Food as Medicine: 5 Foods to Optimize Your Health

“You are what you eat.” Raise your hand if you’ve heard that at least a hundred times! While eating a watermelon seed won’t turn you into a human watermelon (hello, 90s myth culture), there is scientific evidence that eating a balanced diet of nutritious foods has a direct impact on our health. Here are five of our favorite foods that not only taste good, but do good, too.

1. Kale
   
   This cruciferous super green has gained massive popularity in the past decade and is now the go-to base for nutritious salads, a healthy alternative to chips, and even finds its way into creamed spinach upgrades and guacamole mix-ins. If that’s not enough to make you shout “kale yeah,” consider that kale is loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and cancer-fighting substances like sulforaphane.
   
   

2. Cashews
   
   Peanuts get all the attention, but at Ark Foods, we’re big fans of the mighty cashew. Rich in antioxidants--specifically polyphenols and carotenoids--they’re ability to fight off free radicals keeps you healthy and going strong. Weight loss and heart health also have notable ties to this noble nut. Plus, cashews are super versatile, transforming into plant-based cheeses, sauces, dressings, and desserts. You go, little cashew!
   
   

3. Tomatoes
   
   Ly-co-pene. Say it with us again! Lycopene is what gives red tomatoes their bright hue, but its benefits are more than skin deep. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that protects the human body from free radicals. Love tomatoes but can’t commit to a tomato-only diet? The benefits of lycopenes can be found in tomato soup, tomato juice, sun-dried tomatoes, and even sweet red peppers (we know, not a tomato).
   
   

4. Cauliflower
   
   Big on fiber and B vitamins, cauliflower is finding its way into the supermarket spotlight, far beyond the produce aisle. Cauliflower also contains choline, which is known to help keep your memory sharp, and help you catch better zzz’s while you’re at it. Beyond raw or cooked cauliflower dishes, you’ll find this veg popping up in pizza crusts, pastas, soups, and as a healthier alternative to rice. Caul us obsessed!
   
   

5. Jalapeños
   
   This little pepper brings the heat when it comes to your health, but don’t be scared! If you can tolerate spice, jalapeños can offer numerous nutritional benefits, including a serious dose of fiber and vitamins C and B6. Capsaicin, which is what makes a pepper spicy, is also responsible for the Jalapeño’s ability to relieve pain, regulate metabolism, among other benefits.