What Are Superfoods?

Everything That You Need to Know About Superfoods

With the sheer amount of unhealthy food available today, it’s really easy to make poor eating choices. Food is the fuel your body uses to power itself throughout the day, but when your body isn’t getting enough of the right foods, vitamins and minerals, your health and performance will suffer.

That’s why it’s vital to take the time to create a balanced diet and make sure you get all the essential nutrients that you need to maintain energy and vitality. Luckily, nature has provided a whole host of superfoods that can help your body and mind maintain optimum levels of performance for work, training, and life in general.

So, What Are Superfoods?

If you want to lead a productive and healthy life, then you need to ensure that you have a balanced diet that includes a mixture of essential nutrients. 

Yes, everyone talks about how important it is to have a balanced diet, including sufficient amounts of macronutrients and micronutrients. But it’s harder in practice than in theory to maintain ideal eating habits. Usually, it involves mixing different food groups so you get your necessary protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. 

Fortunately, nature has graced us with certain nutrient-dense foods known as superfoods.

Most superfoods are plant-based, but some animal products have also been found to have the same benefits. According to a recent article in the Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science, superfoods contain various quantities of:

• Antioxidants
• Amino acids
• Fatty acids
• Enzymes
  

It is the antioxidant qualities that lead to many of the health benefits associated with superfoods.

Health Benefits of Superfoods

With a name like superfoods, you won’t be surprised to find that there are numerous potential health benefits associated with them. However, these foods must be integrated into a healthy, balanced diet to ensure that you get the best results. Common health benefits of consuming superfoods as part of your diet include:

• Reducing bad cholesterol levels
• Boosting the immune system 
• Reducing inflammation in the body
• Lowering Blood Pressure
• Improved complexion
• Increased energy
• Better sleep

But, one of the most powerful benefits is the ability to reduce free radicals in the body. This can help reduce the symptoms of diseases, and help protect against serious ailments such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

What Are Some Examples of Superfoods?

As mentioned above, adding superfoods to your diet can lead to many health benefits. And, the great news is that many of these foods are easy to find at your local market or health food store. Let’s take a quick look at some of the leading superfoods out there.

Berries

Berries are one of the leading superfoods for a good reason. Not only do they taste sweet, but they are also high in fiber and antioxidants. 

Studies have shown that flavonoids in berries can help reduce the risks of developing heart disease and cancer, as well as helping digestive issues.

Blueberries get a lot of love (and deservedly so), but there are many other kinds of health-boosting berries such as:

• Strawberries
• Cranberries
• Raspberries
• Acai - although not technically a berry, this super fruit has been hugely popular in Brazil for generations and is often found in many ‘Buddha Bowls’ these days. 

Legumes

Another excellent addition to any meal is legumes. They have long formed a significant part of a vegetarian diet, and they are loaded with protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and antioxidants. As they are also a great source of soluble fiber, they are great for lowering cholesterol and are often highly recommended for diabetes prevention.

Legumes are easy to find in your local supermarket and can be easily added to your regular diet as a side or as a meat substitute. Common legumes are:

• Peas
• Black beans
• Lentils
• Soybeans
• Kidney beans

Whole Grains

Whole grains provide loads of soluble and non-soluble fiber, along with B vitamins, antioxidants, protein, and minerals such as iron, copper, and magnesium. This excellent mixture of nutrients is great for preventing heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. It can also help normalize gut bacteria and aid healthy digestion.

Excellent sources of whole grains include:

• Quinoa
• Millet
• Bulgar
• Buckwheat
• Whole-grain barley and corn
• Brown rice
• Oatmeal

Dark Leafy Greens

There is a reason that your grandmother always said you should eat your greens, and that’s because they’re loaded with essential nutrients. No matter what kind you go for, you will be getting large doses of zinc, calcium, fiber, and magnesium. They also contain carotenoids that have outstanding anti-inflammatory qualities.

Examples of dark, leafy greens that you should be eating regularly include:

• Arugula
• Kale
• Spinach
• Swiss chard
• Bok choy
• Broccoli
• Watercress

Deer Antler Velvet

Deer antler velvet is a superfood that has gained a lot of attention in the Western world in recent years. It is sustainably harvested from virile male deer as they go through their annual cycle of shedding their old antlers and growing new ones. Deer antler velvet has been used for centuries in China, Korea, and Russia due to its benefits to health which include helping:

• Improve mental clarity
• Increase stamina
• Support joint growth and mobility
• Repair and build muscle mass

It is often used as a tonic, as it contains large amounts of peptides, lips, minerals, and IGF-1. The good news is that the Western world is finally acknowledging its benefits, and high-quality deer antler velvet supplements are now easy to find on the market.

Supplements like IGF-1 Plus™, (deer antler velvet), provide a robust source of nutrition, with over 40 key compounds and 400 active ingredients, including IGF 1 and are a great source of essential amino acids.

Amino Acids From Deer Antler Velvet

Growth factors are one of the major benefits of taking deer antler velvet supplements. These poly-peptide bonded amino acid chains are manufactured and spread throughout the body to fulfill specific actions and needs.

Essential amino acids can be considered the building blocks of protein; these compounds are essential to maintaining and cultivating your physical and mental health. Amino acid supplements are an effective tool for improving athletic performance and can even have beneficial mental effects like enhancing your state of mind. Besides helping to build proteins, amino acids are also vital for the synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters.

Other Superfoods

We have introduced a few amazing superfoods, but other superfoods you should try to introduce to your diet include:

• Nuts and seeds
• Olive oil
• Tomato
• Avocado
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Turmeric
• Salmon
• Sweet potato
• Yogurt 

Playing around with new food ideas and recipes can be a lot of fun. So experiment, and start adding superfoods to your diet.

If you’re interested in giving Deer antler velvet a try for your superfood diet, check out our great selection at:

https://www.nutronicslabs.com/collections/best-sellers