List #1: The Omnivore. If meat and animal products are part of your diet, here's a list of foods that in summation contain all 13 essential vitamins. Meat (especially liver), fish (especially salmon), dark leafy green vegetables, milk, nuts, and whole grains.
What is the number 1 healthiest food in the world?
Lemons. Lemons have been widely regarded in the health industry as the world's healthiest food. The sour fruit is an alkalising powerfood; they have strong anti-inflammatory qualities and can even help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Foods that naturally are nutrient-rich include fruits and vegetables. Lean meats, fish, whole grains, dairy, legumes, nuts, and seeds also are high in nutrients.
Cecil Adams, the erstwhile columnist, claims to have run the numbers with his assistant and found that a whole lot of potatoes and milk would get you most of what you need – with the exception of the mineral molybdenum. But you can get all you need of that by also eating a bit of oatmeal.
1. Dark Leafy Greens. Dark green leafy vegetables (DGLVs) are an excellent source of nutrients including folate, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin C and fiber. Part of what makes DGLVs so super is their potential to reduce your risk of chronic illnesses including heart disease and type 2 diabetes ( 1 , 2 ).
Citrus fruits and berries may be especially powerful for preventing disease. A 2014 study ranked “powerhouse” fruit and vegetables by high nutrient density and low calories. Lemons came out top of the list, followed by strawberry, orange, lime, and pink and red grapefruit.
Known as the “king of fruits,” mangoes are an excellent source of potassium, folate, fiber, and vitamins A, C, B6, E, and K. They're also rich in numerous plant polyphenols that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties ( 27 ).
The best approach to ensure you get a variety of vitamins and minerals, and in the proper amounts, is to adopt a broad healthy diet. This involves an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes, low-fat protein, and dairy products.
To get enough vitamins, eat a varied diet containing fruit, veggies, grains, nuts, dairy (or calcium-containing alternative) and proteins daily. If you miss one day, that is okay, just include that food group the next day.
The top 15 foods highest in minerals include nuts, beans and lentils, dark leafy greens, fish, seeds, shellfish, mushrooms, whole grains, low-fat dairy, beef and lamb, avocados, tofu, dark chocolate, cheese, and dried fruits. For more, check the extended list of mineral rich foods, and the most nutritious foods lists.
So, here's our take on superfoods that are practical and powerful:
Cinnamon. Not only is cinnamon delicious, it's also loaded with antioxidants, helps cut down inflammation, and helps improve sensitivity to insulin. ...
Cruciferous Vegetables. These are vegetable powerhouses with the unique ability to modify human hormones, activate the body's natural detoxification system and inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. ...
No; our guts aren't long enough, and our teeth don't quite fit the bill. We are, it seems, omnivores; our bodies can handle both meat and plant matter pretty well. It's not quite that simple, though. Just looking at an animal's teeth and gut is no surefire way to distinguish its diet.
