You already know that superfoods are good for you. Packed full of antioxidants and loaded with vitamins and minerals, these foods pack a serious health punch.
So why can it seem like such a struggle to squeeze these nutritious food into our busy daily lives? But help is at hand thanks to these tips and tricks for sneaking superfoods into your diet.
What’s So Super About Superfoods?
Coined in the ‘80s, the term ‘superfood’ refers to certain foods that boast large concentrations of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
The health advantages of regularly consuming these nutritious goodies are potentially huge. As well as giving your body a daily energy boost, superfoods have also been shown to have more far-reaching effects, ranging from reducing the signs of aging to potentially helping to protect against cancer.
5 Ways to Add Superfoods to Your Diet
Incorporating superfoods into your daily meals is perhaps the most obvious, and for some the most daunting, way of including these nutrient-packed food in your diet. But with so many different superfoods to choose from, there are endless ways that you can pack an extra health punch into your meals without having to ditch your favorite dishes. Here are some of our favorites:
Supercharge Your Breakfast
For breakfast, why not try tossing a handful of blueberries onto your granola. As well as adding extra sweetness to your bowl, these berries are packed full of the antibacterial agent anthocyanins.
Or if you prefer a savory start to the day, why not throw some vitamin rich spinach into your favorite egg dish?
Sprinkle Some Superfood Turmeric Into Your Soups
For an even easier way of incorporating superfoods into your meals, sprinkle nutrient rich superfoods such as turmeric, chlorella, and even cacao powder into soup – pick your superfood to chime with the colors and flavors of your soup.
You’ll hardly notice the taste, but your body will thank you for the extra nutritional hit.
Switch Superfoods in for Starches
As well as adding superfoods to your dishes you can also substitute them in for other ingredients. Cauliflower, with its free radical fighting antioxidants, makes a great thickener for soups and a substitute for carbs in pizza and bread.
Sneak Superfoods Into Your Smoothies
If you regularly find yourself skipping breakfast then look no further than a superfood smoothie. Making a refreshing flavor-packed smoothie is a quick, easy and delicious way of getting your superfood boost on the go.
The flavor combinations are endless, from kale and banana, to strawberry and goji berries. And don’t be afraid to get adventurous – avocado and cacao may sound like an unusual pairing, but those with a sweet tooth will love this creamy smoothie.
But superfoods don’t have to be center stage to have a role in your smoothie. Try sprinkling supergreen powder such as chlorella or adding some dark cacao to your drink to give your smoothie an instant nutrient boost.
Give Your Post-Workout Routine a Boost
Working out is another great excuse to give your body an extra nutritional boost. Try a refreshing fruit smoothie topped up with some powerful maca powder. This amazing South American root is known for its strength, stamina and energy enhancing properties. The perfect pick-me-up after an intense workout.
Choose Your Timing Wisely
Although timing isn’t everything when it comes to superfoods, it can be a useful way of maximizing the health potential of these powerful fruit, veg and supplements.
At the start of the day you should be looking at eating a hearty breakfast packed with carbs and protein to kick your metabolism into gear. This is where protein rich superfoods such as spirulina can help. This versatile green has huge amounts of protein and can be a powerful way to kickstart your day.
By lunchtime it’s all about those vitamin-rich green vegetables. The high levels of B6 vitamins found in a leafy salad will give you a much-needed energy boost and help you cope with the stresses that work can often bring.
However you choose to incorporate more superfoods into your day, remember that little changes can add up to make a big difference. Powders are often recommended as we tend to absorb nutrients better with other foods, but if you will still get plenty of nutritional benefits from capsules and pills too.
