You may have heard of news stories referring to the benefits that these foods provide to your body on the Internet, and more and more foods are being added to the list of these supposedly really healthy foods.
The term isn’t an official label, unlike what is classified as “organic” – any food can simply be given this classification of superfood.
What Superfoods Are
Superfoods are essentially food items that have a really high amount of nutrients, vitamins and/or minerals. They also contain other special properties, such as antioxidants, healthy fats, and special enzymes that lower the chances of different types of disorders and chronic diseases.
Some examples of superfoods you probably already know about include fruits, vegetables, and honey. The first two are extremely high in antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients that your body needs in order to stay healthy. In fact, most of the fruits and vegetables you regularly encounter and consume already fall in this category.
The next category is honey: not only does it not expire, but it also has a high amount of antioxidants. The only downside to honey is that it contains very little water, is highly acidic, and comes in many different varieties, brands, and concentrations.
What Superfoods Aren’t
Superfoods, as much as they have their health benefits, they are not meant to be consumed alone. The same can be said for their nutrient content and value as they need to work in conjunction with other chemicals, nutrients, and enzymes in order for your body to use them effectively.
Superfoods should also not be substituted for a healthy and balanced diet, as well as a shift towards a healthier lifestyle. No matter how much of one type of superfood you consume, it would still not be enough to balance an unhealthy lifestyle or a diet that’s rich in unhealthy fat and high sodium content.
A healthy diet and lifestyle, along with lots of water, exercise, and rest, is what you really need to not just get in shape but also to live longer. In fact, most dieticians would prefer to discuss “super diets” instead of superfoods.
Should You Buy Them Anyway?
Ultimately, the answer on whether you should buy superfoods depends on whether you actually want to. The nutrients that they advertise are already found in existing healthy foods and even certain dietary supplements, from black raspberries, tomatoes, and broccoli, to walnuts, garlic, and even lentils and black pepper.
Hundreds of studies already show that certain foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, and other types of nutrients can help the body protect and repair itself, from replenishing damaged cells to preventing the formation of cancer cells and tumors.