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What is so good about superfoods?

6 min read time Oct 12, 2021

Description

Superfoods have become a buzzword in the world of health and wellness. You’ve likely heard the term tossed around in fitness blogs, health articles, and even at your local grocery store. But what exactly makes superfoods so special? Are they all they’re cracked up to be? This blog will explore why these nutrient-packed foods have earned their "super" status and how they can benefit your overall health and well-being.

Are Superfood Powders healthy?


Superfoods are nutrient-dense whole foods with exceptional vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and unique plant compounds. This category encompasses diverse foods, including coconuts, vibrant berries, dark leafy greens, mushrooms, bone broth, and whey proteins. To create healthy superfood powders, these foods undergo a meticulous powdering process that preserves their nutritional integrity, extends shelf life, and offers a convenient method for incorporating them into daily diets.

With that, you can turn what might be a zero-nutrient snack into a nutritious meal.

Nutrients That Make Superfoods Great

The main reason superfoods are so great is their strong nutrient content. Superfoods are generally filled with vitamins and minerals needed for proper body function. Below are some of the key nutrients that make superfoods so great:

Antioxidants: Superfoods contain antioxidants, which fight oxidative stress from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can destroy your cells, causing inflammation, aging, and disease. Antioxidants neutralize these toxic molecules, lowering the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

Vitamins and Minerals: Superfoods such as leafy greens, berries, and citrus fruits are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These nutrients are crucial for bone health, skin health, and immune function.

Fiber: Superfoods like fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber. Fiber is important for digestion since it helps maintain bowel movements and prevent constipation. It also aids a healthy metabolism and keeps blood sugar levels important for digestive health.

Healthy Fats: Some superfoods, such as avocados and nuts, are rich in healthy fats for the heart. Healthy fats lower cholesterol levels, fight inflammation, and improve brain function.

Proteins: Some superfoods, such as quinoa and chia seeds, contain plant-based proteins. Protein aids in muscle repair and growth, so these foods are particularly helpful for those with a plant-based diet.

Why are superfood powders good?

Superfood powders get their name because they are packed with either vitamins, proteins, or antioxidants – and sometimes a combination.

The recent explosion of interest in superfoods might seem like a fad, but they have been on the scene for hundreds, even thousands of years.

Some superfoods, such as shiitake mushrooms, maca root, and spirulina, have even been used for millennia as traditional natural remedies.

Superfoods really shine because they can be turned into a convenient powder form, which is handy for mixing into other foods, baking, cooking, and adding to water, juices, or smoothies—boosting the nutritional benefits.

 

This is a picture of moringa powder in a small bowl next to fresh moringa leaves on a white background.



For example, most superfood greens powders acquire their ingredients from nutritious vegetables and fruits, aiding in enhancing energy levels and boosting the immune system. Some typical ingredients include:

  • Leafy green vegetables
  • Fruits rich in antioxidants
  • Seaweed, grasses, nutritional extracts, and herbs
  • Mix of harmless live bacteria and yeast (probiotics)

The typical tablespoon of greens powder is brimming with the following nutrients:

NUTRIENT

VALUE

Proteins

3 grams

Carbohydrates

6 grams

Calories

40

Iron

18% of recommended dietary allowance (RDA)

Vitamin A

60% of RDA

Many superfood powders source their components from natural, organic, non-GMO ingredients. This means they’re perfect for vegetarians, and you don’t have to worry that it went through some lab and have no way of verifying the long-term effects.

Superfood powders make it easy to enjoy unique, nutritious fruits and plants. Moreover, a manufacturer can provide multiple benefits in a single package by mixing the powders of several fruits or plants to create a ‘super’ superfood. This is exactly what Z Natural Foods has done with Organic Essential Reds, a unique combination of ten of the highest-quality red fruits and vegetables on earth.

But superfood powders are not just limited to fruits and vegetables. Some of nature’s healthiest and most nutritious superfood powders come from organic grass-fed whey protein and grass-fed hydrolyzed collagen peptides.  Superfood powders such as these can provide crucial amino acids for cellular repair, growth, and production of our body’s own antioxidant glutathione.

Do Superfoods Work?

Superfood powders can easily be integrated into drinks, smoothies, and snacks, but what health benefits do superfoods provide?

Many claim superfood powders can boost energy, lift libido, slow aging, and burn fat, but others doubt powders can do all this. So, do superfood powders work? There’s plenty of scientific research and evidence to support their nutritional power.

  • Maca will also provide iodine, copper, and vitamin B. Copper is essential for blood cell formation, and the powder can provide 30% of your iodine RDA.
  • Moringa is another heavyweight in the superfood powders division, believed to contain 25 times the iron of spinach, 17 times the calcium contained in milk, and 15 times the potassium found in bananas.
  • Another favorite is Spirulina, a type of algae that grows in tropical lakes. It gained cult status after NASA used it as a dietary supplement in space missions.
  • The Acai berry has the highest antioxidant rating of any vegetable or fruit. It’s also jam-packed with healthy monounsaturated fats that people claim give it anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • The leafy vegetable kale is a great source of fiber, manganese, carotenoids, and vitamins A, B6, C, and K. Thomas Jefferson may not have known of its nutritional benefits, but he was a fan.

Organic superfood powder benefits

Since these powders are chock-full of organic ingredients, they may pack powerful health benefits such as:

  1. Builds immune system

Although different brands will have varied amounts of nutrient levels, most green powders typically pack a healthy dose of vitamin C that may aid in amplifying your immune system. Greens such as broccoli and supplements like turmeric powder show promise in supporting a healthy immune system.

  1.  Effectively deal with stress.

Stress is a common affliction that, if left unmanaged, can lead to destructive diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Some organic superfoods like organic basil powder contain adaptogenic properties that many think could support your body to combat stress and depression.

  1. Reduce inflammation naturally

While many over-the-counter medications can eliminate inflammation, they are likely synthetic and made of chemicals. Superfood powders like wheatgrass powder contain organic ingredients rich in anti-inflammatory properties. These help deal with inflammatory conditions that could lead to more serious issues, such as increased risk of some illnesses.

  1. Stabilizes blood pressure

Some organic powders, such as Organic Beet Root Powder, contain healthy doses of iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus that the American Heart Association recommends you use to support healthy blood pressure levels.

  1. Improved energy levels

Iron deficiency often leads to fatigue. Organic superfoods may help support healthy iron levels, and research has found that taking some green powders supplemented by green tea extracts for 12 weeks can significantly raise reported energy levels.

  1. Endurance

While it may not get you working at Energizer-bunny levels, some organic powders have enhanced qualities that may support healthy endurance levels. Moreover, the Catuaba Bark powder might help you achieve healthy prostate function.

  1. Optimal skin health

If you prefer a natural way to achieve skin health, look no further than superfood powders such as organic, non-GMO Barley Grass Powder. The powder will increase the amounts of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in your body. The enzyme has strong possible links with slowing aging, which may lead to younger-looking skin.

Adding organic superfood powders to your diet

Organic powders are not an old wives’ tale–they work. You may gain many health benefits from them, such as improved energy levels and stronger immunity because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and adaptogenic properties.

That said, although superfood powders contain many healthy nutrients, they are best used as a supplement to your regular diet, not a replacement. 

Keep eating your balanced diet as usual and top it up with the powders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do superfoods need to be part of a healthy diet?

Superfoods are not essential but, because of their dense nutrient content, are a great supplement to a balanced diet. They offer a natural method for maintaining overall health, increasing energy, and promoting wellness.

Are superfoods safe to eat every day?

Yes! Several superfoods, including berries, leafy greens, and seeds, are perfectly suited for daily intake. Yet, be sure to mix it up and add a variety of foods to have a broad array of nutrients.

Do superfoods assist with weight loss?

These superfoods, including green tea, cayenne pepper, and chia seeds, may help assist metabolism and burn fat, possibly helping people lose weight. Yet the most effective approach would be to include them in an equilibrium diet accompanied by physical training.

References 

  1. Five healthy habits to live by: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/5-healthy-habits-may-increase-life-expectancy-by-decade-or-more/
  2. Ethnobiology and Ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a Plant from the Peruvian Highlands: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3184420/
  3. Health benefits of Moringa oleifera: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25374169/
  4. Chapter 57 - Spirulina: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128210383000574
  5. Acai: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acai
  6. The Nutrition Source: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/kale/

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