Take a look at our 10 healthiest foods list and see if you don’t agree that plenteous portions of these fruits and veggies shouldn’t play a starring role at your table, and be part of the foundation of you diet to lose tummy fat . You may be surprised to learn that each of these foods have medicinal properties as well.

1. Berries: Nearly all berries are rejuvenating tonics for your heart and blood. Several studies have shown that a daily serving of berries, rich in potassium, can decrease your risk of stroke by as much as 40%. In addition, most berries have antiviral properties in varying degrees, are excellent blood purifiers and work wonders for your complexion.
2. Broccoli must be included on our list of the 10 healthiest foods. Like most dark, green leafy veggies, is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. Naturopathic physicians recommend generous daily servings of broccoli to patients recuperating from a lengthy illness, as this veggie has been shown to speed their return to good health.
3. Avocado lowers blood cholesterol levels. In a V.A. Study, patients ranging from 27-72 years old were given 1/2-1 ¼ avocados each day. Fully 50% of the patients experienced a decrease in serum cholesterol, ranging from 9-43%! Given that we all need to monitor our cholesterol levels, this tasty fruit deserves a spot on our list of 10 healthiest foods. Avocado is also beneficial in cases of psoriasis and eases deep muscle inflammation.
4. Bamboo shoots: besides being good in a fried rice dish, bamboo shoots are an ancient remedy for peptic or duodenal ulcers.
5. Bananas makes the list for a number of reasons. High in fiber, bananas are good for your digestive system and makes an ideal mid-morning snack or breakfast dish. One study, of blue-collar women workers, showed that daily consumption of bananas reduced their incidence of illness, while improving morale, attentiveness and energy levels. Another retirement home study, found that all 117 residents no longer suffered from digestive disorders, consuming just one banana a day!
6. Garlic and onions, both members of the allium family, might well be called ‘miracle’ foods, which should be included in as many dishes as appropriate to your taste. Why? Both contain allicin, the active constituent which produces their medicinal benefits. These veggies prevent blood clots, reduce HBP, reduce the ‘bad’ cholesterol while raising the ‘good’, increase longevity and eliminate worms – in both man and beast! Type 2 diabetics benefit from garlic and onions in reduced blood sugar levels. Garlic is also a natural antibiotic.
7. Olive oil is well known as a healthful and tasty alternative to many other cooking oils, with heart-healthy and cancer preventative properties. Olive oil also reduces the ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, without adversely affecting the ‘good’ cholesterol. In countries where olive oil is the primary source of dietary fat, the incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, ovary and colon are markedly lower when compared with data from 30 other countries, where olive oil is not generally used.
8. Parsley may seem a surprising choice in our 10 healthiest foods. Packed with vitamins A and C, parsley provides more protection against cancer than you might have imagined. Parsley contains more histadine, an important amino acid that inhibits tumor development than almost any other vegetable. Put it in omelets, soups, sandwiches, gravies and salads. It’s also an excellent breath freshener!
9. Peppers, whether sweet or hot, are surely one of the 10 healthiest foods. Habaneros bring relief to arthritis sufferers and dramatically reduce blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. Generally speaking, the hotter the pepper, the greater the medicinal benefits. Cayenne pepper serves as a cholesterol lowering antidote to a greasy, fried meat entree. When indulging in such a meal, make your beverage an 8-ounce glass of tomato juice, spiked with 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Consuming hot peppers regularly also prevents blood clots. Ironically, cayenne capsules (1 capsule, 2-3 times daily) helps heal ulcers.
10. Last, but not least on our 10 healthiest foods list, is the kiwifruit. Kiwifruit is a relative newcomer to the American supermarket, but has rapidly gained in popularity. It’s usually available fresh in the produce aisle and is also found in juices, either as all kiwi or in a mix of strawberries (delicious!). It’s sweet taste finds favor with kids, having a flavor sometimes described as a mix of melon, bananas, strawberries and pineapple. Now, for the health benefits: It’s a great choice for dieters, with about 46 calories per average sized fruit, loaded with vitamins C, E and niacin. It’s highly recommended for people on hypertensive meds, due to its high (average 250mg) potassium content. Anecdotal reports, gathered from medical anthropologists investigations, indicate that kiwifruit, eaten three times daily, dramatically reduces HBP to normal levels within just a couple of months! That’s not all. This cute and tasty fruit also provides relief from heartburn and acid indigestion.

All of these 10 healthiest foods are readily available, easy additions to a variety of menus. Hopefully, you’ll be encouraged to start piling on these veggies, to your better health. A large part of how to get rid of tummy fat is changing the composition of your diet from high calorie, carbohydrate and fatty, products, to low calorie and healthy, vegetables and proteins. The trick is to fill your stomach, without filling your body with unecessary energy!

Reduces bad cholesterol

Fiber reduces your ‘bad’ cholesterol and effectively manages high blood pressure, thus contributing to cardiovascular health. Fiber reduces your risk of certain cancers as well.

Management of diabetes

A high fiber diet plan is important in the management of diabetes, in that each gram of fiber essentially offsets the carbohydrate grams consumed. For example, if you have a slice of bread containing 12 grams of carbohydrate and 4 grams of fiber, the net carbohydrates consumed equals just 8 grams.

Fiber in weight-loss diets

If you’re trying to lose weight, or if you have diabetes and need to lose weight, a high fiber diet plan provides a benefit to you, because it often requires more calories to digest that fiber than the food contains! You can more quickly achieve a feeling of fullness with fiber-rich foods, so you’ll tend to consume fewer calories. In the process of digesting fiber rich foods, that fiber ’sweeps’ away various toxins and waste material in your digestive system, much like a broom, resulting in healthier digestive function.

How much?

The American Dietetic Association recommends between 20–35 grams of fiber for good health. However, in this case, more is better! In the case of diabetes, or if you’d like to lose a substantial amount of weight, 35-45 grams will help you more quickly  attain your objectives.

More fiber – More water!

When you’re on a high fiber diet plan, it’s essential that you increase your water intake. Eight cups of water a day is the general rule of thumb. If you become constipated, you’ll want to increase the amount of water you drink.

Fiber foods

Foods that are rich in fiber include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Be aware that plain old white bread doesn’t provide much fiber. Check nutritional food labels to be sure that whole grains are included. There are also commercial breads which can double the fiber content with added fiber on top of that in the whole grains.

Fresh, frozen and dried fruits are another good source of fiber. Berries, plums, apples and pears, as well as dried figs and apricots are some of the best. High fiber vegetables include broccoli, corn, garbanzos, green beans, green peas and snow peas. As for baked potatoes, always eat the skin, as that’s where the most fiber is contained. Dried beans are also excellent.

Eat more fiber

A high fiber diet plan is good for everyone. Choose fiber rich foods you enjoy and eat plenty of them. Your body will thank you.