You may be hearing the buzzword "superfoods" a lot more lately. It can be easy to dismiss as a cheesy marketing tactic, but superfoods are nutrient and vitamin dense foods that have many health benefits. It's just important to separate what foods actually are superfoods and not junk food masquerading as healthy options.
Here are some of my favorite superfoods to add to your diet:
Beans: Full of protein, fiber, iron AND heart healthy, beans are a small but nutritional food to add to your diet. They are also an affordable plant-based protein.
Blueberries: Brimming with antioxidants and vitamins, the small but mighty blueberry is delicious and also great for you.
Broccoli: Packed with Vitamin C and D, iron, fiber, broccoli is good for a lot of things, like heart and gut health. It may also have anti-cancer properties.
Oats
Oranges
Pumpkin
Salmon: This nutritious fish is famous for being high in omega-3s. It also contains healthy fats, protein, B vitamins, and potassium. Just make sure not to eat salmon every day, as it can be contaminated with environment pollutants.
Spinach
Tomatoes
Walnuts
Avocado: The avocado has become a very popular superfood. Packed with heart-healthy fats, vitamins, and potassium, you don't have to feel guilty about indulging in that avocado toast.
Sweet Potato: This delicious vegetable has vitamins and minerals, but most notably is its high concentration of Vitamin A.
Almonds: Forget milk. Almonds are a great source of calcium, as well as Vitamin E and protein.
Kale: Perhaps the most famous superfood is kale. It is full of vitamins, calcium, and manganese. It's also low in calories. Add to your salad, smoothie, or make some kale chips as a healthy snack.
Flaxseed: Loaded with heart-healthy omega-3s, magnesium, protein and fiber, these seeds pack a healthy punch. I like adding flaxseed to my yogurt in the morning.
Prunes
Apples
Cauliflower
Olives
Lentils
Which superfoods are your favorite? Comment below and let me know!
Dr. Briana Rueda practices functional medicine in the Twin Cities area. Fill out a contact form for more information!
