What is a superfoods diet and what exactly are superfoods?
One of the most important aspects of superfoods is that they are loaded with vitamins and minerals. The amount of nutrients – with strengthening, energising and anti-aging properties – in superfoods, is relatively high compared to most other foods.
Some superfoods peek in one or two specific nutrients, while others stand out by containing a good amount of many different ones. When you have a bit of knowledge on the nutritional values of different foods, this will help you to make smart choices. Besides, it’s a lot of fun! Who wouldn’t want to know these things? The smartest moves when it comes to taking care of your body and helping your skin from the inside. Just some simple clues on identifying the good stuff.
By incorporating superfoods into our diet, we put all the best chances on our side to stay healthy. Our health is reflected in our overall appearance and not in the least in the way our skin looks.
As we grow older, our cells become damaged by free radicals over time. We can not do anything about that fact, since free radicals are created by normal body functions, like digestion. Many vitamins and minerals however work as anti-oxidants, meaning that they have a way of protecting our cells from free radicals and preventing or at least slowing down the degeneration process.
Anti-ageing skin care can only do so much, the body can really use the help of nutrients and anti-oxidants from the inside.
How does a superfoods diet work?
The way I see it, following a superfoods diet isn’t really about restrictions, nor does it ask from you to weigh or count how much you eat. On the contrary, it is more about what you do eat than about what you don’t.
Superfoods can be added to your daily food intake, one at a time, moving at your own pace. Any superfood you start eating will benefit your health. Of course, the more you become focussed on the health benefits of superfoods, the more of them you might want to incorporate on a daily bases. The many benefits of the superfoods diet’s menu include making you feel better, healthier and more energetic. Following a superfoods diet doesn’t have to be following a diet in the classical sense of the term. Just try including superfoods in your eating habits and observe. Superfoods influence the entire body as a system and the more superfoods you eat, the better your body will be able to stay fit, to fight diseases and aging.
Obviously, eating highly processed food, lots of sugar, soda’s and junkfood on one side and some superfoods on the other will be kind of like mopping the floor while the water is still running… If you’re serious about giving your body it’s best shot at health – including clear, glowing skin – then it’s important to keep all your food intake somewhat wholesome, fresh and organic. Not just sprinkle some superfoods on to a plate filled with junk.
Eating healthy and organic can be full of surprises. While assembling my list of top superfoods, I discovered some items of which I had no idea at first that they were so healthy! We are looking at some pearls of nature here, giving you a solid foundation of healthy nutriments to move through the day well-nourished. Once you start taking an interest in nourishing yourself and your family and friends with only the best possible food, you automatically become more aware of your body’s needs.
The trick is to teach your body a natural preference for unrefined, healthy and organic food. Bringing yourself back in tune with our original nutrient-dense superfoods, you might even find that you will feel less and less of the urge to take in refined, treated and toxically processed meals or snacks. To me, that is what the superfoods diet is about – coming to realise that you crave a few handfulls of trail mix much more than a Sundae ice cream.
With the extensive list of superfoods here, you can pick the ones you like and build your own superfoods diet, based on your own taste!
(later add: and even experiment with some delicious superfood recipes!)
Foods to include in a Superfoods Diet
- Cabbage, because it is rich in vitamin C, glutamine and amino acids. Regular consumption of cabbage juice can help with ulcers, but the most important actions of this vegetable are its strong anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogen properties. Eat cabbage up to 2 or 3 times a week.
- Wheatgrass for being a great source of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is detoxifying, it penetrates deep into the tissues and inhibits the growth of unfriendly bacteria. Wheatgrass cleanses, purifies and remove heavy metals from the body.
- Spinach, because the large amount of vitamin K in spinach it good for the bones, the nervous system and the brain. The vitamin A promotes healthy skin and the other nutrients in spinach (vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, manganese, zinc, selenium) have strong anti-oxidant properties. The substances lutein and zeaxanthin are anti-oxidants as well and protect the eye from degenerative diseases often coming with aging.
- Garlic is a natural blood thinner and fights infections as well as the growth of cancer cells. Large quantities of fresh garlic can be used against intestinal parasites.
- Avocado, with high levels in oleic acid works against the development of breast cancer. It is also a good source of lutein, and contains substances working against different other forms of cancer, high cholesterol, cardiovascular and heart diseases.
- Broccoli for helping the body combat degeneration, different forms of cancer and heart disease. It is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E and K, along with calcium, magnesium, kalium, zinc, iron and copper.
- Pomegranate because it benefits the heart and arteries, fights bad cholesterol and works as a blood thinner. Pomegranate has been shown to attack cancer cells and inhibit their growth.
- Spirulina, a tiny algae, bursting with vitamins and minerals, full of anti-oxidants, strengthens the immune system. It is a great source of vegetable proteins and a valuable asset for vegetarians.
- Coconut oil, with regular consumption, appears to be a simple way for boosting the immune system, loosing weight, killing fungi and viruses present in the body, improving digestion in general and cholesterol levels and giving your skin a radiant glow from the inside. (Of course, using coconut oil as an outside beauty treatment will only improve that effect!)
- Quinoa, a small grain not containing any gluten, is known for its high nutritional value and as a great source of proteins. Easy to digest, quinoa contains phosphorus, magnesium, iron and essential amino acids.
- Kale
- Sprouts
- Oats
- Nuts
- Blueberries
- Apple
- Inca berries
- Goji berries
- Acai berries
- Seaweed
- Chlorella
- Taro
- Fish
- Cinnamon
- Cold pressed olive oil
- Honey
- Hemp seed
- Green tea
- Cacao
- Ginger/turmeric
- Chia seed
- Maca
- Parmesan cheese – source of amino acid, phosphor, calcium, vitamin A.