune system and keep illnesses and viruses at bay.

With its bold color and subtle flavor, turmeric is best known for its prevalence in Indian cooking. But in recent years, turmeric has become one of the most popular health foods in the world – taking its place in smoothies, sauces, and so much more. It’s not hard to understand why, either. Turmeric is both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory, and that’s before we mention its natural food coloring qualities.

Having too much oil in your diet can have disastrous consequences, but this all depends on the type of oil you use. If you use olive oil, you don’t have to worry! That’s because olive oil is full of nutritional benefits, and while other oils can lead to heart disease, olive oil can actually prevent it. Not only this, but it can also prevent breast cancer, dementia, strokes, and even diabetes.

Famous for their role in a popular cocktail, you might not immediately wander to the passionfruit section of the grocery store – but you might want to start. Passionfruits are full of nutrients that contribute to a happy and healthy body, and they’re packed with all kinds of goodness, including vitamins A, B, and C. Not only that, but passionfruits can also boost your immune system and your metabolism.

Health foods aren’t just fruits and vegetables, you know. It’s also important to add protein to your diet, and that’s where salmon can help. As one of the healthiest foods you could add to your plate, it’s full of omega fats that promote brain health and help with signs of aging. It can also be cooked in so many different and delicious ways, which means you’ll never get bored of it.

Lentils are extremely popular with vegetarians, as they’re one of the best ways to introduce fiber and plant-based protein into your diet. And while they’re also very easy to cook with, they’re also extremely cheap to buy. You can buy dried lentils in a packet for just a few dollars, or you can buy ready-to-eat canned lentils for even less than that. So, it’s no wonder that they’re so popular.

While some people associate garlic with vampires and bad breath, what you might not realize is that garlic is actually a popular and effective health food. Filled with sulfur compounds, garlic is a great detox for the body and can even prevent the risk of cancer. If you want to see the real benefits of this healthy food, though, you need to eat at least ten cloves of garlic a week.

It’s often safe to assume that anything green and leafy is a welcome addition to your meals, and that’s certainly the case with watercress. Often used as a salad topper, watercress is a health food that everyone needs on their radar. Not only does it strengthen your immune system, but it can also prevent certain cancers and boost the levels of vitamin C, calcium, antioxidants, iron, and other minerals in your body.

While the likes of bread and pasta are full of grains, they’re not necessarily the right grains. Most white pasta and breads are made with processed grains rather than the whole grains that we should be eating, as they are much healthier. That’s because processed grains are stripped of all of the nutrients in order to make the (often delicious) foods that hit the grocery store shelves. You can buy whole-grain versions, though.

Whether you know it as eggplant or aubergine, one thing most of us know is that this vegetable is associated with emojis and phones rather than its healthy qualities. But we’re here to change that narrative, as eggplants are one of the most delicious and nutritious foods you could add to your diet. Of course, this is largely due to the high water content, but it’s also due to the various nutrients and vitamins found in this food.

People who are trying to lose weight often eat chicken, rice, and vegetables, and there’s a reason why they choose chicken as their protein of choice. Chicken breast is full of good protein with very little fat content, and the collagen inside of this chicken breast can also help with the signs of aging and the production of muscle growth. Plus, you just need to walk into any grocery store and see shelves upon shelves of the stuff.

If you’re not familiar with Konjac, this plant is typically found in Asia. But over the years, it’s made its way out of Asia and across the world – largely because it’s a natural appetite suppressant that can help those who want to lose weight. But Konjac is so much more than just a weight-loss supplement. It’s also something that can be added to your meals, as it’s supposedly quite delicious and full of goodness that your body needs.

Many people already eat a lot of fish, but what type of fish are you eating? If you’re not buying tuna, you need to get on board the tuna train, as it’s considered to be one of the best health foods out there. And while it may be particularly smelly, that’s a small price to pay for the high protein content, amino acids, and cardiovascular properties that this fish provides. In fact, tuna is a must for anyone living a healthy lifestyle.

There are so many amazing types of mushrooms out there, but one thing they all have in common is that they’re all extremely good for your health. In fact, did you know that mushrooms can actually prevent diabetes and cancer? That’s because mushrooms are full of adaptogens, which essentially means that they can adapt to become exactly what your body needs. That’s something you don’t get with many other nutrients.

There was once a time when flaxseed was used within the fabric industry, but in recent years, scientists have discovered that flaxseed is full of nutrients that the human body can take advantage of, too. This health food can not only help those trying to lose weight, but it’s also been discovered that flaxseed is full of cancer-fighting compounds that can keep you fit and healthy for many years to come.

Everyone knows the drill when it comes to prunes, right? This stone fruit is often given to those who are struggling with their bowels, as it is full of fiber and magnesium that promote healthy, moving bowels. Because of this, some people even choose to buy a packet of prunes from the grocery store instead of heading to the pharmacy and buying an expensive packet of laxatives that’ll do the same job.

You’re probably familiar with a normal red radish, but have you ever seen black radishes before? They’re very similar in texture, but black radishes are much healthier for you – especially if you’re looking to improve your digestion. In fact, these things have been used as far back as the Greek and Roman eras, as they’re known to help digestive struggles and even fight back against illnesses like the common cold.

At first glance, pomegranates can be quite intimidating. What do you do with them? How do you eat them? But when you’ve had your first pomegranate and realized that the seeds are both delicious and nutritious, you’ll probably want to add them to every weekly grocery shop. Thankfully, they’re one of the best health foods you can add to your cart, especially if you have high cholesterol and want to add anti-cholesterol foods to your diet.

Many of the health foods on the grocery store shelves are divisive, and Fennel is the perfect example of that. While some people like the strong aniseed taste of this vegetable, there are others who can’t stand it. But if you manage to get past the intriguing taste, you’ll realize that Fennel is a very healthy addition to your refrigerator – especially if you want to promote liver health. It’s full of vitamin C, folic acid, and beta-carotene.

If you didn’t already know, watermelon is extremely healthy – and that’s largely because it’s made from a whopping 90% water. So, not only will this help those who struggle with their water intake, but it’ll also help those who need a sugar rush without going down the unhealthy, unnatural sugar route. And as if that wasn’t enough, watermelon is also full of antioxidants, which makes it perfect for those looking to stay fit and healthy.

There’s a reason why so many health-conscious individuals drink ginger shots when they’re feeling under the weather. This health food is one of the best things you can consume to fight off illnesses, but the perks of ginger don’t end there. Ginger can also help to curb sickness, aid digestion, and even help with general pain relief. Of course, it is a bit of an acquired taste, and some people struggle with the strong flavor.

Also known as edamame, soybeans are one of the best (and cheapest) health foods you could add to your grocery cart. For starters, they are chock full of complete protein, which means you don’t even have to eat any meat if you have these things in your diet. What’s more, they’re also extremely versatile. Soybeans can also be turned into tofu or milk, and they’re essential for those who abide by a vegetarian diet.

Hands up if you can’t start your day without a big cup of coffee. While most of us need that direct caffeine hit, a healthier alternative would be to have a cup of green tea instead. In fact, green tea offers slow-release caffeine, which means it should keep you alert and awake for longer than your average cup of Joe. Some would say that green tea also tastes much nicer than coffee.

You probably don’t need us to tell you that oranges are full of vitamin C. That’s why so many sports coaches give their players slices of orange during half-time! But what you might not realize is just how many other benefits this fruit has. Oranges are also full of polyphenols and terpenes, which help to prevent the formation of tumors and cancer. Plus, they’re full of natural sugars rather than artificial ones.

You might not be familiar with Astragalus, but you definitely should be. This herb is predominantly used in Chinese medicine and is known for its impressive health benefits. Most notably, Astragalus can protect the human body from serious conditions, such as kidney disease and respiratory infections. In general, it’s celebrated for strengthening the immune system and keeping the body in tip-top form throughout the year. But how do you eat it?

You might associate nettles with the stinging sensations you get when you walk through the long grass, but you might also know that it’s possible to eat nettles. Some people boil them up and put them in their salads, while others boil them and drink them as tea. These people ultimately have the right idea, as adding this health food to your diet can make you feel so much better than you already did. This is largely because nettles can help to regulate your body’s bile secretion.

You probably don’t need us to tell you that having too much sugar in your diet is a recipe for disaster. Too much sugar can lead to all kinds of problems, including diabetes. But that doesn’t mean that you need to stay away from all sweeteners – you just need to stay away from unnatural sweeteners. That’s why stevia can be such a useful health food to have in your pantry, as these natural sweeteners can give you a sugar boost without being harmful.

The idea of eating seaweed sends shivers down some people’s spines. Many people can’t get over the idea that seaweed is wet and slimy, but what you might not realize is that wakame seaweed, in particular, is a hugely popular ingredient in Asian culture. It’s often added to soups and ramen, and it is packed full of nutrients that keep the body in full working order. Some even say it’s rather delicious.

Fruits are always going to be a healthy addition to your diet, thanks to their natural sugars and their antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties. And while raspberries are known for being delicious, it seems as though most people don’t realize just how healthy these things are. In fact, raspberries are great to eat in the morning as they slowly release sugar and energy, so you don’t crash just before you have your lunch.

Go anywhere in the world, and it won’t take you long to find a restaurant that serves sushi. It’s become hugely popular over the last few decades, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options being eaten up by billions of people across the globe on a regular basis. Of course, most people eat sushi because they think it’s delicious – but it turns out that sushi is also a very impressive health food.

In recent years, avocadoes have become extremely popular. People love smashing them on their toast or adding them to their smoothies, and that’s definitely a good thing. Avocados are both delicious and nutritious and are full of the goodness your body needs. Don’t believe us? Well, avocadoes are full of natural antioxidants, vitamin E, and vitamin B5 – which is essential for your brain health and your overall energy levels.

Many people associate kombucha with hipsters and vegans, but anyone can drink kombucha – and most people should drink kombucha, too. That’s because this health drink is a natural probiotic, which means that it’s full of good gut bacteria that will keep everything in your body working to its full potential. In fact, it can also improve your digestion and just generally make you feel much better after eating your meals.

When you think of oysters, you might think of romantic date nights in fancy restaurants. But you can buy oysters for your own nutrients at home, too – and you might want to think about doing that. In fact, oysters are often an underappreciated health food, as their high levels of vitamin B12 are perfect for those who lack energy during the day. And on the plus side, you don’t have to cook them either.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly health food, look no further than water. In fact, if you drink straight from the faucet, this won’t cost you anything at all! But many people forget just how important it is to maintain your water intake, and the human body literally can’t survive without it. That’s because water helps the body maintain its normal functions and keeps the brain running smoothly and to the best of its ability.