Numerous Superfood Health Benefits

 

Amazing Superfoods Health Benefits 

Superfoods health benefits offer numerous potential effects with the clean diet approach that may reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and other inflammatory conditions.  Superfood is a term used to describe the benefits specific foods provide for your body resulting from exceptional nutrient density.  The term has no official definition with regulatory authorities including the United States, The Food and Drug Administration, Department Of Agriculture, and The European Food Safety Authority.  It appears to have been first used in a Canadian newspaper in 1949 when referring to the supposed nutritional qualities of a muffin.  In the late 20th and 21st century the term superfood was used as a marketing tool for selling specific foods.  Dietary supplements, self help books, foods with selected additives, and fad diets promising an enhancement of health.  The purported health benefits and the effects of foods described as superfoods are often unsupported or disputed by scientific studies. 

As of 2007 marketing products as superfoods was prohibited by the European Union unless accompanied by specific authorized health claims supported by scientific research.  The ruling was a marketing guide issued to manufacturers to ensure scientific proof or evidence why food would be labeled as extra healthy or classified as a superfood.  The European Food Council stated that it was impractical for people to have a diet based on only superfoods when nutrients are provided readily from a diet based on a diversity of foods especially a diet including fruits and vegetables.  There are many definitions for superfoods but it is usually named food products characterized by their richness in micronutrients which have positive effects on human health and may reduce the risk of chronic disease.  Superfoods like blueberries, kale and quinoa are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, rich in antioxidants and essential nutrients that support overall health and wellbeing. 

Foods like citrus fruits, garlic contain vitamins like vitamin C and compounds that strengthen the immune system helping your body fend off illness.  Vitamin C helps the body in many ways including tissue growth, wound healing, and immune support for the body.  It helps produce collagen, a protein that forms skin tendons,  ligaments, blood vessels and helps repair bones and teeth.  Vitamin C compounds include ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, and ascorbyl palmitate.  Ascorbic acid is the primary form of vitamin C in the body.  A water soluble vitamin that is essential for humans.  It acts as a strong antioxidant that denotes electrons to free radicals.  This process helps stabilize free radicals from damaging other molecules in the body.  Vitamin C is considered a superfood because it acts as a potent antioxidant protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals and plays a key role in bodily functions including immune system support, collagen production for wound healing and skin, and iron absorption making foods containing vitamin C beneficial for good health.

Many fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C including citrus fruits, broccoli, strawberries, dark leafy greens, peppers, black currants, brussels sprouts, citrus fruits, tomato juice and potatoes are major contributors of dietary vitamin C in the American diet 2025.   Other good superfood sources is kiwi, blueberries, cauliflower,  red and green peppers, broccoli and cantaloupe. Vitamin C deficiencies may cause fatigue, skin bruising and bleeding gums.  In several cases it may lead to scurvy, a potential life threatening disease  caused by a nutritional deficiency caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet. The recommended daily vitamin C intake (RDI) for adult men is 90 mg, adult women 75 mg per day.  People with health conditions may require higher or lower amounts of vitamin C as determined by a health care provider. 

One cup of broccoli is only 31 calories, 0.34 grams fat, 6.04 grams carbs, 2.57 grams protein, 81.21 mg vitamin C, 28 mcg vitamin A, 28 mg potassium, 0.66 mg iron, 43 mg calcium per serving, One orange is 62 calories, 0.16 grams fat, 15.39 grams carbs, 1.23 grams protein, 69.7 mg vitamin C, 14 mcg vitamin A, 237 mg potassium, 0.13 mg iron, 52 mg calcium per serving of fruit.  One cup of blueberries is 83 calories, 0.48 grams fat, 21.01 grams carbs, 1.07 grams protein. 14.1 mg vitamin C, 4 mcg vitamin A, 112 mg potassium, 0.41 mg iron, 9 mg calcium per serving.  One cup of kale is 34 calories, 0.47 grams fat, 6.71 grams carbs, 2.21 grams protein, 80.4 mg vitamin C, 515 mcg vitamin A, 299 mg potassium, 1.14 mg iron, 90 mg calcium preserving.  Studies suggest “  The level of phytochemicals and other nutrients in kale and other cruciferous vegetables responsible for their health promoting effects depend on several factors, such as the variety maturity of leaves, insect attacks, microorganism intrusion, location, and environmental conditions of cultivation.” PubMed 

Superfoods will change your life eating a clean diet packed with nutrition and promote overall wellness. Antioxidant compounds in superfoods contribute to health benefits the prevention of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, reducing inflammation,  reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity. 

Cheers! 

Patricia Lynn

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