Imagine a food item that actually has the ability to help you lose weight, diminish the risk of getting heart diseases, and can also lower the levels of cholesterol in your body. Well, don’t feel confused, we aren’t talking about some miracle drug or supplement. We are talking about superfoods, food which actually has the ability to do all of the above.
Superfood is not a particular
medical term, rather it is just a popular marketing phrase for some highly
nutritious food. According to the famous ‘alkaline food’ chef and entrepreneur Natasha
Corrett, taking up Superfoods “was a
lifestyle change”.
Superfoods are so named because
of their specialized properties that make them better than other food items. They
contain high quantity of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
Some of the most famous
Superfoods include salmon, broccoli, walnuts, soy, green tea, blueberries, kale,
quinoa, spinach, and broccoli. Hence, the best possible definition of
Superfoods can be that “food having high nutrient density and are unprocessed”.
Why do we need Superfoods?
The first reason for taking Superfoods is that they are unprocessed and raw which means they are highly packed with nutrients.
- Unlike greasy and fatty foods, Superfoods have low cholesterol content and can be very effective for maintaining a low fat diet.
- Superfoods contain all the vitamins you need to keep yourself active and healthy.
- Super foods possess antioxidants and thus they have the ability to prevent the occurrence of some chronic diseases like stroke, heart attack and other conditions.
- They also contain omega 3 fatty acids as found in salmon and hemp seeds, and are also rich in potassium, magnesium, and other minerals.
- Superfoods also contain lots of fiber which keep the digestive systems working properly and effectively.
Hence, it can assumed that
Superfoods should be a part of your daily diet plan so that you can get maximum
benefit out of these foods.
Examples of Superfoods
1. Blueberries: These sweet juicy little things are filled with vitamins A, C, E, and B complex, copper, magnesium and ellagic acid. The skin of the blueberries contains resveratol, which is not only anti-inflammatory but also possess anti-disease and blood sugar decreasing properties.
The writer of the famous book Dr.
Ann's 10 Step Diet: a Simple Plan for
Permanent Weight Loss and Lifelong Vitality, Ann Kulze, MD, of Charleston,
SC says, "Inflammation is a key driver of all chronic diseases, so blueberries
have a host of benefits."
2. Whole Grains: Whole grains like wheat and barley have the ability to prevent the development of various heart conditions by maintaining your blood sugar and insulin.
The super fit foodie Zana Morris states,
“I feel full most of the time and my sugar cravings have stopped.” This is
because of the reason that she changed her diet plans and opted for Superfoods
rather than eating fat rich food all the time.
3. Fish: Fishes are famous for their omega 3 fatty acids which are found richly in salmon and mackerel. The omega 3 fatty acids prevent the development of diabetes, coronary heart disease and arthritis. These are only some examples of the nutritious Superfoods. In order to fully test their nutritional qualities, you have to try them and see the results yourself!
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more information about the topic in this article, please visit http://www.phountainmedia.com. The
Phountain Lifestyle and all written materials are copyright © 2015 Phountain Franchise
Inc. All Rights Reserved.
References
Di Noia, J. (2014). Peer
Reviewed: Defining Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables: A Nutrient Density
Approach. Preventing chronic
disease, 11.
Perricone, N. (2010). Forever
young: The science of nutrigenomics for glowing, wrinkle-free skin and radiant
health at every age. New York: Atria Books.
Pratt, S., & Matthews, K.
(2006). Superfoods: Fourteen foods that will change your life. Random
House.
Rubin, J. (2012). What does
superfood actually mean. ExtraordinaryHealth, Volume15, 26-27.
Wolfe, D. (2010). Superfoods: the
food and medicine of the future. North Atlantic Books.
