What is a Superfood?
Just like superheroes who are strong and powerful and fight with the bad guys, a superfood is a food that offers maximum nutritional benefits for minimum calories. Superfoods are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are beneficial for health and well-being. Superfoods have been around for centuries, in all honesty, the term “superfood” is more of a commercial term and it sure seems to be working!
Benefits of Superfoods
Superfoods help you fight diseases and keeps you healthy. However, their benefits are not limited to this. They also help you:
- Reduce bad cholesterol
- Boost memory
- Boost immunity
- Aid in weight loss
- Reduces the risk of diabetes
- Lowers stress
- Prevent hypertension and stroke
- Enhance skin conditions
Antioxidants are a major feature of superfoods. They help you neutralise free radicals in your bodies. Free radicals occur naturally in our bodies but they do more harm than good. They attack the DNA in our cells, which can accelerate the ageing process and can cause various diseases. Carob, Acai, Dark Chocolate and Berries are just a few note-worthy examples of antioxidant powerhouses.
However, eating one or two of the nutrient-dense food aka superfoods on top of a poor diet won’t bring out its full potential but it’s still a start! Superfoods can deliver the best results when you’re consuming a healthy and balanced diet.
Superfoods you can integrate into your diet
Superfoods come in all shapes, sizes, colours and flavours. But, not every superfood contains every nutrient. So it’s great to use a combination of superfoods to keep your body healthy. Some of the common superfoods include:
1 - Berries
Berries are high in flavonoids which are known to lower the risk of a heart attack in women. Other benefits include:
- Acai Berries: Acai berries contain 19 amino acids and plenty of antioxidants which helps in fighting cancer. They also have anti-ageing and weight-loss properties.
- Goji Berries: Just like Acai berries, Goji berries are rich in antioxidants. They help in treating visual ailments and boost the immune system.
- Blueberries: Blueberries are rich in fibre, manganese, and vitamin K. They help lower the risk of urinary tract infection.
2 - Soy
Research demonstrates that soy reduces the amount of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or bad cholesterol in the blood. It is also a good source of protein and can increase bone mineral density during menopause as well as reduce bone loss.
3 - Leafy Greens
Leafy greens such as Kale, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Beet Greens, and Collard Greens are considered as superfoods. These foods contain an abundance of vitamins A, C, E, and K, and plenty of B vitamins. Besides, these foods are also rich in iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and carotenoids.
4 - Flax Seeds
Flax seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids which contribute to healthy bones, skin and heart. If you’re a vegan like me, the common omega-3 rich fish is obviously off the plate, but flax seeds can be a wonderful alternative. I like to sprinkle them on my breakfast bowls - even this small handful everyday could help reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death, lower cholesterol, and slow the growth of arterial plaque over time.
5 - Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolates are rich in flavonoids and can prevent coronary heart disease. Dark chocolates are also known to prevent certain types of cancer and boost the immune system. It also helps improve brain function, so its great to have a bar on your office desk for those sweet cravings or the after-lunch sleepy periods.
Other Superfoods include:
- Beans & Legumes
- Nuts & Seeds
- Oats
- Pumpkin
- Yoghurt
- Kiwifruit
- Sweet Potato
I can’t include these superfoods in my diet
Maybe you’re not a fan of some of these foods or there’s a budget constraint or for any reason, you can’t include these superfoods in your daily nutritional intake. Not to worry, we’ve got an easy solution for you.
Check out these Superfoods. Each mix contains up to 7 different types of superfoods and are tailored to various needs. For example, one is for improving skin through it antioxidant heavy superfoods, whereas as another is for immunity. Unlike other superfood blends, batches of each ingredient gone into the mixes is quality tested before and after production. So with superfood combinations, you can be sure you’re getting exceptional quality and the utmost nutrients out of that ingredient, whilst being pocket-friendly.
Final thoughts
When it comes to maintaining and improving your overall health, superfoods can be a real booster. It can also protect you from various diseases including strokes, heart disease, and diabetes. However, make sure you don’t eat too much of these nutrient-dense foods. It could create an over-reactive system which could stress your body.
If you’ve recently made changes to your diet and are feeling uneasy, it is advisable to see a doctor or your nutritionist/dietician.
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