The term ‘superfoods’ has become much more prevalent in discussions about diet, weight loss and healthy eating. Such foods provide high levels of certain nutrients that are essential to a healthy body. Below are some of the best.
Broccoli
Broccoli is the vitamin superstar of the vegetable world. It is full of vitamin C and A, which is the vitamin crucial to protecting your cells and boosting your immune system. It is also full of vitamin K, which benefits bone structure and blood flow. Steaming is the best way to prepare broccoli as it retains the most nutrients. However, a quick flash in the stir-fry pan is another way to add more broccoli to your diet.
Green Tea
Green tea is a superfood by way of its antioxidant properties. But it also has the added bonus of boosting your metabolism, which helps burn fat, particularly around the midriff. Try to add two cups of green tea to your daily routine, opting for the caffeine-free varieties if you like a hot drink before bedtime. The longer you leave the bag in to brew, the more nutrients you’ll get.
Acai berries
Hailing from the Amazon rainforest, acai berries have only really become well known in the last decade or so. But now that its nutritional value has been discovered, they have rightly been labelled a superfood. Full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids, acai berries help combat the signs of aging, improve digestive health and aid muscle building (which boosts your metabolism and helps you lose weight). You can find them in some supermarkets as well as health stores. Tasting like a cross between raspberries and chocolate, they are delicious stirred through yoghurt or added to a smoothie. You can also take acai berry capsules if you prefer.
Yoghurt
We are usually taught that bacteria are bad things, but the ones living in yoghurt are actually beneficial to our bodies. These live cultures are essential to maintain a properly functioning digestive system, which helps to process food quickly and extracting the most nutrients from it. Yoghurt can also help reduce any feeling of bloating, and it is packed with calcium – more than is contained in milk. It’s easy to add a dollop of yoghurt to your morning smoothie or bowl of porridge, but also explore using plain yoghurt in salad dressings.
Goji berries
Some people claim that goji berries are the most nutritionally packed food on the planet. While such a claim cannot be verified (foods give many different types of nutrients, so can’t be directly compared), they certainly do pack a mighty nutrient punch. Goji berries contain more vitamin C than oranges, as well as 15 different amino acids, loads of B vitamins, iron and antioxidants. Similar in taste to raisins, although a little drier, they are perfect additions to fruit smoothies, baked in bread or sprinkled onto porridge or cereal for breakfast.
Barley
Barley is a superfood when it comes to helping you lose weight. It is packed with soluble fibre, the nutrient that helps your body metabolise fats faster. Fibre also helps keep your digestive system in tip-top condition and keep cholesterol levels down. Add barley to soups and stews or use as an alternative to rice. Soak the grains overnight to reduce the cooking time.
Oily fish
Oily fish such as salmon and sardines are full of omega-3 oils. These oils are not only essential for cardiovascular health, they are also though to aid brain function and protect against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Such fish is also low in calories and generally very affordable. Make sure you buy fish from a sustainable source. Grilling the fish is the healthiest method of preparation, as it avoids using oil to cook it.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are ranked among the vegetables with the highest nutritional value, being full of carotenoids, fibre and potassium. They have the added benefit of being very low in calories, much less than white potatoes. Their sweet-savoury flavour means they can easily replace their cousins as chips, mash or roasties. Try baking them with a drizzle of honey.
There are many superfoods available, each with different nutritional benefits. Add as many as you can to a balanced, low-calorie diet or detox diet plan to help maintain a healthy lifestyle and aid weight loss.
