When it comes to food, it can be hard to know exactly what you should be eating. There always seems to be some sort of trend that is all about the apparent health benefits of certain foods. However, these benefits aren’t always backed up by scientific evidence.
Superfood is a bit of a buzzword that gets bandied about. Many people claim that certain things are superfoods when they aren’t. A superfood is a food that is great for your body, as well as the planet. It will be a natural ingredient that is chock full of great nutrients that help your body run as well as possible.
Here are some superfoods you should actually add to your diet:
Chia seeds
You’ve probably heard chia seeds mentioned a couple of times or have seen recipes online that include them. These tiny little seeds definitely aren’t a fad, as they offer some great properties that can help to keep you healthy.
For starters, chia seeds contain a lot of omega fatty acids, which help to keep your brain functioning. We get these from fish, but chia seeds can add an extra vegetarian and vegan boost. They also contain a lot of nutrients including calcium, fibre, protein, vitamins, iron and amino acids.
On top of this, chia seeds can help you feel fuller for longer as they absorb a lot of water, which fills your stomach. This makes them great for adding to smoothies and juices, as well as making pudding from.
Just remember to drink plenty of water if you’re eating chia seeds to make up for what they absorb.
Spirulina
Of all the green powders out there, spirulina is definitely the one you want to add to your diet. Unlike wheatgrass, which doesn’t really offer any benefits, spirulina is incredibly nutritious.
Don’t let the fact that it is pond algae put you off, spirulina is full of nutritious goodness, including omega fatty acids and plenty of protein. This means it is a great way to up the healthy protein in your diet, especially if you aren’t a big meat or fish eater.
It may not taste particularly great, but adding a couple of spoonfuls of spirulina to juice or your smoothie will hide the taste and help keep you healthy.
Cacao
You may have heard that dark chocolate is good for you – in moderation at least – and this is due to the high levels of antioxidants it contains. However, if you want to really get the most out of chocolate, you should be opting for cacao.
In powdered of nib form, raw cacao gives you even more antioxidants, as well as a rich, nutty chocolate taste. It isn’t sweetened like processed chocolate, so you can add healthy and natural ingredients to sweeten it slightly, rather than sugar.
It can help to satisfy your sweet cravings while giving you all the benefits of dark chocolate in a healthy way. You can also use it as you would cocoa powder, giving you a great alternative.
Kefir
This is a slightly lesser-known superfood but it is slowly becoming more popular due to it’s benefits. Kefir is a cultured milk product made by mixing cow’s milk with grains. When it has fermented for 24 hours, it becomes an interesting product that is full of probiotics, which help to keep your gut healthy.
It can aid with digestion, while also providing you with a lot of your recommended daily intake of calcium. You can get kefir in a number of products, including cheese, milk and yoghurt.
Acai
This little berry has started to become more mainstream in recent years and you can now find it in pre-packaged products like smoothies and juice. The Brazilian berry contains a whole host of antioxidants, while also providing other benefits. These include helping to boost energy and improve digestion.
Acai is also full of monounsaturated fats, which help to lower bad cholesterol and keep your heart healthy. The berries can be hard to get hold of, but you can get it in powder form, which still offers plenty of goodness.
