What’s your favorite thing about going to the farmer’s market or the produce section of the supermarket? I’ll go first – mine is taking a step back and wondering how perfect nature is, and how just one little fruit, or vegetable can carry so many nutrients…amazing right? Some foods are so nutrient dense that we like to call them: super foods, kind of like the Wonder Woman of fruits, or Captain America of veggies!
Including some of these super foods to your meals is certainly a 10/10 for your health and well-being because they’re also great sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants are kind of superheroes in their own right, helping protect your cells from aging early by fighting oxidation and inflammation. While oxidation is a normal process that takes place in your body, inhibiting oxidative stress is important to help fight against imbalances of free radicals in your system that can harm healthy cells.
Nutrients, check. Antioxidants, check. Great taste, check. Super foods are just super good.
While memorizing all the super foods would be kind of crazy, there are some key characteristics to identify them when grocery shopping; the deeper and darker the color, the better, so look for dark leafy greens, dark berries, bright colored fruits and veggies such as bell peppers, carrots, and oranges. These super foods come in animal form too, such as wild-caught salmon, which is packed with omega 3s, helping lower the risk of heart disease and arthritis, sardines also rich in omega 3s.
If you’re looking to try some new foods, get creative; consider açaí (pronounced ah-sai-ee) a dark, earthy purple berry that grows on palm trees in the Amazon rainforest. It’s pack with antioxidants. However, it can be pretty difficult to find it fresh because of how perishable it is, but you may find it in the frozen food aisles of most health stores. Also, don’t underestimate the power of the guac! Avocadoes are a great source of healthy fat (monounsaturated) that helps maintain a healthy cholesterol level. And one more to put on your list, cacao. Known as the main ingredient in chocolate, it’s a great source of flavonoids and antioxidants. It can be a bit bitter in the raw, so consider adding it to a smoothie…or, yes, desserts.
Now, next time you are at the store, you can find your own food superhero and be on your way to a healthy, unbeatable body.
Cheers!
