It seems that everyone these days are talking about super foods and how wee all should be eating them, but what is a super food and what can they really do for us?

Super foods are food items that are said to be especially high in beneficial properties such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Because they simply bursting with goodness, they can have a very positive effect on our health and well being.

Here we look at just ten of these magical wonders and explain a bit about what they can do for you.

10 Easily Obtainable Super foods

Avocados

This versatile little fruit not only tastes great and is a great compliment to many dishes, the humble avocado is also extremely good for you and a great asset for a healthy diet.

Being high in monounsaturated fats, it can help to protect us against cardiovascular disease. Another great benefit of avocados is the presence of an antioxidant called glutathione, which is  said to have the ability to protect us from around 30 types of carcinogens. It is these carcinogens that can cause cancer of various kinds.

Besides being high in antioxidants, the avocado also contains high doses of other important vitamins and minerals including potassium, magnesium and vitamin E. For all it’s wonders, many people claim that it also has the potential to benefit our skin, help with the symptoms of diabetes and aid us in the weight loss fight.

Quinoa

This little grain is packed with all kinds of goodness, hence it is undoubtably a super food. Originating from the countries of Peru and Bolivia and specifically, around the areas of Lake Titicaca, this healthy little grain is free from gluten and high in calcium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron, magnesium and folate.

Quinoa is also a great source of protein as it provides all of the essential amino acids that our bodies need.

Goji Berries

These colourful red berries from certain parts of Asia are said to be so good for us that they can help to increase our immunity to illness and disease, protect us from heart disease, improve brain function and even extend our life expectancy.

High in antioxidants that also fight and protect us form cancer, goji berries also have several other beneficial components such as vitamin A, B2, C, selenium and iron.

Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is definitely a true superfood, containing almost all essential vitamins and minerals needed by humans. One of the most active and beneficial properties of wheatgrass is chlorophyll, an important element for our body for many reasons including helping us to build blood, keep our immunity strong by killing bad bacteria in our system and slowing the ageing process.

Chlorophyll also has an abundant amount of light energy and has the potential to actually renew our bodies cells as well as fighting toxins that build up in our system. To see a list of 50 amazing benefits of taking wheatgrass, please click here.

Green Tea

Experts say that just drinking an average of two cups of green tea per day can also be one of the healthiest things you can do. Green tea is extremely high in antioxidants and more specifically, EGCG which is responsible for the majority of it’s healthy properties.

Green tea has been linked to immunity boosting, enhanced cognitive function, improved heart efficiency as well as helping with high blood pressure, diabetes high cholesterol and even helping to fight and prevent cancer.

Chia Seeds

Low in calories but high in health promoting nutrients, chia seeds are the next on our superfood list. Being a high source of quality protein, chia seeds are great for both vegetarians and meat eaters to help provide the essential building blocks that keep our muscles strong and supple.

Chia seeds have also been linked to weight loss over the more recent years, perhaps due to it’s high fibre content, keeping the bowels lubricated and also acting as a great filler, limiting the amount of food ingested.

One of our favourite benefits of chia seeds is their ability to assist with athletic performance by helping athletes to load up with carbohydrates before an event while also getting a high dose of nutrients at the same time.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is also another great source of dietary fibre however, that is not the only reason that it is also a superfood. The oils found in flaxseed (also known as linseed oil) are said to be especially beneficial for us, being high in omega3 which can help to keep our hearts in a healthy condition. Being a high source of fibre and also rich in powerful oils makes flaxseed great for constipation and other gastrointestinal disorders by keeping the bowels both lubricated and regulated.

Research also suggests that consuming flaxseed on a regular basis may also help to prevent certain cancers, specifically those of the prostate, breast and colon. However, more research is still needed in this area.

Blueberries

Being loaded with antioxidants is one of the main reasons that blueberries get their prestigious title of ‘superfood’. Studies have shown that consuming them regularly can help to stabilise blood sugar levels, improve and assist the cardiovascular system, improve your memory, benefit our eyesight and also help to prevent cancer. For more information on the benefits of blueberries, visit whfoods.com.

Eggs

The humble egg is now also considered by many to be a superfood. This is because of its nutrient rich content being high in vitamins. In fact, vitamin C is the only vitamin that eggs do not contain. Eggs are also a great source of protein and provide an ideal balance required for tissue repair. Although the yolk may contain cholesterol, it is believed now not to be as bad for us as once thought as the majority of the fat contained in eggs is of the unsaturated variety.

Spinach

Last but by no means least on our list of super foods, we have spinach. Of course everyone knows it is a great source of iron but it is also loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, K and A and loads of other beneficial nutrients.

Studies have shown that spinach is not only good for our musculoskeletal system but it also helps benefit the muscles of internal structures including the heart. This is a great reason by itself to incorporate spinach regularly into your diet however, it is said to also help with blood pressure, various eye diseases, can help prevent cancer and diabetes, is good for our skin and can also lessen the occurrence of migraines.

Here’s a great video form Corrina Rachel from www.psychetruth.net. Here Corrina talks about her top 10 super foods.