Darya Rose, Ph.D is the author of Foodist: Using Real Food and Real Science to Lose Weight Without Dieting and creator of the award winning blog Summer Tomato.
You already know that vegetables, fruit, nuts, and fermented foods like yogurt are good for you, but there are plenty of unsung heroes at the grocery store that deserve more attention than they get. Here are five foods you might not realize are superhealthy.
The latest reports show that most people are deficient in essential vitamin D, but the disease-fighting nutrient is notoriously difficult to find in food. Oysters are an exception. They are also rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids as well as several essential minerals.
Better still, you don't have to worry about depleting our oceans: Ninety-five percent of the world's oysters are sustainably farmed. Plus, because oysters don't have a central nervous system, some vegan thought leaders have argued that oysters are an ethical source of natural vitamin B12, which is lacking in many vegetarian diets.
People often tell me with pride that they have given up coffee in order to be healthier. I have to bite my tongue not to inform them that their choice has been misguided.
Coffee is one of the best sources of polyphenols and antioxidants and has been proven to protect against liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and a host of other diseases. Just don't fill your brew with sugar if you want these benefits.
3. Hard cheese
Yep, I just said cheese is healthy. But not all cheeses are created equal. Hard cheeses that have been aged (think Parmesan and Asiago) are the number one source of vitamin K2 in the human diet. K2 is an essential vitamin that has been shown to protect against heart disease and cancer.
Lactose intolerant? I have great news for you: Hard cheeses contain virtually no lactose.
Sea vegetables have been linked to numerous health benefits and are frequently consumed by some of the longest-living populations on earth. They are also an excellent source of iodine, which is an essential nutrient that protects the thyroid.
Since they aren't leafy greens, mushrooms tend to get overlooked. But fungi are excellent sources of minerals and can even produce their own vitamin D when left to sit in the sun.