Superfoods

Superfoods Overview

Largely popularized by the 2003 book "SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life," the term "superfoods" refers to foods that are dense in micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients) and low in macronutrients (fats, carbs, proteins). Intake of these foods over extended periods of time has been found by doctors and medical scientists to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, enabling a longer life span.

The book itself, as well as the field of research surrounding so-called superfoods, stresses that optimal health involves not only heavily incorporating these foods into one's diet, but also avoiding foods containing ingredients unnecessary and counter-productive to the body's health, including fatty and processed foods. The list below contains the fourteen entries in the original superfoods list, as well as benefits associated with intake of the foods. A brief additional list of new foods recently recognized as superfoods can also be found below.

Superfoods

Beans: lower cholesterol, combat heat disease, stabilize blood sugar, reduce obesity, relieve hypertension and lessen the risk of cancer.

Blueberries: lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and help maintain healthy skin to reduce the sags and bags brought on by age.

Broccoli: boosts the immune system, lowers the incidence of cataracts, supports cardiovascular health, builds bones and fights birth defects.

Oats: lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease & Type II diabetes, high in fiber and protein.

Oranges: support heart health and prevent cancer, stroke, diabetes and a host of chronic ailments.

Pumpkin: helps lower the risk of various cancers (lung, colon, bladder, cervical, skin, and breast) and supplies nutrients necessary for healthy, youthful skin.

Wild Salmon: lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Soy: helps prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, and helps relieve menopausal and menstrual symptoms.

Spinach: decreases the chance of cardiovascular diseases, a host of cancers, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Tea: boosts the immune system, helps prevent cancer and osteoporosis, lowers the risk of stroke, promotes cardiovascular health.

Tomatoes: lower the likelihood of cancer, raise the skin’s sun protection factor and seem to play a role in preventing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Turkey: a perfect example of a Twenty-First Century "healthy" protein source, extremely low in fat, and provides multiple nutrients which help build a strong immune system.

Walnuts: reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Yogurt: promotes strong bones and a healthy heart, another health promoting protein source, and a great source of calcium.

Recent Superfoods Additions

Dark Chocolate:

Honey:

Kiwi:

Spirulina:

External Links

Superfoods Home Page

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