There are two ways in which adding nutritious foods to your diet can prove to be beneficial for your health. You can maintain your caloric intake, while still feeling fuller if your diet consists of healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins. Such foods also contain plenty of beneficial compounds like antioxidants that offer unique health benefits.

Here are 5 top healthy foods that you be in your diet to ensure that your body looks its best best, both from within and on the outside.

1. Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are another high-fiber food item that can help prevent constipation and reduce cholesterol. While flaxseeds contain several polyphenol compounds, the most potent are the lignans, which can protect the body against cancer. Along with the seeds, the oil that flaxseeds contain happens to be rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseeds and their oil should be stored in the refrigerator. The seeds can be ground up and then sprinkled onto just about anything, such as breakfast cereal, cookie batter and even a meatloaf.

2. Leafy greens

The produce aisle at grocery stores offer so much greenery to choose from. These greens are filled with nutrients and rich in fiber, especially leafy greens like bok choy, broccoli rabe, kale, mustard greens, spinach, and Swiss chard. There are many ways in which these leafy greens can be prepared, from eating them in salads and sandwiches to sauteing them. The reason leafy greens tend to be slightly bitter is because of the nutritious phytochemicals they contain.

3. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is not an average breakfast food, it is actually very healthy. Consuming oats as a part of your diet will ensure that bad cholesterol is flushed out of your body. Instead of instant oatmeal, it will be far healthier if you take the time to use fresh oats to make your own oatmeal at home. If you decide to eat your homemade oatmeal as a breakfast cereal, you may use some brown sugar and milk for garnishing, and you may even add a bit of butter.

4. Olive oil

Olive oil is another food item that essentially needs to be a part of your diet and you may even pair it with dark, leafy greens. There is even a Mediterranean diet that is based entirely on olive oil. Obviously, “extra virgin” olive oil is the best since it is the least processed. Unlike saturated fats, olive oil will never clog your arteries, while it also contains polyphenols, which are are same potent antioxidants present in green tea. Polyphenols also prevent cell abnormalities that may lead to breast and/or colon cancer.

5. Tea

There are many teas that are very healthy and despite not actually being a food item, these beverages should still be a part of your diet. In fact, if you drink sodas, teas like green tea would make ideal, healthy alternatives. Black teas will also raise your body’s antioxidant levelsand you may even give a shot at the latest “white tea” trend. In particular, green tea happens to be rich in polyphenols and those will help fight free radicals.

Conclusion

Adding the above 5 healthy foods to your diet should not take more than just some conscious effort on your part. If you actually start eating and drinking the above as a part of your diet, it will actually be for the betterment of your own health.