Superfoods are defined as foods that are nutrient-dense and low on calories. These catalysts for good health are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that make for a well-balanced nutritious diet. Superfoods are also great for the immune system.
Most food trends and diet fads tend to fade with time because most of them aren’t sustainable and/or cause nutrient deficiencies due to unhealthy eating practices. So while you may shed water weight while only consuming cabbage soup for a week, you can be sure the pounds will come creeping back once you go back to your normal diet. Instead, including some superfood fruits into your daily diet can really help with enhancing your cognitive abilities and overall health.
Which is why it’s important to have healthy eating practices that can be sustained as lifelong habits. Not temporary diet fads that honestly affect your quality of life too.
The Superfood Diet vs Weight Loss Diet Trends
Nutritionally dense, superfoods are mostly plant-based but also some are fish and dairy-based as well. Some popular superfoods that come to mind instantly are blueberries, salmon, kale and green tea. They contain a variety of nutrients such as antioxidants, that are essential in the fight against free radicals in the body; healthy fats that help in preventing heart disease; fiber, which is believed to prevent diabetes and digestive problems; and phytochemicals - the substance in plants that causes its deep colours and smells and have numerous healthy benefits like fighting carcinogenic cells in the body.
A varied, colourful diet is essential for every human being to function at their best. Ensuring a diet with superfoods just makes sure that you are getting all the nutrients your body needs to excel. They are also excellent substitutes for salty or sweet food items that most people reach out for when they are in the mood for snacking. Slowly incorporating healthy eating habits like having carrots instead of a bag of chips is going to be better for your overall health in the long run.
Most diet fads are aimed at quick weight loss with little to no attention paid to nutrition and well-being. These diets target fiber, lean muscle and water weight loss that may lead to weight loss but with deficiencies to nutrition, dehydration and fatigue. Additionally, diet trends tend to put all their focus on caloric intake and not the importance of exercise and healthy lifestyle choices. It becomes almost impossible to keep the weight off long term with them as they aren’t sustainable. Instead, one needs to focus more on overall well-being and imbibing healthy eating habits that include all food groups that help keep you satisfied and keep the cravings at bay.
Superfoods are an important aspect of your well-being as they are great substitutes to satisfy cravings and provide an immense boost of healthy nutrients to your body.
What’s so ‘super’ about superfoods?
High concentration of vitamins and minerals that are found in superfoods can be essential in helping the body ward off diseases. When they are included as part of a well-balanced diet, they can promote heart health, improve energy levels, weight loss and even fight off early signs of aging thanks to its high antioxidant content.
Antioxidants are also the most important nutrients in warding off free radicals and preventing cancer. It’s healthy fats and fiber helps in keeping your glycemic index in check and prevent diabetes and other chronic problems like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Superfoods are also great at protecting your organs from toxins, help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation and increase your metabolism.
But it’s important to keep in mind that a diet based solely on superfoods is not a well-balanced diet. While they provide you with essential nutrients that you need on a daily basis, we all know that too much of a good thing can be bad too. Which is why superfoods need to be added to a well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Limiting the intake of sodium, bad fats and refined carbohydrates.
Common superfoods to add to your diet
Apples
Rich in soluble fiber, Vitamin C and potassium, apples are proven to improve neurological health, aid in weight loss and boost the immune system.
Green Tea
Powerful antioxidants called catechins help in fighting and preventing cancer cells in the body. This also helps the body burn fat and calories that can aid in weight loss.
Blueberries
Packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, blueberries also come with potassium and Vitamin C. This can help prevent heart disease, cancer and also have anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
Spirulina
Not only is it packed with vitamins and antioxidants, spirulina is also a potent source of plant-based protein. Thus, an almost complete source of nutrition.
Beetroot
Dense in potassium, betaine, magnesium, folate and Vitamin C, this superfood can help reduce blood pressure and cure anemia, improving circulation and cognitive function.
Watermelon
Great source of beta carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and fiber. It is also proven to prevent cancer, help with asthma symptoms and prevent heart disease.
Pineapple
High in Vitamin C, fiber and potassium, pineapples are power packed with health benefits. But the digestive enzyme in pineapple, Bromelain, is an especially powerful anti-inflammatory with pain-relieving properties.
Is there an easy way to include superfoods into your daily diet?
The American Heart Association recommends we eat 4 – 5 servings of fruit every day. That would translate to 28-35 fruits in our diet every week! But the truth is that not many of us will actually be able to include this into our diet. Making the use of fruit-based and plant-based superfood supplements necessary.
Terra Origin Greens Superfoods and Tropical Superfoods are easy, healthy and great ways to add all the nutrient benefits of superfoods into your diet. Made from the purest ingredients and manufactured in FDA-registered facilities in the USA, they are formulated with sustainably sourced organic fruits, vegetables, phytonutrients and herbs to supply your body with a well-rounded selection of vitamins and minerals.
So just add a scope to your morning milkshake, smoothie, oats or just mix it up with a glass of water before a workout for all the benefits and an added energy boost.
The key is consistency
When it comes to your health and well-being, it’s important to stay away from fads and work on practices that make for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. So a well-balanced diet, regular exercise and keeping stress at bay is the best thing you can do for the future ‘you’.