Most of us have heard of the term “Superfood”–but what does it really mean? Superfoods are foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals, and have properties that are extremely beneficial to the body. Superfoods are known to be holistic treatments for certain diseases and conditions.
Many of these foods are known to prevent cancer, heart conditions, diabetes, and more. The reason why superfoods can prevent these illnesses is because they have anti-inflammatory properties and are high in vitamins and minerals that are essential for keeping us healthy. Below are 6 superfoods that you should incorporate into your diet ASAP.
Spinach
Spinach is considered a superfood because it is loaded with tons of nutrients in a low-calorie package. Dark, leafy greens like spinach are important for skin, hair, and bone health. They also provide protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals. Spinach has a great amount of fiber, vitamin c, zinc, and calcium. The best part is that it can be consumed in many different ways, like eating it in soups, adding it to smoothies, and paired as a side dish with fish or meat.
Green Tea
Green tea is filled with antioxidants that are known to help prevent and fight certain cancers and heart diseases. This antioxidant is ECGG, which is short for epigallocatechin gallate. Green tea comes in multiple forms, such as regular tea, decaffeinated, and in a powder form called matcha powder. Matcha power is a more potent version of green tea, meaning it has more caffeine, but also more of those antioxidant properties.
Almonds
Almonds are actually the most nutritionally dense nut,meaning they offer the highest concentration of overall nutrients per calorie and per ounce. A one-ounce serving contains 161 calories, nearly 13 grams of unsaturated fat and 3.4 grams of fiber (that’s about 14% of the daily recommended value). What’s more, almonds are a good source of potassium, calcium, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron.
Ginger
Ginger not only has antioxidants and vitamins, but it is also known to help many common day to day complaints like upset stomach, headaches and nausea. Ginger root is also easy to incorporate into meals or drinks because of the many forms that it comes in, like juices, powers, and oils.
Quinoa
Quinoa packs in fiber, protein, iron, copper, and vitamin B6 all into one. Growing in popularity, quinoa has been used more recently in meals than ever before. Quinoa can be used in many different types of foods, like soups, rice, or pastas. Quinoa can be used as a substitute for rice in meals, as it has similar health benefits to brown rice, but less carbs and more protein.
Avocado
Avocados are known for their healthy fats. While this is super important, avocados also have a lot of fiber and vitamins in them as well. Avocados can not only be used for eating, but also for hair, skin, and nails. Avocado oil is a popular alternative to avocados themselves, since it can be used for so many different purposes, and also has a longer shelf life.
