Why Are Superfoods Good For You?
The term “superfood” has been widely used, but it generally refers to an ultra nutrient-rich food that’s considered to be exceptionally beneficial for health and well-being. To be considered a superfood, the food has to be:
- A good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients
- Extremely rich in phytonutrients and antioxidant compounds
- Touted to potentially reduce risk of chronic health conditions.
It’s safe to say that superfoods are powerful items to include in your diet to help boost your overall nutritional quality and health.
What Are Superfoods?
There’s no official definition of a superfood, but if they fit certain loose characteristics, certain foods can make the cut. Many of these foods are somewhat exotic, but there are several common foods (such as blueberries and salmon) that are often referred to as superfoods.
Superfoods are mostly revered for their wide variety of powerful nutrients that are thought to be helpful for preventing certain chronic diseases – antioxidants to combat cancer proliferation, healthy fats and anti-inflammatory qualities to prevent heart disease, fiber to help regulate blood sugar and improve digestion, and more. The rich colors and powerful phytochemicals in plant-based superfoods are revered for their disease-fighting properties and more.
What Are Organic Superfoods?
Organic superfood is a term used to describe an extremely nutrient-dense food that has been grown in an environmentally friendly manner without the use of harsh pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
Organic superfoods can be found in various food groups, both plant, and animal-based. This includes blueberries, kiwi, strawberries, goji berries, walnuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, salmon, eggs, cocoa, Spirulina, garlic, asparagus, spinach, and legumes.
What Are The Healthiest Superfood Seeds?
Superfood seeds are tiny nutrient-dense health bombs, rich in fiber, plant-based proteins, and a beneficial combination of heart-healthy fats. These seeds also boast a wide variety of plant compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties known to fight oxidative stress, which is a precursor for many ailments. Here is a brief overview of some of the healthiest superfood seeds:
Hemp seeds have a flavor that is similar to pine nuts. They can be added to shakes, smoothies, salads, or even used in a pesto recipe. Hemp seeds contain 20 amino acids and are considered to be a complete protein, which is rare in the plant kingdom.
Chia seeds are a good source of calcium, iron, and vitamin C, and they can be sprinkled over a salad, on top of oatmeal or yogurt, or added to a smoothie. Chia seeds also make a fantastic “pudding” when soaked in liquid.
Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of iron. They are a popular ingredient in trail mix and granola. They can be sprinkled on a salad, cereal, oatmeal, or added to smoothies. You can also mix them into your favorite type of burger.
Sesame seeds are a great snack item, especially when toasted. They contain linoleic acid, which promotes heart health.
Flaxseed is touted for its cancer preventative properties. You gain the maximum benefits from flaxseed by grinding it. You can sprinkle ground flaxseed on your oatmeal, into your homemade salad dressings and sauces, and into smoothies. Another way that ground flaxseed can be incorporated into your diet is by adding it to bread and muffin recipes.
In addition to buying bulk superfoods, you might also want to keep a supply of superfood seeds readily available. This will give you the opportunity to increase your consumption of the seeds and to explore different ways of incorporating them into your healthy eating plan.
What Is Raw Superfood Powder?
Raw superfood powder is basically a powdered version of a superfood in its raw state. Superfood powder contains abundant vitamins, minerals, nutrients, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, and polyphenols, which help you achieve and maintain a healthy body and youthful skin.
Adding superfood powder to your morning smoothie, juice, or water can help boost your energy level and thinking ability throughout the day.
While adding superfoods and superfood seeds to your diet is a great step in the right direction when you’re striving for optimum health, it’s not always easy to get the recommended amount of those fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts in your diet every day.
That’s why superfood powder is so useful. Superfood powder provides you with a quick and easy way to meet those daily recommended amounts.
Health Benefits Of Superfoods
It’s hard to detail superfoods’ health benefits in general since there are so many superfoods with widely different nutritional profiles. But, assuming you’re mixing in a nice variety of superfoods into your diet, you can count on adding a certain amount of potent health-promoting nutrients into your diet. Here are a few of the common health benefits of superfoods.
Vitamins and Minerals. Most superfoods are categorized as such because of their extraordinarily high micronutrient content, especially vitamins and minerals. Getting a high amount of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals from whole nutrient-dense foods into your diet correlates with better overall health and a lower risk of disease.
Antioxidants. Most, if not all, superfoods contain very high amounts of antioxidants as well (many vitamins act as antioxidants, so there is overlap here). These antioxidants have been studied for their cancer-fighting properties as well as their anti-aging benefits, particularly with regard to your skin elasticity and firmness.
Healthy Fats. The beneficial Omega 3-6-9 ratio found in many superfoods, especially superfood seeds, may help to reduce the risk of heart disease, decrease inflammation, and improve the immune system.
Fiber. Plant-based superfoods are exceedingly rich in fiber, which helps to control blood sugar and improve digestion.
General Questions
How should you store superfood seeds?
The best way to store superfood seeds is to put them in airtight glass containers. You can even store a variety of seeds in individual paper packets in a larger container. Make sure to keep your seeds dry, cool, and out of direct sunlight. Ideally, you should put your seeds in the refrigerator.
Does superfood powder need to be refrigerated?
You don’t necessarily need to store your superfood powder in the refrigerator. Simply keep them dry, cool, and out of the sun. You can, however, keep them in the refrigerator if you really prefer to, and it will extend the shelf life.
How organic powders are made?
Organic powders are usually made using a quick-drying process – either drum drying or freeze-drying – and then ground into powder. This preserves the nutrients and in some cases, even helps to increase the bioavailability of certain nutrients.
Which superfoods have the highest concentration of nutrients?
If you’re looking for the most well-rounded superfoods with a wide concentration of different nutrients, superfood seeds are awfully hard to beat. Since they contain all of the elements needed for the creation of new life, they are absolutely packed with health-promoting nutrients.
Are superfood seeds good for vegans?
Superfood seeds are good for everyone, but they may be exceptionally beneficial for vegans. They are the best plant-based sources of protein, healthy fats, and many other minerals such as zinc, iron, calcium, and selenium.
Where can I buy bulk superfood seeds and powders?
You can buy bulk superfoods at the wholesale section of your supermarket, or you can easily get the best superfood seeds and powders right here at NutStop.
Culinary Questions
How do you use superfood powder?
Superfood powders are very easy to add to smoothies, where other foods such as fruits (bananas, blueberries, dates) can help to mask the unpleasant flavors of some of the most nutrient-dense superfoods.
You can also add superfood powder into a fresh juice. Simply stir in your superfood powder into your existing fresh juice, and you’ll barely notice it’s in there.
If you want to be a little more adventurous, you can even sprinkle some superfood powders on top of specific meals and snacks. For example, popcorn actually tastes absolutely delicious with a little spirulina powder sprinkled on top.
What superfood seeds make you feel full?
Chia seeds are one of the best superfood seeds to help you feel satiated. Because of their remarkable effect on blood sugar and their high levels of fiber, chia seeds can help you feel more full and less likely to overeat other foods.
What are the best superfoods to add to smoothies?
You can add a wide variety of superfoods to your smoothies, but here are several that can and should be staples in your smoothie blends:
- Hemp Seeds have a great mild nutty flavor and are absolutely packed with protein. They can even add some really nice texture on top of a smoothie bowl.
- Chia Seeds can easily be blended into smoothies as well. You can also soak them in water or almond milk overnight before adding them to your smoothie mix to form a sugar-stabilizing and energizing gel that will blend right into your smoothie.
- Cacao Powder is bitter, but when mixed with some fruit such as bananas and dates in your smoothie, it’ll add an incredibly rich decadent chocolate flavor to your smoothie, while providing great nutritional benefits such as antioxidants and minerals.
- Flaxseeds are also a great superfood to add to smoothies. You should either pre-grind or buy ground flaxseeds before adding them to your smoothie because whole seeds do not get digested. You can also soak ground flaxseed just like chia seeds to form a thick gel to add to your smoothies.
How can you add more superfoods to your diet?
There are many easy ways to add superfoods to just about every meal. Here are some great tips to get more into your diet.
- Of course, as mentioned above, blend superfoods into your smoothies for a nutrient-dense meal or snack.
- Look at your plate before you eat. Are you incorporating brightly-colored foods, or is most of your food brown or beige? Try to add colorful antioxidant-rich foods such as kale, beets, berries, and sweet potatoes to your diet. Eat the rainbow!
- You can add superfood powders not just to smoothies, but to soups and even into your stir fries! For example, hemp seeds make an amazing addition to savory dishes.
- Do you find yourself eating too much chicken or beef? You can replace some of your proteins with more nutrient-dense tofu or salmon.
- If you’re having oatmeal or cereal for breakfast, add some goji berries, cacao nibs, chia seeds, hemp seeds, or flax to your breakfast. You can even incorporate these into baked goods.
- Add spices to your dishes that are rich in nutrients, including turmeric, cumin, ginger, and cinnamon.
- Snack directly on superfoods, including nuts and superfood trail mix.
Superfood Green Smoothie Recipe
Looking for a great superfood smoothie recipe? Try this one on for size. You’ll get a tremendous amount of nutrients in almost a dessert-like flavor. You’ll love it!
Ingredients
- 1 cup or a handful of spinach leaves
- 1 cup or a handful of shredded kale
- 1 large ripe banana, sliced
- ½ cup frozen blueberries
- ⅓ cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- ½ cup matcha green tea powder
Directions
Combine spinach, kale, banana, blueberries, yogurt, ice cubes, ground flax seeds, and matcha in a blender. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth. Pour in a glass and enjoy!
