I think most of us will agree that good nutrition leads to better health. And that food delivers nutrients to our bodies even better than supplements. What is the definition of a Super Food? Are there Super Foods that can prevent disease? What are some Super foods? Let’s look at some explanations.
What is a Super Food?
A Super Food is an unprocessed food with high phytonutrient content. Phytonutrients are made up of phytochemicals which come from edible plants that reduce the risk of cancer, provide antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory effects. So, Super Foods not only provide you with nutrients but also have medicinal properties that provide health benefits.
Can Super Foods prevent disease?
Not everyone is convinced that there even are Super Foods. But there are plenty of web sites, books, and doctors (even on the Oprah show) that are on the band wagon. The U.S. government as of July 1, 2007 banned marketing products as Super Foods unless the product has credible scientific research to back up that claim. These foods do help your cells function effectively keeping you healthier, and healthy cells lead to less disease and better health but that can be true about most unprocessed foods.
Research has been done to show that blueberries reduce the risk for heart disease, cancer and are anti-inflammatory. Wild Salmon lowers the risk for heart disease, helps arthritis and may help memory loss for those with Alzheimers. As we know from the cereal aisle that the oats in oatmeal will help lower are cholesterol. So there seems to be a firm foundation into some of these Super Foods.
What are some Super Foods?
Well, the simple answer is, it depends on who you ask. Even Algae is being touted as a Super Food. Who knew when you were a kid that swallowing pond water was actually beneficial for you? Algae is a one cell organism that contains essential nutrients, is a source of antioxidants, helps neurotransmitters (good for ADD), contains fatty acids, and provides minerals in ionic form. But from there the list is endless depending on who you ask. I have listed some of the foods claiming to be Super Foods:
| Beans Wheat Grass Dark Chocolate Acai Berry Green Tea Strawberries Avocado Pomegranate |
Pumpkin Sprouted Grains Turkey Whole Grains Black Tea Wild Salmon Soy |
Bee Pollen Cod Liver Oil Walnuts Olive Oil Broccoli Blueberries Spinach |
Blue Green Algae Chili Peppers Yogurt Tomatoes Oats Oranges Garlic |
Can Super Foods prevent all disease? I don’t know, but I like how scientists are researching natural foods and understanding more about how they impact our health. This knew emerging knowledge may be our next defense against fighting disease.
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