I am sure you have heard the term super foods and wondered what
makes them super. Well you do not have to wonder any more as this
article will explain it all to you.
We all know all the different foods contain different nutrients in differing quantities. Superfoods contain more nutrients per gram than any other types of food. These could be vitamins, minerals or antioxidants. A very good example is blueberries which are a good source of vitamin K. They also contain vitamin C, fibre, manganese and other antioxidants.
Superfoods are super because they provide the nutrients which are necessary to support good health and well being. This definition will cover most foods which are viewed as healthy but "Superfoods" are more nutrient dense.
They contain more nutrients and other elements with antioxidant properties. Others fight heart disease and various cancers and others contain healthy fats which help control blood cholesterol levels. Superfoods have an all round positive impact on your health but should be taken in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
Various yardsticks have been applied in an attempt to measure what sets Superfoods apart from all the other foods. An example of this is the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index system (ANDI) which measures all the nutrients and micro-nutrients contained in different foods. Each food is then assigned a score between 1 and 1000. The higher the score the healthier a food is because it contains more nutrients.
Another measure is the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity) Value which measures how effective a substance is at subduing free radicals. This is essentially a measure of the antioxidant properties of a substance. Superfoods tend to be found at the high end of the scale. Examples will include:
There you have it that is what makes Superfoods super. Make sure they are part of your diet and cut down on processed foods from your diet.-By Brad P Yantzi
We all know all the different foods contain different nutrients in differing quantities. Superfoods contain more nutrients per gram than any other types of food. These could be vitamins, minerals or antioxidants. A very good example is blueberries which are a good source of vitamin K. They also contain vitamin C, fibre, manganese and other antioxidants.
Superfoods are super because they provide the nutrients which are necessary to support good health and well being. This definition will cover most foods which are viewed as healthy but "Superfoods" are more nutrient dense.
They contain more nutrients and other elements with antioxidant properties. Others fight heart disease and various cancers and others contain healthy fats which help control blood cholesterol levels. Superfoods have an all round positive impact on your health but should be taken in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
Various yardsticks have been applied in an attempt to measure what sets Superfoods apart from all the other foods. An example of this is the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index system (ANDI) which measures all the nutrients and micro-nutrients contained in different foods. Each food is then assigned a score between 1 and 1000. The higher the score the healthier a food is because it contains more nutrients.
Another measure is the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity) Value which measures how effective a substance is at subduing free radicals. This is essentially a measure of the antioxidant properties of a substance. Superfoods tend to be found at the high end of the scale. Examples will include:
- acai - a small dark purple fleshy berrylike fruit of a tall slender palm of tropical Central and South America that is often used in beverage
- goji - the dark red mildly tart berry of a thorny chiefly Asian shrub that is typically dried and used in beverages
- mulberries - a small deciduous trees native to East Asia, with broad leaves and unisexual flowers in drooping catkins and edible multiple fruit
- dark chocolate - a slightly bitter chocolate of a deep brown color without added milk, the coca beans within contain high amounts of flavonols, which are plant compounds with potent antioxidant properties
There you have it that is what makes Superfoods super. Make sure they are part of your diet and cut down on processed foods from your diet.-By Brad P Yantzi
