Superfoods: Are They Really Super?
Superfoods are special. So are ?real? foods. Superfoods have been given this mystical, magical and venerated status on the back of some gorgeous celebrities as the must-have answer to beauty, vitality and longevity. If names like quinoa, acai or spirulina send your brain in a spiral, le unravel the mystery of superfoods.
Superfoods are nutrient rich foods considered to be especially beneficial for your health and wellbeing. Just like vegetables and fruits. So why do they fascinate us? Superfoods are calorie sparse and nutrient dense, meaning they pack a lot of punch in their weight as far as goodness goes. They are high in antioxidants which protect our bodies from free radicals resulting from smoking, eating processed foods and normal metabolism.
Research shows that antioxidant levels elevate for a short period on consumption of superfoods. But these foods come at a price. The average price of the humble berries such as raspberries, blueberries and strawberries is a lot easier to digest than the ?super? acai or the goji. We all long for that magic pill for weight loss, smoother, younger-looking skin and soaring energy, so we seek the next best solution to fill the nutritional gaps caused by our modern lifestyle.
In a first of i kind study Jennifer Di Noia, PhD, an associate professor at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey ranked fruits and vegetables by their nutritional values. These ?powerhouse fruits and vegetables? were ranked and scored by the amount of 17 critical nutrients they contain, including fiber, potassium, protein, calcium, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin D and other nutrients.
Notice that the five power foods all have antioxidants. Which means?
If you are still on a fence let me tell you this. A panel of experts voted on their 12 top foods at the Institute of Functional Medicine Conference 2013. All of these are easily available and can easily be added in a variety of ways in our diet: avocado, spinach, seaweed, pomegranate, blueberries, broccoli, grass-fed meat, salmon, almonds, coconut oil, olive oil and green tea.
No single food item, or even the top super foods combined, have enough superpowers to replace a balanced, varied and healthy diet. Couple this with avoiding excessive consumption of processed and refined foods and alcohol, and you will have done everything you can, nutritionally speaking, to help you stay healthy and well into old age.
Don?t let this stop you from indulging your penchant for the exotic names that entice you next time you are in a supermarket aisle.
Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/13_0390.htm
About the author
Kiran Ram is a nutrition coach for women who desperately want to lose weight. Through her totally-addictive recipes, free guides, meal plans and workshops, she’s here to show you how to kick cravings, improve moods and lose weight-while making every step feel like a total guilty pleasure.
She finally had had enough of secretly battling with an eating disorder for over 20 years that zapped her energy, confidence and moods. To stop the endless rollercoaster diets, she certified as a Neuro Nutrient Therapist with Julia Ross, pioneer in amino acid therapy and author of Diet Cure and Mood Cure. As a Cravings and Moods Transformer, Kiran now supports women kick their cravings, feel energized and happier through personalized programs of nutritional repair. Join her for her FREE Endless Energy 101 Challenge starting soon!
When she is not teaching women how to drop the struggle and lose weight once and for all, you can find her mixing and messing in the kitchen, painting her fingers green in the garden, travelling and working on her book project.
Transform your cravings and moods for a life full of health, joy -achieve a life you dream of at www.kiranram.com.
