We all want to be healthy and eat nutritious foods, and the media leads us to believe that superfoods significantly improve our health.
Marketing messages tell us that these nutrient-rich foods can improve or prevent certain illnesses and diseases, make us look younger, feel better, and improve our overall health. Is there any truth to those claims?
Superfoods supposedly have beneficial health benefits, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and antifungal properties. However, some superfoods are expensive, so this article explores whether they’re worth the hype.
We’ve picked 15 of the most hyped superfoods because they’re the ones most touted as the best for health.
1. Dark, Leafy Green Vegetables
Dark, leafy, green vegetables like spinach, kale, collard greens, and Swiss chard are high in fiber and contain vitamin C, zinc, folate, calcium, and magnesium.
Nutritionists suggest these greens can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease because they contain high levels of carotenoids (anti-inflammatory compounds).
2. Berries
Berries are a nutritionally rich superfood packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. This high-fiber superfood includes raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and cranberries. Experts suggest that berries are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory and help reduce the risk of heart disease.
This superfood is ideal for adding to smoothies, eating fresh for breakfast, or using in recipes.
3. Green Tea
Green tea is a popular superfood from China. It’s rich in anti-inflammatory polyphenolic compounds and antioxidants, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The EGCG gives this superfood its reputation for protecting against chronic diseases, improving cognitive function, and helping maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Matcha green tea is a similar tea that comes in powder form.
4. Eggs
Eggs may have been controversial because of their high cholesterol content, but they are still a contender as a superfood. Whole eggs are high in protein and nutrient-rich in B vitamins, selenium, vitamin A, iron, choline, and phosphorus. Eggs contain two unique antioxidants: lutein and zeaxanthin.
The National Library of Medicine suggests that eating eggs can improve HDL (good) cholesterol and heart health.
5. Legumes
Legumes, often called pulses, are a variety of plant foods such as lentils, soybeans, black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, cannellini beans, and alfalfa. Legumes are nutrient-rich, high in protein and fiber, and packed with B vitamins and minerals. Research indicates that legumes can lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
They keep you feeling fuller, so including them in your diet may help support weight management.
6. Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are rich in protein, heart-healthy fats, and fiber. They contain plant compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can help protect heart health. Popular nuts and seeds include sunflower, almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, brazil nuts, cashews, pistachios, hemp and macadamia nuts.
Although a superfood, nuts, and seeds are calorie-rich, so limit consumption to a small handful daily.
7. Kefir
Kefir is a fermented drink typically made from cow’s milk. It contains protein, B vitamins, calcium, probiotics, and potassium. Because of the fermentation process, it is generally suitable for those with lactose intolerance. This drink is anti-inflammatory, has a thinner consistency than yogurt, and has more probiotic strains.
Some kefir manufacturers produce a non-dairy product using coconut or rice milk and coconut water. Benefits include reduced cholesterol and improved blood pressure.
8. Garlic
Garlic is a plant food with a distinct flavor and is a popular ingredient in recipes. It’s a superfood because it helps support the immune system and lower blood pressure. It can improve cardiovascular health by reducing LDL cholesterol.
Garlic contains vitamin C, selenium, vitamin B6, and manganese and is high in fiber.
9. Olive Oil
Olive oil is the mainstay of a healthy Mediterranean diet. It is anti-inflammatory and is a natural oil extracted from the fruit of olive trees. Olive oil is a superfood that contains high concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyphenolic compounds. It contains antioxidants such as vitamins K and E, which protect cells against oxidative stress.
Olive oil can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease, as opposed to saturated fats like butter.
10. Ginger
Ginger contains antioxidants that make it a candidate for the title of superfood. It comes from the root of a Chinese flowering plant and can help alleviate nausea. Ginger may reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
It can be fresh, dried, or powdered and adds flavor to smoothies, sauces, stir-fry dishes, and teas.
11. Turmeric (Curcumin)
Turmeric is a bright yellow/orange spice used for cooking. The active compound, curcumin, is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The body does not easily absorb curcumin, but adding another spice, like black pepper, helps absorption.
Studies show that curcumin can help treat chronic illnesses. Be aware: one downside of turmeric is that it stains worktops and clothes and is tricky to remove.
12. Salmon
Salmon is a rich protein source and contains healthy fats, B vitamins, selenium, and potassium. Its main health benefit is the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.
A few things to note about this superfood: It is best to source wild salmon instead of farmed salmon and limit it to two servings a week to avoid contaminants like environmental pollution and heavy metals.
13. Avocado
Avocados are rich in fiber and high in monounsaturated (good) fats. They contain oleic acid, which helps reduce inflammation, and vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. Avocados may help prevent heart disease and lower metabolic syndrome.
Although healthy, limit your intake to half to one avocado a day. Although they are a healthy fat, they are high in calories
14. Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are delicious, fiber-rich root vegetables that are good sources of vitamin A, potassium, and vitamin C. They also contain the antioxidant carotenoids. Unlike some root vegetables, sweet potatoes can help with blood sugar control.
They’re perfect for making mash or winter soup, eating like jacket potatoes, and even making healthier desserts like brownies.
15. Mushrooms
Edible mushrooms are becoming a popular superfood and have a history of 2,000 years for medicinal purposes. The nutritional value varies depending on the type of mushroom, such as portobello, shitake, button, porcini, and oyster. Most mushrooms contain antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin A and are fiber-rich.
In addition, mushrooms are a sustainable food source, requiring no agricultural resources. Indeed, many livestock farmers are transitioning to farming mushrooms.
