Superfoods That Prevent Disease

What if the secret to a longer and healthier life lay in the foods that we consume on a regular basis? The old adage, 'You are what you eat,' held more truth to it than what many previously thought. More and more studies have confirmed that superfoods, such as the goji berry, blueberry, mangosteen, soy, broccoli, spinach and acai berry, are packed with vital nutrients that can help us decrease various risk factors such as high cholesterol and even cut our risk of cancer.

Most of the basic fruits and vegetables that we consume on a daily basis contain small amounts of phytonutrients that can help aide in the prevention of some ailments. There are some fruits and vegetables available that are chalked full of a wide array of these phytonutrients, making the food a superfood. Fruits such as blueberries that are rich in vitamin C and potassium, making them excellent for your heart. If you suffer with high cholesterol, it is often recommended to get more soy into your diet as it is a know cholesterol buster. EGCG, a chemical found in green tea, has been proven in several laboratories to both lower cholesterol and retard the growth of cancer cells.

Other common superfoods include buckwheat, a plant derived seed that is used like a grain in cooking. Buckwheat is very low on the glycemic scale, making them a great food for diabetics and those with inflammatory problems. Buckwheat is gentle on the body and can help to stabilize blood sugar and reduce high blood pressure. Perhaps one of the most overlooked superfood is the acai berry from South American palm tree. This potent little berry contains remarkably high amounts of dietary fiber, antioxidants, fatty acids, and phytosterols, making it one of the most powerful superfoods available today. Nuts and seeds are also high on the list of superfoods with powerful cancer fighting fatty acids and heart healthy antioxidants.

Getting these foods into your daily diet is no longer a challenge as world wide trade has brought with it the fruits and vegetables from far away places to our local supermarket shelves. Knowing that by incorporating these fruits and vegetables into your daily diet can pay off in terms of a healthy life in the long run should be more than enough encouragement to begin eating a more varied and broad diet consisting of superfoods. Other reasons that people incorporate more superfoods into their diet is for more energy and vitality, better mental clarity, and reducing premature aging.