You are what you eat, right? To some extent, the answer is yes! There are some foods that you can easily incorporate into your diet that can do wonders for our bodies and should be a staple part of our diet. Fortunately, this guide can help you to know which foods are most beneficial to you so you can learn to use them more in your cooking and meals!
Dates
Dates are a long-lasting dried fruit so you don’t have to worry about short shelf-lives and are packed full of nice stuff including protein, iron and vitamins which contribute to good bone health. They are an essential food item for pregnant women in some countries as they contain folate, calcium, potassium and iron, all of which contribute to a healthy pregnancy. As dates are long-lasting and packed with vitamins, they are a key staple in many donated food packs and should absolutely be added to your shopping list!
Garlic
A food that is often seen added to dishes or even mixed into butter and spread across crusty loaves for a tasty side dish. Little known about garlic, however, is that it is a fantastic source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, selenium, fiber and manganese, all of which we need to function to the best of our ability. Studies into the effectiveness of garlic have also found that it can reduce cholesterol and help with high blood pressure, as well as giving our immune system a boost. More research is currently being carried out into the effectiveness of garlic in reducing the likelihood of certain cancers, making this little plant a definite superfood.
Ginger
Ginger has been in use as a popular food item for centuries because of its rich flavor and versatile forms in both savory and sweet dishes. It can be kept as a fresh root, or dried and powdered or many people choose to create oils and pastes that can be quickly added to dishes as and when needed. The benefits of ginger are numerous, from easing feelings of nausea and acute pain to reducing the risk of chronic illnesses including dementia, certain cancers, and heart disease. Pregnant women who regularly took or ingested ginger also found that it contributed to preventing or at least, relieving the effects of morning sickness. Furthermore, ginger is found in supplements like Morning Complete, which, as these Activated You reviews suggest, can really help with things like digestion, bloating, and gut health, among other things.
Blueberries
Blueberries are not only delicious, but packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C, and potassium. They can help to lower your risk of heart disease and cancer and also have anti-inflammatory properties. They are also a good source of fiber which can help maintain healthy cholesterol and help keep you feeling full longer. Blueberries keep a bit longer in the fridge than other berries making it easier to stock up. Frozen blueberries have the same health benefits as fresh, too!
Fish
Rich in omega 3s, fish is most certainly a superfood. The key is to look for wild fish like salmon, herring, and mackerel. Research has shown omega 3s from fish can help to lower heart disease risk, help with arthritis, and has possible benefits to those with memory loss, Alzheimer’s and even depression. Since these fish are high in monounsaturated fat they can even help lower cholesterol. Aim for 2-3 weekly servings.
Skim Milk & Yogurt
Calcium is so import to help build strong bones in growing children and to prevent osteoporosis. Low-fat diary products like skim milk and yogurt are wonderful sources of calcium, but you can also get it through supplements. Calcium has even been shown by some studies to help with weight loss!
Dark Chocolate
Oh yeah! Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and can also help lower blood pressure. Whether it’s by relaxing and indulging yourself or by the ingredients in it, who knows?! The higher the cocoa content the better though so make sure you are eating chocolate with 60% cocoa content or higher. The higher the cocoa content, the lower the fat and sugar content.
So which superfoods will you be adding to your diet? Or maybe increasing your consumption of? I know high cholesterol runs in my family so in addition to exercising I’m always trying to eat more fish and I think I need to add more garlic in my diet now, too!