How to fit more superfoods into your diet
Magazines and TV shows are full of people talking about superfoods these days – but what are superfoods?
‘Superfood’ is a word that has come to mean foods from a different number of food groups (mostly plant-based) that have an excellent nutritional density, and which also offer an excellent array of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Added to that, superfoods also very often contain healthy fats, which are thought to prevent heart disease, and fibre, important for preventing diabetes and digestive problems.
So here are some of our very favourite superfoods for supplying tip-top nutrition to every part of your body:
Hemp used to be a huge industry in the UK, and even gave its name to towns like Hemel Hempstead. It’s undergone a resurgence in recent years due to its superb nutrition, which includes a fantastic amount of fibre, protein, minerals, vitamins and healthy fats. It’s available whole, shelled, in flour and protein powder form and as an oil, and works wonders for your brain, your heart and your skin.
Chia seeds are a fantastic source of fibre, both soluble and insoluble. This is invaluable as a tool for feeling fuller for longer, which can help significantly if you want to lose weight. As well as bursting with beneficial minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, they also contain essential fatty acids in a perfect ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6, which work in balance together to improve your health by reducing inflammation.
Made from berries picked from the topmost branches of the Acai palm tree, Acai Powder is full of essential fatty acids and is an extremely nutritious addition to smoothies and shakes. It’s high in fibre, low in carbohydrates and is overflowing with health-boosting minerals such as potassium, zinc and calcium. There’s also evidence acai protects against cancer and lowers cholesterol.
Green tea is quite simply one of the very best things you can drink for your overall health.
It’s brimming with antioxidants, which fight cancer, lower the risk of heart disease and contribute to fat loss. It’s full of natural plant phenols which will destroy nasty bacteria that gets into your body. It can give you a nice caffeine buzz, but also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can lower blood pressure and help you to relax.
Green tea’s also excellent as a weight loss tool, as it can increase the body’s ability to burn fat. Best of all, there are hundreds of different varieties, from subtle flowering teas to strident deep green Matcha.
Berries are high in fibre, vitamins (especially vitamin C) and antioxidant polyphenols. This research paper from 2015 concluded that berries are among the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids like anthocyanin. They fight inflammation, pack a punch when it comes to beneficial minerals, and may help protect your cells from high blood sugar levels.
Yes – you read that correctly! Chocolate isn’t always a bad dietary choice – the darker the chocolate, the more cocoa solids it contains. Cocoa contains phenolic antioxidants such as flavonoids, which, scientists have shown, reduce the risk of a number of chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative conditions. There’s even chocolate available containing 100% cocoa solids – strictly for the grown-ups!
From Acai to Yacon, Healthy Supplies has a cornucopia of superfood choices, so treat your body with the love it deserves, and come and have a look!