We’re always hearing about Superfoods, but what exactly are they?
Nutritionally speaking, there is no such thing as a Superfood. The term was actually coined for marketing purposes to influence food trends and sell products.
The word is usually used to describe a food, or indeed drink, that is nutritiously dense….. from kale, beetroot and berries to nuts, green tea and salmon – although there’s no set legal definition.
Many experts say that with no legal definition of the term Superfoods, the term is arbitrary and may mislead people into believing that a few foods will counteract an otherwise bad diet.
Some scientists are also concerned that the nutritional benefits may be over-sold, making people believe that eating Superfoods will somehow miraculously improve your health and wellbeing.
Superfoods do contain lots of vitamins and minerals, and also natural molecules which have powerful antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties… but don’t be fooled by the marketing hype.
If you want to start to increase your consumption of Superfoods then check out our Superfood Shopping List below.
At The Body Retreat our menus are chock full of Superfoods, every meal, every day, every week we are looking to maximise our nutritional intake with every forkful.
Our philosophy is Real Food, For Real Women who want Real Results.
So many women who join us have become so disconnected from real food, they have spent years if not decades becoming disconnected from real food, some are even scared of food.
It’s not surprising really when you consider the plethora of conflicting information that bombards us about what we “should or shouldn’t’ eat.
You don’t have to join us on a residential retreat to reconnect to a daily diet filled with superfoods…
Start with small changes and choices from our Superfood Shopping list and build up slowly. Bring the superfoods into your daily diet and you will soon start to feel the cumulative benefits.
5 Superfoods for your shopping list
There may be no such thing as a miracle food, but these foods can still make a valuable contribution to a healthy, balanced diet
1. Berries
A few commonly identified superfood berries include acai berries, blueberries, raspberries, tart cherries, cranberries, and goji berries are all a nutritional powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidant
2. Tea
Green and White Tea both contain potent antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds which have strong anti-inflammatory effects
3. Dark Leafy Greens
Kale, spinach, chard are an excellent source of nutrients including folate, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin C and fibre.
4. Eggs
Whole eggs are rich in many nutrients including B vitamins, choline, selenium, vitamin A, iron and phosphorus.They’re also loaded with high-quality protein.
5. Dark Chocolate
Research found that dark chocolate is high in flavonoids, but it needs to be organic and very dark to gain the antioxidant benefits.