Five simple foods with big health benefits

Trying to make every bite count? Here are five simple foods with big health benefits:

Oats. They’re packed with the type of fiber that can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Studies suggest that eating 1 1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal a day can lower cholesterol by 5% and reduce your risk of heart attack by as much as 10%.

Start your morning with a bowl of oatmeal. Cook up a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies. Bake a loaf of honey oat bread.

Blueberries. They have more antioxidants than the vast majority of fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants can protect against everything from heart disease and cancer to blindness and memory loss. Add them to a tasty breakfast smoothie. Whip up a batch of blueberry muffins. Mix them in with other fresh favorites for a summertime fruit salad.

Garlic. Studies show that garlic offers a variety of health benefits. Find out more awesome things garlic can do for the body. If you’re new to the garlic game, here’s how to cook it. Or, if cloves are too cumbersome, keep your kitchen stocked with a bottle of dried minced garlic. Just sprinkle some into your favorite dinner recipes.

Broccoli.  It’s a member of the cruciferous vegetable family (along with kale, cauliflower and cabbage) and is packed full of essential nutrients. Plus, it’s super low in calories. Just one cup of broccoli provides 100% of your daily vitamin C and vitamin K. It also helps fight cancer and can naturally detox your body.  Learn to love it by dunking it in a delicious dip. Add it to a weeknight stir fry. Think outside the box and cook a pizza topped with broccoli.

Yogurt.  It’s packed full of calcium and probiotics, healthy bacteria that help keep your tummy on track. It also helps build strong bones, reduces your risk for high blood pressure, and can even help you feel fuller for longer.

Go Greek and start your morning with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit. Freeze it to make tasty popsicles. Dip some strawberries in vanilla yogurt and freeze them for a healthy snack.