Graphics by: Mari Lorica
Superfood /Â soo-per-food / noun – a food that is rich in compounds (such as antioxidants, fiber, or fatty acids) considered beneficial to a person’s health (Merriam Webster).
As the old saying goes, you are what you eat. At this age and time where fast food and processed meals are lurking everywhere, it’s quite hard to stick to leafy greens.
As another saying goes, health is wealth. We have to take care of our bodies. Taking a few extra minutes in the morning to prepare well-balanced baons is never a bad idea. Our future selves will thank us for it! When I visited the MAFBEX 2018 last June, I found these 5 superfoods you might want to add to your diet ASAP.
5 Superfoods You Should Be Eating Right Now
Honey
Ah, Winnie the Pooh’s favorite!
You might want to replace your table sugar with honey. It’s not just a sweetener; it’s also great for the face: to moisturize, to treat acne, or to fade scars among many others! Make sure you get raw, organic honey, though, to get the full benefits.
Benefits: boosts immune system, aids weight loss, improves memory, excellent source of energy, regulates blood sugar, heals wounds
Easy serving suggestions: drizzled over pancakes, with warm water , spread on crackers with peanut butter
Cacao Nibs
Chocolate that can help shed the extra pounds? Yes, please! We often get confused between cacao and cocoa. To put it simply, cacao is the purest form of chocolate you can eat, while cocoa is the heated, processed version of cacao, making cocoa sweeter but less beneficial to health. Cacao is the clear choice here.
Benefits: improves focus and alertness, enhances mood, reduces cortisol, iron-rich: treats anemia, reduces risk for stroke and heart disease, high in fiber
Easy serving suggestions: brewed with hot chocolate, baked in brownies, plain as it is
Sardines
It may be cheap, but it ain’t cheap on nutritional value. Yes, sardines might not be your favorite fish due to their strong flavor and smell. However, these tiny sea creatures, even the ones in cans, are packed with protein and omega-3 fatty acids among other nutrients and minerals.
Benefits: regulates blood sugar, reduces risk for depression and anxiety, aids in weight loss, reduces inflammation, lowers cholesterol, good for the bones, high in vitamin D and calcium
Easy serving suggestions: in pasta, tossed in a salad, with fried rice
Turmeric
Some call it the magic spice. Hailing from India, turmeric has been used since the ancient times to treat different ailments. Its strong flavor may be a lot to take in for starters; but its nutritive powers, like its hue, is golden, making it worth the try.
Benefits: lowers cholesterol, boosts immune system, has powerful antioxidant effects, promotes balanced mood, improves memory
Easy serving suggestions: mixed with green tea and cinnamon, dashed in any ulam of your choice, blended into smoothies
Avocado
What do you call people avoiding healthy fats? Avocadonts. Ba-Dum-Tss. We all try to avoid fat in our food. Although avocado is a fatty fruit, they’re packed with good kinds of fat, perfect for weight loss! Not only that, it’s also a nutrient powerhouse – truly a top-eat for health buffs.
Benefits: antioxidant-rich, improves heart health, lowers cholesterol, fiber-rich, enhances nutrient absorption of the body
Easy serving suggestions: frozen with condensed milk, on toast, as guacamole dip
What about you? Any superfoods that did you wonders?
