By Oyinda Adeoti
Your diet makes up a major part of what keeps your body running. Simply put – the healthier your diet is, the healthier you generally are. Let’s talk about superfoods. While the term is relatively new, it has gained a lot of traction. Superfoods are packed full of nutrients and offer the body a lot of health benefits. Nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants can be found in them.
Superfoods generally help you fight diseases or slow the development of some existing conditions. They improve heart health and put you at lower risk of lifestyle-related health conditions. Keep reading to discover some great ones and how they improve your health.
Berries: When it comes to nutritional powerhouses, you can count on berries to deliver. They are packed with a ton of nutrients, especially antioxidants. Berries help reduced your risk of inflammatory conditions like cancer and heart diseases. If you aren’t already, you should be eating more raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and cranberries. Berries can be blended into your smoothies, used as toppings for your oats, or eaten as a snack.
Avocados: Avocados are very popular in the healthy food scene. Eating even half an avocado supplies your body with about 30 milligrams of magnesium. Magnesium is pivotal towards regulating blood pressure and blood sugar. Avocado is also a great source of fiber and healthy fats. Avocados can be used as a spread for toast, or sliced and eaten as a topping for other meals.
Broccoli: Yes, broccoli is a public enemy for most people’s diets. However, it is a wonderful diet addition for people who are trying to prevent cancer, heart attacks, and stroke. It’s rich in fiber, just like other cruciferous vegetables – cabbage, cauliflower, maca, and bok choy. You can add broccoli to your soups or make a healthy salad with it.
Eggs: While eggs have been flagged by some nutritionists for their high cholesterol content, they are still one of the healthiest foods out there. Eggs supply the body with iron, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin A, and B vitamins. If you’re looking to increase your HDL (good) cholesterol level and also reduce your risk of heart disease, you should make eggs feature more in your diet. Eggs can be eaten in so many ways – egg salad, scrambled eggs, and even as boiled egg sandwiches.
Nuts and seeds: Packed full of fiber, vegetarian protein, and fats that are beneficial to the heart, nuts and seeds are amazing for you. They also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which help the body fight against diseases. Awesome options include almonds, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts, and chia seeds. You can munch on them as snacks, use them as toppings, or blend them into your smoothies.
Garlic: Garlic is a kitchen staple known for its strong flavor. It is also known for its medicinal benefits. Studies have shown that garlic is effective is lowering blood pressure and boosting immunity. It is a great source of vitamin C, fiber, manganese, and vitamin B6. You can crush garlic into your meals while cooking, as it is recommended to use fresh garlic and not garlic powder if you want to reap health benefits.
Sweet Potato: Loaded with potassium, fiber, and vitamins A and C, sweet potatoes are very good for you. Don’t be fooled by name – they actually don’t increase your blood sugar and might actually foster blood sugar control in people who suffer type 2 diabetes. You can eat them boiled or baked, and in various other forms.
Salmon: A list of superfoods is incomplete without seafood making an appearance. Salmon is one of the most nutritious seafood options available to you. It is rich in healthy fats, B vitamins, selenium, and potassium. If you’re looking to consume more omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is your best bet. Omega-3 fatty acids help in the reduction of inflammation. You can enjoy baked salmon as a very tasty side dish. It’s recommended to limit your consumption to about three servings a week to prevent some side effects that come with eating seafoods.
Green Tea: Tea is generally very low in calories, and are packed full of antioxidants. These antioxidants have some beneficial anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. They also help reduce stress and hydrate the body.
The best thing about these foods is that they aren’t rare or hard to come by. You can walk into any store or local market and find them there. They taste great and are amazing for your health, too!
