Tag Archives: Superfood

11 Jan

Raspberries as a Superfood

Ever since my grandmother would send me into her garden to pick raspberries for a pie or her wonderful raspberry jam I have loved this wonderful berry. Every third berry wound up in my mouth and not in the bowl. That is why it is so great to learn that raspberries are not only delicious, but they are good for you as well. In fact, they are high on the list of superfoods.

Why are Raspberries a Superfood?

A superfood is any food that promotes both weight control overall health. They contain a high number of nutrients that fight diseases and make you full without eating a lot so you don’t take in a lot of calories. Superfoods are also simple to work into meals each day.

Oriental medicine has used raspberries as a cure for anemia.

Oriental medicine has used raspberries as a cure for anemia.

Raspberries fit all the traits of a superfood. Some of the nutrients they contain include high levels of vitamin C and manganese. In fact, a cup of raspberries a day will give you 50 percent of the daily value of each of these. They also contain the most fiber of any fruit.

One of the biggest qualities of a superfood is that they contain antioxidants. Raspberries are high in anthocyanin flavonoids, meaning that they are dense with antioxidants.

Use in Homeopathic Medicine

Traditionally, there are many uses for raspberries as cures for illnesses and conditions. The Chinese have used them for years to cleanse the toxins from the kidneys and the liver as well as the urinary tract. Oriental medicine has used it as a cure for anemia.

The tannins in the leaves of the raspberry plant can help relieve gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea. These same astringent properties can be used to treat sore throat and sores in the mouth. These properties also make the leaves suitable for helping to cure acne, dermatitis, and itching skin.

The Health Benefits of Eating Raspberries

The wonders of antioxidants are a hot topic when it comes to improving health these days. Raspberries contain hundreds of the anti-aging properties of antioxidants. No one has been able to find any reason why you can’t eat as many raspberries as you want every day to take full advantage of these antioxidants.

There are thousands of enzymes in the body that require vitamin C, so the fact that you can get one-half the recommended amount in one cup of raspberries is exciting. The high manganese levels balance estrogen levels and are also good for the metabolism.

Raspberries are 20 percent fiber. Fiber is good for lowering cholesterol, can keep you regular. And can fight off fatigue. Fiber also triggers the growth of the good kinds of bacteria that are needed in the gastrointestinal system.

There are also nutrients in raspberries that can aid in fighting cancer or preventing it. There is a plenty of iron, folic acid, and copper in the berries that can help prevent certain anemias.

Basic Growing Requirements

Many people in this country believe that the best raspberries come from the Pacific Northwest. But raspberries will do fine anywhere that doesn’t have extremely cold temperatures and in spots where they will get a lot of sun and one to two inches of water a week.

Raspberry cereals, smoothie, powerbar…

Since it seems that eating raspberries takes care of a lot daily requirements for nutrients and are so beneficial as a superfood, finding different and fun ways to get them into your diet seems like a good idea.

  • You can’t go wrong with popping them in your mouth a few at a time straight from the carton.
  • Putting them in your morning cereal is always a good idea.
  • Use them as the main part of a morning smoothie:
  • ½ cup of raspberries
  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup of organic apple juice
  • ½ cup of water

You can even make your own raspberry breakfast bars. Between the raspberries and the oats, wheat flour, wheat germ, and walnuts that are in these, what better way to start of the day in a healthy way?

Another cool smoothie with peaches and raspberries:

02 Oct

Superfoods: What Are They and Why Are They Called Superfoods?

Blueberries

The term “Superfood” is often used when talking about nutrition and health. It was first mentioned by Aaron Moss in the August 1998 edition of his Journal entitled, Nature Nutrition. In the journal, he stated that “Humans have many options when it comes to fueling their bodies, but the benefits of some options are so nutritious that they might be labeled as superfoods”. In this context, superfood refers to certain groups of food that offer us great concentrations of unique nutrients that provide us with many different health benefits.

So What Exactly are the Criteria – When Can You Label a Food as a Superfood?

Well, foods worthy to be called superfoods contain high concentrations of antioxidants, minerals , vitamins and unique compounds such as phytonutrients, polysaccharides and essential fats.

Some of these attributes exist in almost all superfoods. The nutrients and antioxidants in superfoods are usually present in extreme amounts when they are raw and uncooked and compared to other “ordinary” foods. Another quality of a superfoods is that they it can be a part of our regular diet. We can usually  eat them as much as we want and as often as we want without worrying about dosage and adverse side effects.

Benefits of Consuming Superfoods

A few well known benefits of consuming superfoods on a regular basis primarily include optimal nutrition without overeating, aiding the body to detoxify and cleanse itself from potentially harmful toxins, and helping the body to rebuild itself. When these primary benefits from superfoods take place, secondary benefits follow, which include healthy, radiant skin, beautiful hair, weight loss, fit body, reduced risks to chronic illnesses and premature aging.

A Few Superfood Examples

One of the most common examples of superfoods are blueberries. They contain moderate concentrations of anthocyanins, vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber.

Other well-known superfoods include goji berries, raspberries, raw cacao, broccoli, spinach, pumpkin, nuts, the lycopene-rich tomatoes, spirulina, whole grains, fish oil and superfruits like avocados. Each of the foods mentioned contain their own array of unique and remarkable nutrients and compounds. Fortunately, superfoods exist in most food groups. You can find them amidst the wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as in some species of seaweed.

If you make these foods a part of your regular diet you will feel healthier & stronger so give them a try.

30 Sep

Superfoods List

While there are many foods that contain benefits for a person’s health, certain foods are commonly referred to as “superfoods” because they contain multiple beneficial properties and are especially dense in nutrients. A superfood may be good for metabolism and weight loss, may help with digestion, may be good for the heart and blood pressure, may help to prevent disease and may even help to improve mood and concentration. Often, the items included on a superfoods list will boast a combination of these benefits.

So, without further ado, here is a list of seven popular, easily attainable super foods:

1. Beans

According to Dr. Perricone, who regularly appears on Oprah, “Beans are extremely beneficial in an anti-diabetes diet because they rank low on the glycemic scale…” meaning that they help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. For anyone, diabetic or not, beans provide an excellent source of fiber and protein while remaining low in fat. Beans come in a variety of options, including: black, pinto, kidney, garbanzo, soy, navy and many more. They are found in the cooking of almost every culture around the world and are extremely versatile in their recipe options.

2. Yogurt

Yogurt contains naturally occurring probiotics, which are excellent for digestion and overall health. Yogurt also contains calcium, which is good for bones and may prevent the onset of osteoporosis, and contains protein, b-vitamins, potassium and magnesium.

3. Salmon

In 2002, the American Heart Association recommended eating 2 servings of fish per week. Salmon is relatively low in fat when compared to most meats, and is an excellent source of protein and fatty acids. Canned salmon is an inexpensive alternative when fresh salmon isn’t in the budget or widely available.

4. Broccoli

This green vegetable is an excellent source of calcium, vitamins a and c and fiber, which aids in digestion and weight loss. Eating a variety of green vegetables is believed to keep your heart healthy and aid in cancer prevention.

5. Dark Chocolate

The cocoa found in dark chocolate is an excellent source of antioxidants and caffeine, which can stimulate endorphins and improve mood as well as concentration.

6. Green tea

It is widely known that green tea has powerful antioxidants and naturally occurring caffeine, which, like chocolate, aids in energy and concentration. Some studies have also shown that people who drank green tea lost more weight than their counterparts who followed the same diet but did not drink green tea.

7. Avocados

This nutrient dense fruit is delicious as well as good for you! Avocados contain the healthy, monosaturated fats, which are known to promote “good” cholesterol. They are also high in fiber and contain potassium and magnesium.

While superfoods are often recognized for being packed with the above benefits, it is still advisable to include them in an overall balanced diet, which includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and proteins.

In addition to being healthy, these foods are delicious and easy to prepare and enjoy. Best of all, the items on this superfoods list are readily available in the aisles of a store near you.

30 Sep

Superfoods For Super Health – Which Foods Are Superfoods?

Many people wonder which foods are the most nutritious and which foods to consume on a regular basis to improve health. The answer is simple: Superfoods.

As the saying goes, you really are what you eat.

Superfoods

A superfood is any food that is living, rich in vitamins, minerals, high in fiber, low in calories and produces an alkaline pH in the body, as disease cannot survive when the body is in an alkaline state.

So which foods are superfoods?

Here is a simple guideline to follow:

Living, whole foods are the most nutritional and most easily digested foods because of the enzymes they possess. Basically all fresh fruits and vegetables when eaten raw are living foods, with living enzymes and have high nutritional value, especially if they are grown in organic soil. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain lots of fiber, are low in calories, have many vitamins and minerals, are high in anti-oxidants, and almost all produce an alkaline pH in the body, thus helping to combat disease.

A good guideline to follow with fruits and vegetables is to try to consume as many different colors as possible.

For example:

Red fruits and vegetable superfoods are pink grapefruit, tomatoes, red bell peppers, and watermelon. The red varieties contain lycopene, a substance that has been praised for its many cancer fighting properties, especially prostate cancer in men.

The purple variety contains concord grapes, blueberries, red cabbage, and prunes. All of these contain high amounts of antioxidants and help reduce heart disease.

In the green shade, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, bok choy and kale are good choices, as they contain lutein, folate and sulforaphane which has been shown to reduce heart disease and macular degeneration by aiding the body in detoxification.

In orange shades, carrots, mango, pumpkin, and oranges work well. The orange superfoods contain beta-carotene which fortifies the lungs, esophagus, stomach, eyesight, and helps boost the immune system.

Whites contain cauliflower, mushrooms, bananas, onions and garlic. These foods contain high amounts of allicin and anthoxanthins which aid in keeping blood pressure low and help balance the “good” bacteria in the digestive tract. Proper digestion is a key to good health as many maladies in the body originate in the intestines.

The benefits of eating living, whole, superfoods are immense. So get over to the produce section and make as many meals as colorful as you can.