What Common Nutrients Account for the Health Benefits of Superfoods?

If you’ve spent any amount of time looking up healthy foods and recipes, then there’s no doubt that you’ve come across the term “superfood”.

Set apart to designate only the most high-nutrition, high-quality foods that you can buy, superfoods are foods that have a whole host of nutrients that you need to keep your body functioning at optimum levels.

The question then arises, however — what are the common nutrients that are tied to the significant benefits of superfoods? What is it exactly that makes a superfood so much better than other foods?

In this article, we’ll answer exactly that question.

The Benefits of Superfoods

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of superfood nutrition, let’s first understand the benefits of superfoods.

The health benefits of superfoods are obvious. Superfoods have superior nutrition (as you’ll discover throughout the rest of the article). However, superfoods have another significant benefit that you probably haven’t yet thought of.

Whenever someone’s trying to kickstart their fitness journey and lose weight, the most important thing is to diet. However, consistently maintaining a healthy diet isn’t easy, especially if that hasn’t been a daily habit in the past.

It’s very easy to lose motivation a few months in, resulting in a lack of results. A few months later, something motivates you and you get started on that journey again, only to be thwarted once more by an unhealthy diet.

Enter superfoods. Because superfoods pack so much punch, they take much of the guesswork out of crafting a healthy diet. And when that happens, the natural result is that people are able to stick with a healthy diet for a longer period of time, which in turn leads to more people accomplishing their fitness goals.

Superfood Nutrition

So what exactly is it that makes a superfood a superfood?

First and foremost, the superfood has to have a good caloric balance. It can’t provide health benefits at the cost of excess calories, which can play havoc with any calorie-counting diet that you may be using.

Second, it has to hit the major macronutrient groups: proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. When considering fats and carbohydrates, it’s important to remember that there are good and bad kinds. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are good for you, just as complex carbohydrates are. Saturated fats and simple carbs, on the other hand, you should stay away from. They won’t be present in any superfoods.

Third, the superfood has to be rich in vitamins. Key vitamins that people typically fail to get enough of in a typical diet are vitamin A, C, different B variants, and E. Superfoods like kale, turnip greens, and spinach hit these vitamin groups.

Last, the superfood should be able to be used for a variety of purposes. It should help you not only lose weight but should also figure in the lists like this one of home remedies for treating bad breath.

Superfoods Made Simple

There you have it — all the reasons why you need to eat superfoods and the details of what makes a superfood a superfood. With an adequate amount of such foods in your diet, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your fitness goals.

For more health advice, be sure to check out the rest of the articles on the website!