With all the hyped up press at the moment about ‘SUPERFOODS’, let’s get the facts! There is no official medical meaning of a super food. They are in fact, just foods that contain anti-oxidants and essential nutrients – nutrients we need but cannot make ourselves.
By definition they are calorie sparse and nutrient dense, so they pack a lot of goodness into a low calorie food. Some Super Foods include;
Flaxseed
Why so super: Flaxseed lowers blood cholesterol, reduces the risk of heart attack, and is rich in lignan, a powerful antioxidant that could protect against cancer and disease.
Walnuts
Why so super: Approximately 7 walnuts contains 90% of the daily recommended amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which are proven to help in cognitive function, brain health, and improve blood pressure and cholesterol.
Beets
Why so Super: Not only do they contain high amounts of antioxidants, fibre and Vit C but they have also been found to protect against inflammation, cancer, and heart disease.
Cranberries
Why so super: Cranberries are renowned for protecting against urinary tract infections, but also may improve blood cholesterol and aid in recovery from strokes.
Watercress
Why so super: 1 cup of watercress supplies nearly 100% of a woman’s recommended daily amount of vitamin K, seen to be essential for strong bones and prevent hardening of the arteries. It is also a good source of vitamin A, which is great for our health being a strong antioxidant.
So with these healthy benefits should we not be sticking to just eating the ‘superfoods’ rather than eating any other fruits and vegetable???
We say no! Though we do include these ‘super foods’ in our diet as they have such fantastic nutrients. We are not going to solve the nutritional related diseases by solely focusing on a few wonder foods. We should make sure we eat a variety of healthy, nutrient-rich foods to ensure a nutritionally balance diet.
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