Superfoods: ‘Magic products’ that are ‘closer than you think’

Sonia Bolanos/Columnist

Everybody is looking for magical products, or quick diets that allows them to “clean” their bodies from all the high amount of sugar or fat consumed, but what if somebody told you that those magic products are closer to you than you think? They may even be in your kitchen now. Yes, they exist and they are called superfoods.

Superfoods are high nutrient, rich foods that fight against molecules that harm the cells of your body. By consuming the right amount of them, they will reduce the risk of getting diseases like cancer or heart conditions, and even lower your cholesterol levels. By incorporating superfoods into your diet, you will get many of the benefits that your body needs to function properly.

Most superfoods are low in calories, which may help you maintain a healthy body weight. They are also high in nutrients, vitamins, and chemical compounds that act as antioxidants, such as Polyphenols compounds, which are mainly found in food plants. Polyphenols decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases by improving blood circulation and even fight against some types of cancer. Some of the foods that contain polyphenols are strawberries, raspberries, grapes and cherries.

Omega- 3s is another superfood that can help you lower your cholesterol and maintain a healthy heart. You can incorporate omega-3s into your diet by eating salmon, walnuts and flax seeds. Several studies suggest that omega-3s consumption is linked to improving brain health and reducing depression rates.

Kale is also considered a superfood. It contains phytochemicals that can reduce the risk of certain cancers like ovarian or breast cancer. A good way to obtaining your dose of phytonutrients from kale is to add it to your favorite salad, mix it into your smoothie or prepare a soup where kale is the “queen of greens.” Its name has been adopted not only because of all the antioxidants that it contains, but also because is high in vitamin K, C, iron, and high in fiber.

Last but not least, oats, which are also high in fiber, may help you reduce cholesterol levels. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded that people who consume higher amounts of fiber (21 grams per day) reduced their cholesterol levels, and decreased their risk of cardiovascular diseases by 11 percent compared to the people who consumed less than 5 percent of fiber per day. 

Superfoods are available for us in many places. They don’t need to be fancy or have a difficult name to pronounce in order to consume them. Rather, they can be found easier than you think and you won’t regret the benefits you will get from them.

Photo retrieved from Flickr