Five of the best Fruit Superfoods
What are superfoods?
Everybody has heard of ‘superfoods’, but what are they? Well, they’re nutrient dense whole foods that contain high amounts of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. A healthy diet that includes these foods will increase energy levels, support detoxification and promote weight loss. Below is our selection of five of the best Fruit Superfoods…and some of our choices might surprise you! You can learn more about Superfoods on our One Day Nutritional Cookery Classes, the next of which is on September 27th 2013. Click here to book, or call 08450 68 58 48.
Chocolate
Cocoa or chocolate is going to appear at the top of my list of the top 5 super fruits on the proviso that I mean dark chocolate of at least 70% cocoa. Chocolate’s main ingredient after all is Cocoa, which is a major source of theobromine that stimulates the nervous system, keeping blood vessels healthy and containing mood enhancing chemicals. It also has a high content of antioxidants and flavonoids, which reduce inflammation, and lowers the risk of cancer. That said, regular chocolate contains higher amounts of fats and sugar, so the answer is to eat dark chocolate which has higher levels of cocoa, thus less sugar and fat!
Pure cocoa powder or chips can be ground, or you could mix a couple of teaspoons full into coffee, almond milk, yogurt, or smoothies. This intake will give you much more antioxidant power than even berries, as cocoa contains considerably more antioxidant than even goji berries. Having said that…
Berries
Goji berries, Acai berries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and all other types of berries are superfruits packed with vitamin C and anthocyanins which protects the body’s cells, including skin, from oxidant damage so great for anti ageing and general skin health. Anthocyanins are also good protection from conditions as such as eczema, asthma, and arthritis. Berries are high on my list because they are easy to snack on throughout the day. Just 5 strawberries a day will give you the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C. Acai berry is available in a powered form which can be added to smoothies and yoghurt drinks to pack in the nutrient in a dense form.
Apples
This simple fruit is often overlooked for more exotic fruits but the humble apple really earns it place in my top five.
The active medicinal principle of apples is pectin which has a highly detoxifying effect, activating the high levels of soluble fibre which makes them very effective at cleaning the internal pipes, binding waste food to eliminating it from the body. Apples also encourage the formation of good bacteria in the gut; it keeps cholesterol in abeyance and balances blood sugar levels. Apples are a protective and wholesome food, it is the pectin in apples. They are 85% water so provide hydration without too many calories. In my book they make excellent snacks to have on the go. The most nourishing part of the apple is the skin… and the nutrient diminishes as you get closer to the core.
Avocados
Oh yes, you may add them to a salad but they have a seed so that makes them a fruit and a pretty good one too! They are packed with heart healthy monounsaturated fat, fibre, Vitamin E & B, folic Acid, Iron, and potassium – the happy chemical. The Vitamin E makes them good for skin care as does the fatty acids. Avocados are very easily digested and their high ‘good fat’ content keeps you full for longer – so eat them earlier in the day to keep you going throughout the day, and finally their high potassium content make them very good for relaxing the muscles, nerve messaging to the brain and regulating blood pressure.
Need any more convincing?
Cantaloupe
Melons are your secret weapons for smooth, younger-looking skin. Their on my list of top five thanks to Vitamin A and its derivatives, which boosts cell reproduction, making it a natural exfoliator. Melons have a high water content particularly water melon (90% water), the flesh is rich in powerful antioxidants and water soluble Vitamin c and beta carotene. Melon seeds are also loaded with zinc, selenium, Vitamin E and good fats.
To find out more information about superfruits and how to improve your nutrient intake contact us here or book onto our one of our Nutritional Cookery Classes.
Kumud Gandhi is a Nutritional Food Scientist bestselling Author, Broadcaster, and Keynote Speaker on the subject of nutritional health for productivity & performance in the workplace. In 2010 Kumud founded ‘The Cooking Academy’ a cookery school that focusses on cooking for nutritional health and wellbeing. Kumud regularly presents to international audiences on a variety of topics such as ‘Eating for Immunity and a Lifetime of Wellness’. She is an expert in the field of Wellness in the Workplace and works with organizations to create transformational change in employee health & well-being through nutrition and health coaching.
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