[GUEST POST] Why You Need To Include Superfoods In Your Diet

Featured image CC by 2.0, by Trace Nietert, via Flickr.

Superfoods. It’s a buzzword of epic internet proportions. But, what does it really mean and why should you add superfoods to your diet?

We’ll answer those questions, and tell you about the three easiest superfoods to add to your diet.

It’s clear, the problem with fad diets is that they are far too restrictive. That leads you to stumble and return to old eating habits, as we’ve discussed here at Food & Fitness Always. But when you change your lifestyle and make healthy, sustainable dietary choices, you’re more likely to stick to your plan. Some people decide to check out reviews similar to Your Superfoods Review to discover different ways of getting those superfoods in your diet.

There are all kinds of nutrition-packed foods, from Acai to yogurt, that can be considered superfoods. Here are your answers about superfoods and the three you can easily add to your diet:

What Are Superfoods?

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The definition of a superfood is, “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” Superfood is more of a blanket term to describe nutrient-dense, healthy foods. The term is useful when deciding what foods you should add to your diet.

Why? Because a variety of great foods is the key to a really healthy diet. According to Despina Hyde, a registered dietician speaking to Live Science, “Superfoods don’t have their own food group.”

Hyde said that this term is more about marketing healthy food than a food group name, but:

“Superfoods have extra-large doses of vitamins and minerals that can help us ward off diseases and live a longer, healthier life,” said Hyde.

Why You Should Add Superfoods To Your Diet

Choosing these delicious foods because of what they can do for you, over foods that don’t contribute to your healthy lifestyle, can improve your health.

Why superfoods? Eating nutrient-dense foods on purpose has no down-side. That is, as long as you are doing so as part of a complete diet.

Replacing empty calories and junk foods with good-for-you nutritional choices can only help you. A healthy diet including lean proteins, good fats, hearty greens, and brightly colored powerhouse berries can make a world of difference for you.

What Are the Top Superfoods to Eat?

So, we know that a healthy diet, filled with nutrient-dense variety, is good for us. There is no downside, only gains to be earned. But, what are the easiest superfoods to add to your diet? And, what can they do for you?

Here are the top 3 superfoods to add to your diet.

1. Avocados

These leathery-skinned, soft, green fruits are chock-full of the good fats you need. Avocados contain monounsaturated fats good for your cholesterol. They benefit brain activity and can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Avocados also boast vitamin E, folate, and vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is essential to the production of glycogen in the body. Glycogen is a backup source of energy that’s stored in the muscles and liver and promotes skin health.

This fruit can be easily added to just about any meal, spread on toast, or sliced into salads. It’s my personal favorite!

2. Brussel Sprouts

Don’t turn away just yet. Steamed or roasted, these dense green veggies pack a punch out of their weight class and taste great.

When it comes to glucosinolates (compounds that ward off cancer), Brussels have more than any other veggie — vitamins A and C, fiber, potassium, choline, and even a little protein. Vitamin K1 which is important for proper blood clotting, is a whopping 240 percent of your daily intake level in just 1 cup of these veggies.

Olive Oil Image CC by 2.0, by Smabs Sputzer, via Flickr

3. Olive Oil

This natural anti-inflammatory also makes an excellent substitute for butter and lesser oils. Drizzle on salads and veggies, or use to saute in the place of margarine.

Why?

Because the high vitamin E content may ward off cancer. So, while it’s always best to replace butter, vegetable, and canola oil with olive oil, you may also be lowering your cancer risk.

There you have it, the easiest superfoods to add to your diet.