Superfoods are packed with vitamins and minerals, but the crazy names (and crazier prices) of some of them can leave you heading for the supplements aisle. However, there are certain, ordinary foods that are really superfoods in disguise, and you can find them in your supermarket, or even already in your cupboard!
Firstly, broccoli is thought to boost your immune system and reproductive wellness, and protect your cells from being damaged by free radicals, as it is packed with folic acid, vitamin C and carotenoids. Broccoli can also help you regulate your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as it contains beta carotene, potassium, chromium, and vitamins B3 and B5, which are responsible for producing energy.
You may think all garlic can do is ward off vampires and give you bad breath, but in fact this superfood is the number one potentially cancer-preventive food on the National Cancer Institute’s list. It’s a great natural source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese, and selenium, and, on top of all that, garlic is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food that protects you against heart disease, reduces your blood pressure and lowers your cholesterol levels.
The lycopene is what gives tomatoes their red colour is also a powerful antioxidant and helps them to absorb the damaging free radicals that can harm your cells. Tomatoes may also protect your wellbeing against age-related macular degeneration and breast, stomach and prostate cancer, and they’re packed full of vitamins, such as vitamins A, C and E, potassium and other mineral salts. As a bonus, the refreshing, high water content of tomatoes makes them low in calories.
Next, you may already know that avocados are an excellent source of health monounsaturated fat, but these foods are one of the most nutrient-dense around, being high in fibre, potassium, vitamin E, and magnesium. Further, avocados are a rich source of glutathione, and this powerful antioxidant is known to block over 30 different carcinogens and, as an added bonus, helps you to fight wrinkles.
Finally, the anthocyanosides in blueberries help to prevent all types of cancer, and the berries are also a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Blueberries also contain flavonoids, which help to eliminate cell wall- and DNA-damaging free radicals, and they are said to help with memory loss and help prevent contagious bacteria from sticking to the walls of your bladder, urethra and gut.
Comments are closed.