How To Find The World’s Healtiest Foods

Steps To Define the Criteria for The Healthiest Foods:

Our world provides thousands of different foods, out of those the majority contain at least several of the nutrients we need but to be included as one of the Healthiest Foods the following criteria is used by several different organizations and nutritionist (with some variations):

Step 1. Taste is Good

Every mother could tell you that trying to serve a child something because it is “good for you” does not work if it tastes like a rat. Any recipe should provide a flavor adventure so you can discover new ways to experience and enjoy the great natural tastes of these foods.

Step 2. The Price is Affordable

If the caviar was the healthiest food in the world most people still would never buy it. It is not the most familiar – and it is an acquired taste – and available, but also definitely not affordable for every person, even if you purchase it locally and “in season”. This is also the time when many of the best foods are the freshest and of the best quality.

Step 3. Familiar Foods

If we want anyone to buy the world’s healthiest foods, they must be common “everyday” foods such as the fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, lean meats, fish, olive oil, herbs and spices most of us will recognize immediately.

Step 4. Whole Foods

That means they are whole foods complete with all their rich natural endowment of nutrients. They have not been highly processed nor do they contain synthetic, artificial or irradiated ingredients. And whenever possible, most nutritionists will recommend purchasing “organically grown” foods, since they not only promote your health, but also the health of our planet.

Step 5. Readily Available

Many of the foods are not readily available in different areas of the country even if they are are exceptionally nutritious, . The world’s healthiest foods should be foods that the majority of us can easily find at their local market or supermarket.

Step 6. The Most Nutrient Dense
The foods have been selected because they are among the richest sources of many of the essential nutrients needed for optimal health.

Nutrient density is a measure of the amount of nutrients a food contains in comparison to the number of calories. A food is more nutrient dense when the level of nutrients is high in relationship to the number of calories the food contains. By eating these foods, you’ll get all the essential nutrients that you need for excellent health, including vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, essential fatty acids, fiber and more for the least number of calories.

Examples:

Vegetables : Asparagus, Avocados, Beets, Mushrooms (crimini, shiitake), Olives, Onions, Potatoes, Yams, Sweet Potatoes
Seafood: Cod, Halibut, Salmon, Sardines, Scallops, Shrimp, Tuna
Beans & Legumes: Black beans, Dried peas, Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), Kidney beans, Lentils, Lima beans, Miso
Poultry & Lean Meats: Beef, lean organic, Calf’s liver, Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Venison