Have you ever wondered why the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” has been used so often, so repeatedly, in homes around the world for the past hundred or so years? Well, it’s based in truth – an apple packs a serious nutritional punch, though it is hardly the cure all remedy that this recognizable saying would have you believe. The trick is to eat a variety of “superfoods” every single day; this will certainly go a long way towards keeping the doctor at bay.
Superfoods, by their nature, are plant based, low calorie but nutrient dense foods that, among other things, help to prevent the oxidization of cells and, in general, work towards keeping the body as healthy as it can be. These foods aren’t just healthy, though; these foods are so rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and polyphenols that they need their own, special category. There are many superfoods, but we couldn’t possibly list them all so here are a few to get you started on the right track!
The avocado, or alligator pear as some know it, is a veritable powerhouse when it comes to pound for pound nutrition. With 20, that’s right 20, vitamins and minerals to be found in the creamy flesh of the avocado it surpasses almost all other superfoods and, for this reason, stands as one of the most important foods one can eat. Vitamin K, folate, vitamin B6, antithetic acid and vitamin C can all be found in avocados, but a little known fact is that they also contain twice the potassium of a banana! The mix of nutrients in avocados are known to help improve eyesight, help weight loss, stabilize blood sugar levels and even help to avoid cancer.
Spirulina was the main source of protein for ancient Aztec civilizations – this is an intense superfood which is gaining popularity quickly due to its incredible versatility, high protein content and potent concentration of vitamins. This blue-green spiral algae grows in lakes all over the world and can be added to your breakfast shake to get you off to the right start in the morning. Spirulina is known to boost energy, flush out toxins and ward off illness.
Don’t get ahead of yourself; cacao may be the main ingredient in chocolate bars, but it’s only considered a superfood when eaten raw and unadulterated. Unprocessed cacao, whether eaten in bean, nib or powder form, is the most antioxidant rich food in the world. It has 40 times the antioxidants, gram for gram, than blueberries! It is also the highest, plant based, source of iron in the world (7.5g per 100g) and is a great source of calcium and magnesium, too! This superfood provides much that is hard to find in the western diet! This superfood can even help you to combat depression.
Bees may benefit the world at large by pollinating as they go, but you might not know that bee pollen (the granules formed when they do their work) is a superfood! This natural substance has more than five times the protein found in beef and has a number of allergy fighting properties. The benefits don’t end there, however; bee pollen is known to reduce the signs of aging, boost energy levels and increase mental acumen.
Aloe Vera has long been considered a very useful plant; it soothes burns and reduces inflammation as well as helping eczema. But the 75 healing compounds of this superfood can also be experienced when it is eaten. Add this superfood to smoothies, lemonade or even dessert to soothe heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux. You might not notice the taste of Aloe Vera, but you’ll feel the difference it makes when you eat it regularly.
Do you have any good recipes for these superfoods? What’s your favourite superfood of all? Let us know in the comment section below.