Benefits of Super Foods

While there are so many “super foods” in the news around the world today, what make these foods so super?

Super foods are nutrient-dense foods that packed with antioxidants and other nutrients necessary for optimal health. One of the key elements in super foods is “phytochemicals”, also called phytonutrients, that are natural bioactive compounds found in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Phytochemicals contain powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals - which can damage a cell's DNA and may trigger some forms of cancer and/or other diseases.  Phytochemicals are promoted for the prevention and treatment of many health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure according to American Cancer Society.  With sufficient dietary phytochemicals, you can protect your health, control your weight, boost your immune system, and increase reserves of energy throughout the day.

So, by adding bright colors of all types of fruits and vegetables on your plate or in your juicing every day, you can achieve significant health benefits. The National Cancer Institute recommends eating at least 5 – 9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

To ensure super-resistance, it is important to know that implementing a well-balanced mixed diet; all types of foods and a variety of fruits and veggies every day will have the most positive effect on your health, not to pile up with just kale, broccoli, and blueberries etc. only.

There are the rules of sound nutrition that nearly throughout the world agree.

  • Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Eat a large variety of foods
  • Eat more fiber
  • Eat less sugar
  • Eat less salt

Right food will maximize the body’s ability to fight back against many diseases.  With super foods that are extra rich sources of the natural goodness we need, you will enormously enhance your body’s natural defenses.

References:

Liu RH. “Health benefits of fruit and vegetables are from additive and synergistic combinations of phytochemicals” Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;78(3 Suppl):517S-520S.

Pasko P: Rutabaga (Brassica napus L. var. napobrassica) seeds, roots, and sprouts: a novel kind of food with antioxidant properties and proapoptotic potential in Hep G2 hepatoma cell line. J Med Food 16(8):749-759, 2013

Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture