What is a superfood you ask? No, it’s not a food wearing a superman cape, although it can tend to give that illusion. The term is used to describe a food that has the potential to prevent illness and maintain health. It’s usually a food jam packed with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients our body needs in order to function at its best.
The nutrients (also known as phytonutrients or phytochemicals) in superfoods will vary, but each will be associated with certain health benefits. For example, in grapes, eggplant, red cabbage, and radishes there are phytochemicals thought to protect against some cancers and heart disease.
Examples of phytochemicals are antioxidants, flavonoids, lycopene, and carotenoids. All of these together with vitamins and minerals are what makes the food so beneficial.
The key to superfoods is variety. If you vary your intake of as many superfoods as you can you will cover a lot of ground, since the health benefits of each one can be different.
Here are 50 superfoods to get you started! Take a few a month to try. See how many ways you can eat them! Find your favorites and discover new ones! You’ll be amazed how many you can get through by this time next year.
- Acai
- Apples
- Apricots
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Beets
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Carrots
- Cherries
- Chia seeds
- Coconut
- Collard greens
- Dark chocolate
- Eggs
- Flaxseeds
- Garlic
- Goji berries
- Grapes
- Hemp seeds
- Kale
- Kefir
- Kiwi
- Lemons
- Limes
- Mangoes
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Oranges
- Papaya
- Peaches
- Plums
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin seeds
- Quinoa
- Raisins
- Raspberries
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Sunflower seeds
- Sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
- Yogurt
What other superfoods can you think of?
Wow you have a pretty thorough list here. I do not see green tea but not sure if that is considered a food or a beverage. Very good list. #wowlinkup
It was pretty hard to narrow the list to just 50 superfoods. Green tea is a great choice, too – yes, it’s a beverage, but also considered a superfood.
Great List! I always try to incorporate many of these in my diet #wowlinkup
Thanks Heather!