What Are Superfoods

Superfoods have been getting a lot of press lately, leaving a lot of people to wonder what they really are. Actually, the term “superfood” was coined by nutritionists and food technologists to describe foods that are especially healthful. Superfoods are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, as well as complex compounds that aren’t always found in the foods that we eat. The increasing popularity of superfoods can be attributed in large part to the fact that most of us don’t eat as many healthy and wholesome foods as we should, due to the busy demands of our work and home lives. Superfoods can provide a quick and easy ways to remedy some of these deficiencies.

However, these days, a lot of manufacturers are taking advantage of the term superfoods. They often mislead people to think that their health basically depends on these foods alone. In fact, your health and wellness depends on a number of different factors, including genetic composition, lifestyle choices, pollution in the environment, and even work stress. Since we all experience these factors to a different degree, the healing benefits of superfoods shouldn’t be over exaggerated as the only way to achieve good health.

“Superfoods” aren’t necessarily specific foods – they’re just foods that have exceptional nutrient contents compared to others. For example, green tea is considered to be a superfood because of the antioxidants that it contains. There are a lot of superfoods available on the market, and consumers need to learn how to distinguish them from regular foods that contain fewer nutrients.

Superfoods generally help to reduce the risks of certain diseases, including certain cancers, heart disease and other illnesses that can result from vitamin deficiencies. However, for a food to be called a superfood, it must provide more health benefits than just the nutrients it provides. For example, the following are some superfoods you might want to add to your diet:

Spinach – This vegetable is definitely considered to be a superfood. It contains large amounts of Vitamin A, C, and K, and is also low in calories, making it a great choice for those on a low calorie diets.
Yogurt – Because of the large amounts of probiotics – or beneficial bacteria – present in yogurts, these treats are considered to be superfoods. The probiotics present in yogurts help to maintain a healthy digestive tract and boost the operation of the immune system.
Tomatoes – Tomatoes are definitely superfoods, because of lycopene they contain. Lycopene is a potent antioxidant that helps in preventing cancer, and you can take advantage of this superfood in pasta sauces, salsas or as a fresh addition to salads.
Raspberries – The sweet taste of raspberries makes them a good alternative for high calorie sweets. They also contain large amounts of anthocyanins – potent antioxidants that help to prevent cancer and diabetes.
Apples – As the old saying goes, an apple a day certainly can be beneficial to your health, in part due to the flavonoids – a type of antioxidant – found in apples. In fact, the regular consumption of apples can reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and stroke. Apples also contain large amounts of Vitamin C, which supports the immune response and leads to fewer cold and flu symptoms.