Superfoods List

Having a balanced and a nutritious diet every day is essential to have a healthy life. The human body requires certain nutrients like vitamins, minerals, etc., in specific amounts every day in order to carry out respective functions of the body. All these essential nutrients can be obtained from plant or animal sources.

Therefore, doctors and nutritionists advise people to have a balanced diet. There are certain foods that contain high amounts of essential nutrients and relatively low fats and calories. These are known as superfoods.

As mentioned above, these foods provide all the essential nutrients required by human beings every day. As some of these contain low or no fats, they can also be included in your weight loss diet.

Vegetables are the excellent sources of fibers and antioxidants. They contain minerals like iron and potassium. Vegetables like broccoli, sweet potato, all types of beans, kale, spinach, tomato, cucumber, carrot, etc., should be included in the diet regularly.

Fruits are rich in fibers and also have a diuretic, alkalizing as well as laxative effect on the body. Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C which is one of the most essential nutrients in the body. Hence, fruits and nuts like apricots, raspberries, kiwis, oranges, lemons, grapefruits, blueberries, strawberries, apples, raisins, watermelon, dates, etc., are included in the superfoods list.

Dairy products contain highest amounts of calcium and proteins. However, one has to be careful to choose low-fat versions as dairy products contain high amounts of fats. Low fat skim milk, yogurt, and egg white are healthy foods.

Fish is one of the best sources of proteins and omega 3 essential fatty acids.Vitamin D, vitamin B12 is found in good amounts in fish. Salmon is a healthy seafood option as it contains omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, calcium, etc.

Along with these, there are several other foods that are healthy. They include:

• Quinoa
• Whole grains
• Brown rice
• Barley
• Lentils
• Oats
• Walnuts
• Garlic
• Honey
• Açai Berry
• Mushrooms

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Kefir
• Soy
• Dark chocolate
• Cinnamon
• Hot peppers
• Red wine
• Green tea
• Turkey

As all the above mentioned foods are excellent sources of certain minerals, it is advisable to include them in your diet regularly. When a person has a balanced diet, he gets all the required nutrients and has lesser chances of suffering from deficiency diseases. These foods do not contain excess cholesterol or fats, hence, can be considered as the best foods for weight loss.

Secondly, most of these foods help in proper metabolism and digestion in the body. Some foods in the aforementioned list help in the treatment and prevention of medical conditions like constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), etc.

However, people suffering from chronic diseases should consult the doctor before following a diet as foods like soy or mushrooms can give rise to allergic reactions in some people. One should prefer fresh foodstuffs over canned or processed ones for better health benefits.

One should remember that having a proper balanced diet directly or indirectly contributes in preventing several medical conditions like digestive problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, etc. Therefore, one should include healthy foods in the diet regularly. Take care!