Superfood Essentials List (You May Not Have Known About #4!)

Harvest of fresh acai berries

Photo credit: bigstock

The term “superfood” has become very popular and perhaps even overused in the last few years, and it doesn’t show any signs of going away. But the truth is that if this new addition to the public vernacular has helped more people make better choices with their diets, we should embrace it. 2016 brought us a deluge of articles about superfoods that ranged from fruits and vegetables to special oils and exotic spices. Much of these claims were common knowledge, while others were new, and still others confusing and contradictory. We’ve put together this list to cut through all the noise and give you a clear understanding of what you should be focusing on.

 

1. Acai (pronounced “uh-sah-ie”)

This super berry originally comes from South America, and it is a key ingredient in popular juice beverages in Brazil. These berries are packed with antioxidants, improve the health of the brain, and have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It has become more common to see acai products outside of South America, and it remains indisputably one of the healthiest fruits in the world. Berries in general are one of the best things you can eat, and acai berries might just be the best.

 

2. Kefir

Kefir is a dairy superfood that has only recently become well known in the Western world, let alone widely available. Kefir is a cultured milk product similar to yogurt that is popular in countries of the Caucasus region like Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. This unique dairy product offers significant amounts of calcium, vitamins B12 and K2, folate, biotin, and magnesium. But the most beneficial aspect of kefir might be its powerful probiotic properties. Kefir is filled with good bacterial cultures and enzymes that help build a strong and healthy gut biome. With the rampant overuse of antibiotics in the industrialized world, kefir can play a role in helping people replenish their gut with healthy bacteria.

Continue to Page 2

PrevPage: 1 of 2Next
//