Superfoods – foods that are super, grant superpowers, taste super, or in general feel they are vastly superior to other foods.
Obviously not a literal definition, but overall, foods qualified as such are actually very impressive. They boast a huge nutrient profile, amazing anti-oxidant power, and help your body be the best it can be (usually tasting amazing at the same time).
So, my mission here is to give a brief overview of some of the most easily obtainable of these foods, with a quick description of their super-powered profiles. Check back each day for the rest of the series!
Green Tea – Heard about green tea? Thought so! This drink is so easy to get you can find it at chain coffee stops across the country. Tea has been recognized for centuries as a superfood. A big reason tea has been scientifically validated as a superfood are its high concentration of flavonoids — plant-derived compounds that are antioxidants. Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. Catechins have been shown to be more powerful than vitamin C at combating free-radicals.
To truly experience the benefits of the tea, a couple of cups a day is all it takes. Let your tea steep for 3-5 minutes, and enjoy. Add some lemon or stevia, or even a nice passion fruit or other sweet tea to make a terrific and flavorful blend. Be wary of adding milk though, as the proteins and lactose have been shown to bind with the other compounds reducing their efficacy.
Loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a powerful anti-oxidant that has shown promise as a cancer (skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder) and heart disease fighter (” A Chinese study published recently in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed a 46%-65% reduction in hypertension risk in regular consumers of oolong or green tea, compared to non-consumers of tea”), as well as flavonoids this tea should find its way into your cup everyday.
To learn more about superfoods, and other amazing things you can do for your health, stop back regularly for more posts, and sign up for a Free Health History today. Live exceptionally!
– John Garda
John Garda is a Holistic Health Coach working out of NY and Miami. He has been able to help his clients overcome their challenges, and now has a practice that focuses on helping busy individuals lower their stress, lose weight, achieve wellness, and love who they see in the mirror.