In the age of technology, convenience seems of the upmost importance for most of us. This is certainly true when it comes to our nutritional needs. I believe we all want to eat healthy, however most of us just do not have the time to see it through. This results in quick stops to the food court for lunch, or picking up a ‘family meal’ at the fast food joint on the way home for dinner. We know these foods are not the healthy choice, nor will they provide our bodies with essential nutrients that we all require, but it is convenient. What if I said by adding superfoods into your daily nutrition, your body will be receiving many essential nutrients from these powerful food supplies. I want to touch on why superfoods are so beneficial and what separates them from other foods.
I am not advocating that by consuming some of these superfoods, that one will avoid all illnesses, reverse years of unhealthy living, and disregard their commitment to consuming a wholesome natural food based diet. I am however saying that by adding these superfoods into your daily intake, you are tipping the scale of a balanced diet to the good side; a side far from the processed foods that take up most of the western world’s diet.
The term ‘Superfoods’ has become this ‘buzz’ word utilized to market and promote certain food choices whose nutritional value has been long recognized as exceptional in other parts of the world. Superfoods are highly nutritious foods with many potential health benefits coming from their remarkably higher levels of anti oxidants, vitamins and minerals than your average foods. Specifically, super foods include foods that have a dozen or more unique properties, not just the one or two properties that regular foods contain.
Think about it in this way; when we want to get the most out of an exercise routine, we would complete an exercise such as a squat, referred to as a compound movement; meaning it will target multiple muscle groups with one movement (glutes, quads, hamstrings, calves, core, and so much more). One could also complete a seated single leg extension, which is isolating one particular muscle group, your quads, hence not achieving the same effect as would a squat.
Superfoods act in a similar way. They give you more ‘bang’ for your buck! They provide extra amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fatty acids essential to growth and to the repair of DNA damage in the cells, they offer more protection against cancer, heart disease and chronic conditions, such as dementia, than ordinary foods, the nutrients they contain are easier to absorb than vitamin pills and nutritional supplements, and they taste great! Although some people may dispute the idea of ‘superfoods’, I embrace the idea if it means a greater number of people are consuming wholesome foods rather than processed junk.
All reasons why introducing superfoods into your daily intake is a great way to Be Nutritious, Be Healthy, and Be Well.
Contributed by Carmen Deacetis
Carmen Deacetis is a certified Holistic Nutritionist, Personal Trainer, and co-owner of FitFX www.fitfx.ca.