Just like the term super-hero implies one who always wins and who inspires confidence and security - traits beyond the ordinary; the term 'super-foods' implies foods that have nutritional powers beyond those of most ordinary foods.
Trends
Kale, quinoa, maqui berries, fonio grain, mangosteen fruit, cacao nibs! Really? Like a trendy new fashion, certain foods become the latest and greatest new trends in foods, better known as 'super-foods'. The question is, are the new super-foods more super than last year's trends?
What Is It?
There is actually no true definition for a 'super-food'. It is simply a word used to promote the nutritional properties of healthy foods.
The most nutrient-dense foods are plant foods, with literally thousands of potentially beneficial compounds. Plant foods are filled with vitamins, minerals and fiber along with phytonutrients rich in anti-oxidant properties. Berries, leafy greens and nuts top the lists of super-foods and often times fatty fish is included for the healthy Omega 3 fatty acids.
When a food has been subject to clinical research and shown to have potential health benefits (like blue berries or pomegranates), it many times is dubbed a super-food. Regretfully though, this can exclude other, high nutrient source foods that are equally good for us.
In simple terms, just because a food is lauded as the newest trend in 'super-foods' don't ignore other nutrient rich foods - foods that are equally 'super' just in a different way.
Adding, Not Replacing
We know blueberries are very healthy, but so are other berries. Every variety has its own unique set of phytonutrients that may benefit your body in ways that blueberries might not. Just like kale is nutrient-packed, so are turnip greens, mustard greens, swiss-chard and spinach. And just like sweet potatoes are healthy, so are other orange veggies like carrots, winter squash and pumpkin.
The really good news about the latest trends in super-foods, is the simple fact the new trend(s) might introduce you to a food you have never tried before. So when considering if you should focus on the latest trend - just add it to the foods you are already eating, rather than replacing.
Insurance
A great way to ensure you get all the nutritional benefits provided in super-foods is to supplement your regular diet with quality supplements like Herbalife Nutrition's Formula 1 Healthy Meal Mix. This provides your body with 21 vitamins and minerals along with essential nutrients. Add to that the Herbalife Formula 2 Multivitamin Complex and you provide your body with the Antioxidant Vitamins A, C and E to support your immune system.
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