Superfoods — yay or nay?

The truth about superfoods

Whilst drowning among old wives’ tales of coffee stunting growth and carrots giving you radar night vision, ‘superfoods’ are sometimes treated with a sceptical eye.

First things first — no, eating spicy foods will definitely NOT help ulcers and eating chocolate is NOT the reason for acne!

So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and talk about foods that actually help and are full of tasty nutrients.

Green Tea

Not only is it scrumptious, but it's chock-a-block full of antioxidants that are wonderful for your body. They'll help with inflammation and certain cancerous cells. This superfood has been consumed in China since the beginning of time so it must have benefits.

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Avocados

If the word guacamole doesn’t affect you, get to the nearest Mexican immediately! Not only are avocados filled with nutrients and vitamins, but they have absolutely no sodium, cholesterol and are low in saturated fats. 

They also have more potassium in them than bananas, which helps build muscles. If this isn’t inspiring you then here is a page dedicated to avocados. You can do everything with them and oh MY do they taste good. Look here for the best ways to try them!

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Oily Fish

There's debate as to whether oily fish is a superfood. But it’s jam packed with omega 3 so we say yes! There's also a considerable amount of protein in fish which can help prevent against cardiovascular disease. Plus let's face it, anything that involves the preparation and eating of sushi deserves a medal. A prize. A gigantic bar of Belgian chocolate.

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Chia Seeds

Listen up all veggies and vegans! You can literally chuck them into everything, and it takes oatmeal to a whole new level. They look like little pearls of the ocean bubbling on top of cinnamon-apple-oatmeal-honey-nut-surprise-breakfasts. Check out some of these recipes!

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Move over kombucha!

Despite the hype over this goo-like substance thought to aid stress, it's been argued that a newer fermented superfood — Kefir, is better for us.

You may have heard about probiotics being good for your gut. Well the newest most-hyped member of the probiotic family is Kefir. A fermented milk substance that contains vitamins, minerals and protein, this is certainly one to try if you're a fan of yoghurt — you can even drink it as a smoothie.

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There are certainly some bizarre remedies floating around the internet. Jelly helping your nails grow? You're going to need a lot more protein than chemical strawberry desserts we're afraid!

The hot water lemon thing is legit though, it really does help your skin. Lemons are miniature bundles of vitamin C, so they'll do your immune system wonders by flushing out nasty toxins. 

Hot lemon-honey-ginger tea when you have a cold/bad throat beats everything. There's a reason Asian food has so much ginger in it - it's like a fiery demon that destroys unwanted toxins. 

So Superfoods – yay or nay?

It’s difficult to make an informed decision if there hasn’t been enough scientific research, but if it makes you feel better then why not? As long as you're not knocking back twelve cups of green tea and eating raw oily fish for every meal they won't do any harm.

Happy munching!