9 Reasons Why Superfoods Must Be Included In Your Diet

Superfoods are nutritional powerhouses that are packed with vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds. Including superfoods in your diet can have tremendous health benefits and help reduce the risk of disease.

The word ‘Superfood’ arrived in the collective lexicon some years ago and has been doing some rounds ever since then. It is a must-have in the diet of every person. But why is that so? Let’s figure it out.

Why Superfoods Are A Mandate Inclusion In Your Diet?

Here are nine reasons why superfoods must be included in your diet:

Boost Your Nutrition

Superfoods are nutritionally dense, meaning they pack a lot of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients in a small amount. Adding these to your diet helps ensure you get a variety of important micronutrients in your diet to support optimal health. Some of the superfoods highest in nutrients include berries, dark leafy greens, fatty fish, and nuts.

Reduce Disease Risk

Many superfoods contain compounds like antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation in the body and lower the risk of disease. Eating a diet high in these, like berries, tomatoes, fatty fish, and leafy green vegetables, has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and cognitive decline. Adding a variety of superfoods to your diet is an easy way to boost your health and longevity.

Promote Gut Health

Your gut microbiome contains trillions of microbes that play an important role in many aspects of health. Many superfoods act as prebiotics, feeding the good bacteria in your gut. Superfoods high in prebiotic fiber include bananas, oats, asparagus, and spinach. Consuming more prebiotic-rich foods helps support a healthy balance of gut bacteria to improve digestion, nutrient absorption, and immunity.

Increase Energy Levels

Many superfoods are high in compounds like flavonoids that can help increase your natural energy levels. Foods like fatty fish, eggs, quinoa, and leafy green vegetables are high in B vitamins, iron, and magnesium, which are important for energy production and a well-functioning metabolism. Adding more energizing superfoods to your diet may help reduce fatigue and keep you feeling fueled all day long.

Easy To Include In Your Diet

Superfoods are easy to work into your regular diet. You can add berries to your yogurt or oatmeal, have a kale salad for lunch, snack on almonds, and cook wild salmon for dinner. Many popular brands offer organic super greens powder, concentrated blends of powdered leafy green vegetables and berries, that you can simply stir into juice or a smoothie. Including more superfoods each day is easier than you might think for improved overall health and nutrition.

Improve Skin, Hair, And Nails

Many superfoods contain compounds like vitamin E, vitamin C, and antioxidants that are great for your skin, hair, and nails. Some of these, most beneficial for your skin and hair, include sweet potatoes, spinach, avocados, berries, and fatty fish. Eating more of these superfoods will provide the nutrients you need for skin elasticity, hair growth, and strong nails.

Boost Mood And Brain Health

Your brain requires many nutrients to function properly and support a good mood. Many superfoods are high in B vitamins, folate, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for mood regulation, cognitive function, and maintaining a healthy brain. Superfoods like fatty fish, dark leafy greens, nuts, and beans contain these mood-boosting nutrients. Eating more of these superfoods may help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, boost your mood, and support brain health.

Support Your Immune System

Many superfoods contain compounds like vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidants that support proper immune function. Some superfoods known for boosting immunity include citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, turmeric, and green tea. Eating more immune-boosting superfoods helps your body fight off pathogens that can lead to infection and may reduce the severity and length of illness.

Promote Muscle Health

Protein-rich superfoods, along with those high in magnesium and electrolytes, are essential for your muscles. Some of the top superfoods for your muscles include fatty fish, spinach, beans, nuts, and bananas. Eating more superfoods good for muscle health provides the nutrients you need to promote muscle growth, strength, and recovery from exercise.

A List Of 8 Must-Have Superfoods 

Now that you know the importance of superfoods, let’s quickly figure out which ones must be included in your diet. 

1. Turmeric

Turmeric is one of the most primitive Indian spice that consists of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Its benefits are found in curcumin, which forms the active ingredient in this magical superfood. 

2. Berries

Being a rich source of Vitamin C, berries are known to have antioxidant properties as well. Including a handful of them in your diet might ensure a great Vitamin C dose.

3. Leafy Veggies

Green vegetables are undeniably rich in Vitamin K and Vitamin C sources. They also consist of minerals, which is why they are considered superfoods. Don’t forget to include this in your everyday diet.

4. Cumin

Another Indian spice, Cumin, has innumerable benefits as it is a rich source of fiber, calcium, and iron. It forms a natural diuretic that reduces the symptoms of water retention.

5. Black Raisins 

Black raisins have a significant amount of iron, which is more than any other iron-rich vegetables and fruits. These tend to work at different levels of the body and offer tremendous health benefits.

6. Salmon

Being an oily fish, Salmon is long recognized for their content of Omega 3 fatty acids. They provide cardio-protective benefits along with enhancing iron levels. Further, it relieves constipation and acidity. 

7. Whole Grains

In the list of superfoods, whole grains have an indispensable mention. They retain their germ as well as bran which owes to their nutritional value. For example, people are opting for quinoa and millet. 

8. Almonds

Almonds consist of the densest nutritional content and have lots of potassium, iron, and Vitamin E. Consuming almonds can lower cholesterol levels and nourish the human brain.

Conclusion 

If you have still not included superfoods in your diet, it is time to do so. Where else would you get such a broad diversity of health benefits? The super nutrient-rich food deserves a place in your everyday life. So, don’t give it much thought. 

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