List of Healthy Food Choices

Healthy food choices are essential to good health. Healthy food choices nourish and provide the body with energy that allows us to live full and active lives. According to the "American Journal of Nutrition", nutrition has a major role in protecting health and slowing disease progression. The following foods are healthy food choices the can help you progress towards greater health.

Fish, Poultry and Eggs

High in dietary protein and low in saturated fat, fish, poultry and eggs are healthy food choices. Fish offer a variety of nutrients, specifically the polyunsaturated omega-3 fats that are essential for good health. According to the "Nutrition Journal," those who eat a lot of fish experience low rates of death from coronary heart disease as a result of their high intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty-acids.
Rich in protein and high in B-vitamins, both chicken and turkey are also healthy food choices. For the healthiest choices, choose the leaner poultry meats, such as the breast, and avoid eating the cooked skins.
Eggs are also a healthy food choice. They contain choline, sulfur, carotenoids and vitamin D. These super nutrients all contribute to a variety of health benefits, such as the growth of healthy hair and nails, and protect the eyes from macular degeneration.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are an adequate healthy food choice. Whole grains are unrefined and made from the whole kernel of the grain. They are rich in dietary fiber, neutral in taste and filling, thus complementing most other healthy food choices. Common whole grains include bread, cereal, rice, rye, oats, barley, buck wheat, quinoa, whole wheat and pasta.

Vegetables

All vegetables are healthy food choices. Eating a variety of vegetables offers a rich assortment of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, all with beneficial and protective health properties. For example, dark green vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli, contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a substance that gives dark green vegetables their green pigmentation.
According to the "Nutrition Journal," chlorophyll is very effective at binding harmful carcinogens, which are then swept out of the body through feces. In addition, cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, contain a anti-cancer compound called sulforophane. According to the "Nutrition Journal," individuals who consumed high levels of cruciferous vegetables, rich in sulforophane, experienced a 51-percent decrease in bladder cancer.

Fruit

Like vegetables, fruits are high in fiber, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Their health benefits are plentiful, making them an solid healthy food choice. For example, apples are rich in dietary fiber and phytonutrients, both of which contribute to managing blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Mangoes are an immune-booster, high in vitamins A and C and packed full of anti-oxidants. According to the "Nutrition Journal," there are many protective nutrients found in fruits. Therefore, eating an assortment of fruits on a daily basis ensures a variety of nutrients are consumed.

Nuts, Seeds, Beans and Tofu

Nuts, seeds, beans and tofu are alternative plant-based protein sources and healthy food choices. Nuts and seeds are high in fiber, low on the glycemic index, and rich in healthy fats. In addition, they are full of vitamins B and E and minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Beans are filling and also rich in fiber, making them a healthy food choice for those with high cholesterol and diabetes. Tofu, made of soy protein, is a healthy food choice for those who do not consume meat or dairy products. It is low in fat and a good source of calcium and isoflavones, thus offering protection against bone degeneration. According to the "Nutrition Journal," soy protein can be very effective in protecting bone mass.