What are Superfoods?
You've most probably seen the term brandished across energy drinks and forced down your throat alongside the latest fad fitness dieting trend - but what are superfoods and is there really anything particularly exceptional about them?
Superfoods, simply put, are foods which offer an exceptional trade-off when it comes to calories versus nutritional benefit.
While there exists no real legal definition of what defines a 'superfood' there are certain food items that are globally regarded to be standard examples of superfoods - see below - and, thankfully for us in the health industry, these exceptional benefits can be seen in a truly wholesome and enriching array of health benefits that come packed into some of the tiniest little goodies nature provides.
Superfoods can be found in food groups such as berries, seeds, grains, algae, vegetables, fruits, fish, and more.
According to Mayo Clinic the best health foods usually possess at least three of the following properties
Superfoods, simply put, are foods which offer an exceptional trade-off when it comes to calories versus nutritional benefit.
While there exists no real legal definition of what defines a 'superfood' there are certain food items that are globally regarded to be standard examples of superfoods - see below - and, thankfully for us in the health industry, these exceptional benefits can be seen in a truly wholesome and enriching array of health benefits that come packed into some of the tiniest little goodies nature provides.
Superfoods can be found in food groups such as berries, seeds, grains, algae, vegetables, fruits, fish, and more.
According to Mayo Clinic the best health foods usually possess at least three of the following properties
- Good or excellent source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
- High in phytonutrients and antioxidant compounds, such as vitamins A and E and beta carotene.
- May help reduce risk of heart disease and other health conditions.
- Nutrition contained within is Readily available.
Superfood Examples
While the term superfood can be somewhat subjective, these food items are certain superfood mainstays guaranteed to appear on anybody's superfood list. Please note the following are not in any particular order:
- BLUEBERRIES
- SOY
- ACAI
- GOJI BERRIES
- KALE
- BLUEBERRIES
- LEAFY GREENS
- SALMON
- BEANS
- NUTS
- WHOLE GRAINS
- WINE / GRAPES
- POMEGRANATE
- TURMERIC
- SPIRULINA
- AVOCADO
- BROCCOLI
Why are Superfoods so Great?
Obviously anything with the word 'super' in it is bound to pack a punch and superfoods don't fail to deliver. In case you hadn't noticed from the selection above, there's definitely a lot going on inside the worlds of these nutritionally dense superfoods that certainly pack a real health punch.
Alongside an army of vitamins and minerals comes the real superfood speciality - antioxidants.
Antioxidants help our bodies to neutralize free-radicals, which if left unchecked throughout the body can negatively impact multiple systems, leading to serious health implications and early-onset disease.
Benefits of antioxidants can be seen most prominently in reductions of free-radicals tied to the following health problems:
With so much goodness and potential packed into each awesome superfood it's no wonder why they've grown from being something that might have seemed like a fad to an absolute dieting and healthy cuisine essential go to! Be sure to include a few of these hugely healthy food items in your regular diet and you're bound to be taking leaps and bounds in your positive journey!
...Now where did we put those goji berries!?
Alongside an army of vitamins and minerals comes the real superfood speciality - antioxidants.
Antioxidants help our bodies to neutralize free-radicals, which if left unchecked throughout the body can negatively impact multiple systems, leading to serious health implications and early-onset disease.
Benefits of antioxidants can be seen most prominently in reductions of free-radicals tied to the following health problems:
- heart disease
- cancer
- arthritis
- stroke
- respiratory diseases
- immune deficiency
- emphysema
- Parkinson’s disease
With so much goodness and potential packed into each awesome superfood it's no wonder why they've grown from being something that might have seemed like a fad to an absolute dieting and healthy cuisine essential go to! Be sure to include a few of these hugely healthy food items in your regular diet and you're bound to be taking leaps and bounds in your positive journey!
...Now where did we put those goji berries!?
