Your Guide to Superfoods
Whether it's a word you’ve heard at the grocery store or while drinking your favorite smoothie, ‘superfoods’ is probably familiar to you. But just how familiar are you with superfoods? We here at Agape Nutrition have made a quick and simple guide on superfoods to help you better understand what they are and why you should eat them.
What is a Superfood, Anyway?
Ok, technically, there is no such thing as a superfood. But before you click away, hear us out. While ‘superfood’ is not a real food category, it is a colloquial term used to describe food that has an abundance of nutrients. It is the healthiest among healthy foods.
According to dietitian Beth Czerwny, RD, of the Cleveland Clinic, superfoods are associated with “helping promote health by increasing your immune function and decreasing your chance of disease prevention or progression.” We typically associate them with heart health, cancer prevention, and lowering cholesterol and inflammation.
What Foods are Superfoods?
As we said before, superfoods are really just foods with lots of nutrients and health benefits. Typically, foods that are classified as superfoods have lots of fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, antioxidants, and more. We’ve picked out the two most common ones to share with you. We’ll go over their health benefits and some recipes you can use them in!
Avocado
Czerwony states, “Avocados are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, which reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.” Avocados are a great source of healthy fats and potassium and can easily be consumed with your favorite meals. One of the simplest ways is to spread it on toast (yes, even we here at Agape Nutrition love avocado toast). We’ve included our favorite avocado superfood recipe here for you to try!
Berries
According to Healthline, “The strong antioxidant capacity of berries is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, and other inflammatory conditions.” Berries are probably the easiest superfood to eat. Just throw them in a smoothie, stick them in your pancakes, or eat them by themselves. Here is one of our favorite smoothies for you to try!
Note: Before drastically changing your diet, consult with your primary care provider. They can connect you with a dietitian that can streamline healthy and viable ways for you to change your meal plan. Additionally, do not supplement or swap in superfoods for any current medication you may be taking without consulting your primary care physician first.
Superfoods are easy to make a part of your lifestyle and have loads of benefits! We hope you enjoy working them into your diet!