Lately, the word ‘super food’ is popping up everywhere you go; on social media, the grocery store, and even at the beauty parlor. The label is being slapped on just about anything. Even butter is now one of them. There isn’t a Harvard-like admissions process to become a super food, but, butter? We don’t think so. With all the confusion and misinformation, we’re sure you’re left wondering: What products are worthy of this title? What magic do they have? And why are they so popular? Let’s dive into the answers!
A quick search in Google tells it’s “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” To put it simply, they are nutritional powerhouses, extremely high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes and health fats; all of which are essential for your body to prevent (chronic) diseases. This blog features three of these power houses worthy of being called super.
Cranberries
These sweet, tangy berries are known as the healthiest type of fruit and have been part of the human diet for at least 13,000 years. No wonder. Lowering the risk of developing chronic diseases? Reducing urinary tract infections? Or protecting your heart? It’s just a piece of cake for these little power bombs. And because they’re a rich source of vitamins and minerals, eating them will even boost your skin and counter the aging process.
Because of the sharp and sour taste, cranberries are rarely consumed raw. To sweeten the taste, it’s often used in juices and blended with other ingredients. In fact, only 5% of cranberries are sold fresh worldwide. But whatever way you consume them; they will get you the health benefits that they’re known for. Looking for the best start of a new day? Create this killer breakfast; one table spoon of dried cranberries, one cup of yogurt, one piece of toasted bread, four ounces of crumbled blue cheese, and some nuts. Enjoy!
Quinoa
The second food that deserves the title ‘super’. First things first: while often pronounced as “keen-oh-ah”, the right way of saying this name is “keen-wah”. Now let’s dive into this product that no matter what super foods get introduced, always holds an invincible position in the ranking. While a 1955 paper already shined light on the nutritional powers of this South American grain stating “While no single food can supply all the essential life-sustaining nutrients, quinoa comes as close as any other in the plant or animal kingdom.”, it was largely ignored for centuries. It just recently got the attention it deserves. Extremely nutrient? Check. Gluten-free? Check. High in protein and vitamin B6? You can guess: check! In fact, it’s one of the few plant-based sources of protein that contains all the amino acids that our bodies can’t produce on their own. Additionally, one cup of uncooked quinoa will supply you with half of your daily recommended value of fiber. In short: You can never go wrong with this itty-bitty seed. Are you already running to your kitchen to make some? A little tip to make it extra delicious; drizzle with honey and top with fresh fruit.
Almonds
As an almond-lover, you should know what will happen to an almond when it dies. BOOM! It becomes a diamond. At least, the production process is no less complicated than that from diamonds. This is because of the bee’s almonds need for pollination. And bees? They are a little bit fussy. They don’t do their jobs in the rain, at night, in the early morning, or when there’s frost. If you were thinking about becoming an almond grower, we got that idea removed from your brain right now. However, keep consuming them. Almonds are rich in vitamin E and high in the good kind of fat that are healthy to eat. Another good thing about these little diamonds? They are the best cholesterol regulators. Eaten raw, toasted or adding them to sweet dishes, sliced, flaked or slivered. Almonds can be integrated in almost all dishes. And if you really are a big fan, it also comes in the form of flour, oil, butter, or almond milk. The possibilities are endless. Let’s close off with a fun fact; almonds aren’t nuts, they’re seeds. Guess this is something you didn’t know right?
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