You’ve probably heard the word “superfood” used frequently in recent years. Nutritionists and other health experts have expressed that certain foods are powerful enough to help reduce risks of diseases. Why? These foods are lower in calories, sugar, and sodium, while being packed with vitamins and other nutrients. Superfoods are real foods, not processed. The superfoods list can be very long, because there are a variety of different great foods that provide different rich, important nutrients and benefits to the body. Since each superfood can provide different benefits, it’s best to mix and match these foods in your daily diet to make your nutrients and vitamins balanced to maximize health benefits.
Below, I’ve listed some superfoods you should think about adding into your diet to keep your entire body as healthy as it can be.
Avocadoes: Avocadoes are full of monosaturated fats, which are linked to reducing a person’s risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. This fruit also helps blood and tissue regeneration, and stabilizes blood sugar. Avocadoes are fully of fiber, and lutein, which is an antioxidant that promotes good eye and skin health.
Blueberries: Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants including anthocyanins, which are known to improve vision and brain function. This fruit helps with motor coordination and memory and reduces inflammation that can be linked with many chronic diseases.
Garlic: Garlic lowers total cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels, which can help prevent arteries from clogging. It is also known to be a potential cancer-preventing food, and helps boosts the body’s resistance to stress-induced infections and colds.
Dark Chocolate: Dark chocolate, the kind that is more than 60 percent cacao, is filled with flavonols and antioxidants, which help fight off diseases. Dark chocolate also helps lower bad LDL cholesterol levels and prevent plaque buildup in the arteries.
Other Superfoods:
Red wine
Pomegranates
Flaxseeds
Almonds
Eggs
Wild Salmon
Mushrooms
Cabbage
Seaweed
Chia seeds
Nutritional yeast
This list of superfoods is expansive. Even if you’re a picky eater, you’re likely to find a few things on it that you can add to you weekly and daily diet. The health benefits are worth it. If you want to learn more about superfoods or are worried your diet isn’t nutrient-filled, contact Dr. Kordonowy at Internal Medicine, Lipids, and Wellness in Fort Myers at 239-362-2005, Ext. 200.
