What are the Best Superfoods?

If you’re looking to up your superfood game, there are two main options: eat your superfoods or take a superfood supplement. If you eat your superfoods, you’re adding them to your plate on a daily basis, and if you’re taking a superfood supplement, you just take a pill or two each day (most experts recommend taking one pill a day). 

What is a superfood? These are foods or nutrients that, in moderate amounts, offer many health benefits, such as aiding in weight loss, decreasing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, lowering the risk of some cancers, and more.

Here are the Best Superfoods:

• Yogurt.

Yogurt is an excellent source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D., A cup of plain yogurt, can fulfill your daily calcium requirement. Yogurt is a good option if you want to lose weight, as it is comprised of 80% water and 0% fat.

• Cruciferous vegetables.

Cruciferous vegetables (aka cruciferous greens) are Brassica vegetables from the cabbage family, including kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. Cruciferous greens include a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, and they are generally low in calories.

• Berries. 

Berries are a healthy superfood to add to your diet. Berries are packed full of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins. Berries are also full of water and low in calories. Berries can be eaten in a number of ways. Berries can be blended into smoothies, made into sauces, used as a topping for dessert, or eaten on their own. If berries are not in season, frozen berries can be used during the offseason.

• Nuts. 

Nuts are a popular food for snacking, but they are also a good source of protein, selenium, magnesium, and fiber. Nuts are also high in fat, which can raise cholesterol levels, but nuts are also high in healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, which can reduce bad cholesterol or LDL.

• Olive oil. 

Olive oil has more omega-3 than salmon, and it contains phenols, which are powerful antioxidants that prevent heart disease, cancer, and blood clots. Olive oil is one of the most versatile foods you can eat. It’s packed with healthy fats, antioxidants, and nutrients and is one of the best sources of monounsaturated fats. (This is the type of fat found in foods like nuts and avocados, which has been linked to better heart health.) One study found that eating 1.7 tablespoons of olive oil every day can lower the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by as much as 20 percent! Olive oil is also versatile in the kitchen, making it great for everything from roasting veggies to making salad dressings.

• Whole grains. 

Whole grains, also known as whole grains, are a type of whole food, meaning they don’t contain any ingredients that have been processed to the point that they no longer resemble the food’s original form. Many common foods found in stores, including bread, cereals, and pasta, are enriched, meaning they contain added vitamins and minerals.

• Leafy greens. 

Leafy greens are a great source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, and these health benefits are endless. Greens, especially dark leafy greens, are good for your heart, your bones, your skin, and even your digestive health, and these greens are low in calories and fat.

The foods you eat are an essential part of helping you achieve and maintain your health and fitness goals. And the fact is, even though we don’t always take the time to eat well, the right foods can provide us with loads of nutritional benefits. These foods may even help fight diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Superfoods are foods high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and new studies highlight the benefits attributed to their consumption. These foods act as nutritional superfoods, healing and protecting your body from the inside out.