Super Foods and Their Benefits

The skinny.

Truthfully, no one single food, including the super foods, will offer all the nutrition, health benefits, and energy we need to keep our bodies in tip top shape. The 2015–2020 US Dietary Guidelines recommend healthy eating patterns. The dietary guidelines may not be optimal for many of us and may in fact be unsustainable for our environment. Countless studies have shown plant based diets to be optimal for our health and sustainable for the planet.

Time and time again, research has demonstrated that healthy dietary patterns might reduce risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and peripheral artery disease which is the narrowing of blood vessels carrying blood to leg and arm muscles. This narrowing is caused by fatty build-ups of plaque in artery walls. People with peripheral artery disease have a higher risk for plaque build-up in the carotid arteries, which raises their risk for stroke.

Super Foods and Their Benefits in Diabetes Mellitus

Plant based diets have also been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus, which in and off itself is a risk factor for stroke and heart attacks. 

Super Foods and Their Benefits in Cancer Prevention

Vegan/plant based diets have shown to be beneficial in preventing certain cancers. To restate, a plant based diet or even vegan diets have demonstrated significant health benefits and reduction of chronic diseases. 

Having said all of the above, there are super foods with heal benefits that can be singled out for special recognition. These “super foods” offer some very important nutrients that can power-pack your meals and snacks, and further enhance your health. 

Vegan/plant based diets have shown to be beneficial in preventing certain cancers. To restate, a plant based diet or even vegan diets have demonstrated significant health benefits and reduction of chronic diseases. 

Having said all of the above, there are super foods with heal benefits that can be singled out for special recognition. These “super foods” offer some very important nutrients that can power-pack your meals and snacks, and further enhance your health. 

Super Foods, Your Arsenal

1. Water – we all know that water is essential for  maintaining hydrated skin and lessening the look of fine lines while promoting a brighter glow. If you can’t seem to  drink the recommended 6 to 8 glasses of water a day that you need, try and eat fruits and vegetables with high water content. The benefits of regular water intake are endless.
2. Citrus fruits – Vitamin C in citrus fruits aids in collagen production and gives the look of firmer skin. There is an extensive list in our Vitamin C blog post. 
3. Healthy fats – consider the case of coconut oil. Due to its vitamin E content, when we prepare food with coconut oil, drink coconut milk and even eat coconut ice cream, we are fighting against skin aging free radicals.
4. Get some Resveratrol. Found in red grapes, peanuts, rhubarb, and red wine, Resveratrol protects skin by acting as an anti-oxidant. Resveratrol has potent anti-inflammatory properties. This means fewer fine lines and more of that healthy radiant glow we all strive for.
5. Cucumbers. This wonderful vegetable has 2 things skin thrives on: Water (95 to 96% in fact) and silica, a trace mineral that helps skin keep its tone and elasticity. It is also known as an anti-inflammatory food so you can apply a few slices  on your pretty peepers and enjoy the rest in your favorite salad.
6. Tomayto, tomahto, who cares how you say it,  when you are getting your lycopene, a super powerful substance found in tomatoes, cherries, strawberries, and watermelon that can help prevent sun burn by acting as a natural sun block. It also helps fight acne and clogged pores. As this  is considered to be a carotenoid, it behaves as a powerful anti-oxidant with benefits that extend well beyond just beautiful skin.

Eat and enjoy your fabulous skin!!!

Continue on to our posts  below and learn about all the vitamins you’ll need to stay healthy and fabulous!!