Three Superfoods You Should Be Eating

So what exactly is a superfood? Does it wear a cape and fight crime with laser vision? Not exactly, but that would be pretty awesome. Superfood is a term that nutritional experts made to classify foods that are loaded with health benefits. Each one is jam packed with nutritional benefits that encourage a healthy lifestyle and even yield potential medical benefits.

Whether you are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or just build on your overall health, you should fit the following top super foods into your diet.

Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the most popular super foods because they deliver a delicious batch of essential nutrients in only a small dose. One cup of blueberries has around 85 calories and about 14% of recommended dietary fibre. They also are packed with Vitamin C and an antioxidant called anthocyanin.

Studies have shown that the antioxidant properties of this fruit could play a big role in lowering your blood pressure, speeding up your metabolic rate, and lowering your unhealthy cholesterol. Medical benefits of blueberries include a significantly reduced risk of heart disease and the inhibiting of breast cancer cells. Try mixing in a cup with your cereal, in a smoothie, or just eat them by the handful!

Eggs

This top superfood is a culinary staple in thousands of different recipes and it comes loaded with nutritional benefits. Just one 80 calorie egg is packed with high quality protein, healthy dietary fat, and a plethora of essential vitamins and minerals.

The protein content in a whole egg uses 9 different amino acids to provide your muscles with the fuel to rebuild and energy to function. The B vitamins in an egg jumpstart your energy and help contribute to mental clarity throughout the day. Eggs also contain about 115mg of Choline, a nutrient that helps brain function. If you want to cut down on calories, egg whites are a great option. Just keep in mind that the majority of nutrients and stomach filling properties is in the yolk. The possibilities are virtually endless with eggs. Eat them hardboiled, scrambled, in recipe batters, make some French toast, or any other way and you will still benefit from the superfood.

Spinach

Health enthusiasts everywhere cannot stress the importance of this top superfood enough. If you want to build a strong and healthy physique like Popeye the Sailor Man than make sure to include this green into your daily routine. It is a unique vegetable thanks to its combination of protein, vitamins, minerals, and folic acid.

Just one cup of this vegetable contains about 12% of the recommended daily protein intake. That’s a lot considering the fact that vegetables usually have a minuscule amount of the muscle fuel. The alpha lipoic acid in spinach helps contribute to your eye health and avoid any problems with sight as you grow older. The nutrients and antioxidants also play a big part in preventing your cholesterol from being oxidised, preventing heart disease. Try making a salad with it, putting some on your sandwich, or steaming it with a bit of salt for optimum flavour.

Be Honest With Yourself

This list may come across as a bit obvious to some people. For decades nutritional experts have stressed the benefits of these foods. But are you really doing all you can to incorporate them into your diet? Studies show that even though they are some of the top super foods, people are still hardly getting enough of them in their diets. Make sure that they are higher than unhealthy processed foods on your grocery list and in your daily food intake. You’ll thank yourself when you live a long and healthy life devoid of disease.

What is your favourite super food? Do you have any recipes to share? Let us know with a comment below!

Adam St. Pierre

Image Credits: Flynt/BigStock.com

Darlene Strand

A little lettuce toss salad with a cut up small tomato, a steamed sweet potato in its skin with butter, sprinkle a little ginger and cinnamon. And a warmed hot roll with a little cream cheese spread. That’s what I had today for lunch. Diet stays in check when you choose wisely on what to eat!
Darlene Strand

Mangos, grapes (seedless), and a sliced tomato sandwich with a little chunk of cooked meat, if I have on hand. The markets I shop at close by are gradually getting higher in costs for most of the meats and fish too. I try to include fresh fish as much as I can and I make homemade soups thicken with rice or potato. I’m thinking this summer I may try growing a few easy vegetables in containers, not too big and easy for me to manage to bring inside the apt on days when the maintenance guys come around to blow around the leaves and cut the grass.
dragan

Spinach: Spinach is low in calories and rich in nutrients. It is full of vitamins A, C and K, iron, fiber and antioxidants. It can help strengthen the immune system and maintain bone health.
Avocado: Avocado is a fruit that contains healthy fats, fiber and plenty of nutrients such as vitamin E, vitamin K, potassium and folate. It is also a good source of antioxidants and can help regulate cholesterol levels.

Salmon: Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamin D. These nutrients can help keep your heart healthy, improve your mood, and support a healthy brain.