SOMETHING SUPER ABOUT THESE FOODS
Build a strong immunity and lead a healthy lifestyle by including these superfoods in your diet plan for the year
The concept of superfoods is gaining a lot of importance, and, true to its name, it promotes strong immunity and helps fight infections. Sweedal Trinidade, senior dietician, PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC, says, “We all know strong immunity gives us super power to fight infections and stay healthy. So, immune-boosting foods or super foods help with just that.”
However, experts have different definitions of superfoods, one can conclude that there is no fixed definition of these foods. “It’s primarily referred to foods that are rich in nutrients, that are required for maintenance of optimum health and do not cause any serious health issues or allergies,” says Dr Deepti Bagree, head of department— healthcare division, RESET— Holistic Living Concepts. Hardik Shukla, nutritionist at Digestive Health Institute by Dr Muffi, says, “Superfoods are usually plant-based products and nutritionally dense. They contain high amounts of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, polyphenols, and healthy fats.”
SUPERFOODS FOR 2020
1. Turmeric:
One of the most common spice used in the kitchen, both for culinary and medicinal purpose. Bagree adds, “Its anti-inflammatory properties makes it an excellent superfood relieving pain, inflammation and increasing immunity
2. Jackfruit: This superfood is scaling the health food popularity chart these days. Fernandes adds, “It is a rich source of simple sugar (fructose and sucrose), which provides instant energy. Jackfruit is also rich in dietary fats which helps improve digestion and prevents constipation.
3. Broken wheat (daliya):
High in protein and low in fat, it is one of the best foods to be consumed early in the morning. Fernandes shares, “It provides many essential nutrients without piling extra pounds of fat. Dalia has high fibre, and manganese contents, and is also rich in vitamin B.”
4. Drumstick leaves:
Trinidade, says, “They are rich in quercetin, Vitamin C, beta carotene and chlorogic acid, which increases antioxidant levels and lowers blood cholesterol.”
5. Wheat grass: It is an extensive source of calcium, magnesium and Vitamin A,
C, E, K, B.
6. Apricots:
These are rich in fibre and hence treats constipation and prevents colon cancer. Shukla says, “It has anti-inflammatory properties. It also maintains fluid levels in your body.”
7. Avocado: A bucket full of healthy fats, avocados aid in the absorption of utrients from the nsumption of plant-based ds. Dr Siddhant argava, fitness and utritional scientist, ys, “This edible is a ower-house of protein, hich is an essential trient that most people n’t get enough of.” lax seeds: Flax seeds e a good source of fibre, rotein, and omega-3. Bhargava says, “One must grind flax seeds prior to consumption to get the most nutrition out of them. But one must remember to stay away from flax oil because it contains no fibre.”