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Fruits, cereals, and vegetables with particularly healthy qualities are considered superfoods and represent an important part of a balanced and healthy diet.
Superfoods are characterized by their natural and organic origin, these conditions provide superior nutritional properties to conventional foods, standing out for their high content of:
• Fiber
• Proteins
• Healthy fats
• Vitamins and minerals
• Phytonutrients
• Antioxidants
Superfoods, unlike traditional foods, have not been exposed to industrialized cultivation processes or biological modifications. The traditional, totally natural, and organic cultivation has allowed food to retain a higher concentration of nutrients with beneficial properties for our health.
5 Benefits of Superfoods for Your Health
1. High Concentration of Phytochemicals
Superfoods have a high concentration of phytochemicals. These are essential to a healthy diet and are associated with a variety of health benefits.
Flavonoids: Polyphenols that acts as a natural colorant for plants, its colors are red, light yellow, blue, or violet. Its main function for the human body is to act as a natural antioxidant. The main flavonoid-rich superfoods are goji berries, grapes, cranberries, broccoli, cocoa, among others.
Carotenoids: They are responsible for the yellow, orange, or red color of plants. They have an antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect in humans. It is sometimes associated with a lower risk of age-related eye disease and cardiovascular disease. Some foods high in carotenoids are spinach, blueberries, and turmeric.
Phytoestrogens: Are plant hormones that have an antioxidant and immunomodulatory effect in humans. These also have positive effects on blood vessel function and blood pressure and is found in cereals, legumes, and flaxseed.
2. High Antioxidant Content
These are substances capable of neutralizing cellular oxidative processes and reducing premature cell death and oxidative stress which are responsible for aging, and in some cases, have been linked to certain types of cancer. Acai berries, Matcha tea, and ginger are some antioxidant-rich superfoods.
3. Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Many superfoods such as turmeric, contain specific substances, capable of mediating inflammatory processes because they reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cells, many of these anti-inflammatory substances also have analgesic effects.
4. High Content of Essential Fiber for The Digestive System
The high fiber content of foods such as Chia seeds and flaxseed, help stimulate intestinal transit, improving the health of the digestive system. The fiber in superfoods also reduces the risk of developing heart disease and controls blood glucose levels.
5. They Promote the Detoxification of The Organism
Superfoods such as spirulina and chlorella have the property of stimulating the detoxification process of the body, due to their chlorophyll and oxygen content. Detoxifying the body promotes the elimination of waste substances, including free radicals and residual substances that result from metabolic processes. Detoxification also helps prevent cell damage and improves the overall state of metabolism.
Integrating Superfoods into your Product Line
Superfoods are available in concentrated liquid or whole food powder form and can be added to any beverage or supplement formulation. Nutritional supplement formulations can include one or several superfoods which will set your supplement apart from the competition. Even individual polyphenol antioxidant compounds can be isolated and added to food and beverages to increase their antioxidant capacity. Our food scientists at BevNutra Solutions can help you integrate the latest superfoods into your next private label supplement or even create proprietary superfood ingredient premixes that will be unique to your product line.