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Highest Nutritional Foods

The list of nutritious foods available on Planet Earth is a long one. But among these good-for-you foods are a few standouts. What makes a food a nutritional superstar? These pack extra amino acids, vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients, organic compounds thought to promote good health, in each bite without adding bad-for-you saturated fats and refined sugars. Not everyone agrees on which foods are the best of the best, but these would certainly make the Top 10 on any nutritionist's list. We've tried to include a protein, vegetable, fruit, whole grain and beverage, because it's important to eat a variety of healthy foods every day.

  1. Salmon

    • Salmon is an easily digestible, high-protein food that's rich in the best kind of fat, the oils that contain omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association endorses fish oils as a substance that may help prevent heart disease.

    Avocado

    • Avocados are a great source of calories and healthy fats, making them one of the most nutritious of all foods. They are high in fiber and contain a huge array of vitamins and minerals, including folate and potassium. An avocado contains more potassium than a banana, making it useful in controlling the body's fluid balance. The monounsaturated fats in an avocado help lower harmful blood fats like triglycerides.

    Berries

    • Among the tastiest of the nutritional superstars, berries are high in vitamins and contain flavonoids, an antioxidant substance that detoxifies the body. Berries contain roughage that keeps the intestinal tract clean. The Goji berry from China may be the most nutritious berry, but blueberries and blackberries are also packed with nutrition.

    Quinoa

    • A Peruvian grain (pronounced KEEN-wah) that's now sold in U.S. grocery stores, quinoa is high in protein and fiber and low in fat, and contains valuable trace minerals including muscle-protective magnesium. Quinoa, the most nutritious of all commercially available grains, can be eaten as a hot breakfast cereal or used in place of rice in many recipes.

    Green Tea

    • This mild, brewed beverage is delicious hot or cold and contains a high concentration of antioxidants, the substances that help neutralize free radicals in your body. Green tea will help slow down the aging process and may protect against some cancers.

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