Why do you need to know the top five superfoods? Because eating superfoods for energy is effective. You can also consume the best superfoods for weight loss.
The idea of a superfood is that the food is absolutely packed with nutrients that are highly effective at boosting your health. Each of the very best superfoods offers not only a ton of nutrients, but a diverse blend of valuable traits that can improve your overall health.
1. Sesame Seeds
The only time you (like many people!) have probably ever had sesame seeds was on Chinese take-out. Don’t feel bad –sesame seeds are not widely used in modern recipes. That’s changing, though!Used for centuries for medicinal purposes, the simple seeds and their natural oil were also popular among ancient Egyptians because of their contribution to maintaining healthy skin and a youthful appearance.
What the Egyptians didn’t fully understand is that sesame seeds are absolutely loaded with valuable nutrients that improve peoples’ health and lower the risks of many diseases. Sesame seeds contain a ton of iron, manganese, calcium, copper, and magnesium. Many other important nutrients are packed into these little seeds as well.
As a result, sesame seeds can:
- Boost heart health
- Lower risk of diabetes
- Improve blood pressure
- Give skin a healthy glow
- Prevent cancer
- Provide relief for asthma, arthritis, and constipation
- Increase bone health
2. Beets
A really unique food, beets are commonly consumed as bulbs that were once the root of the vegetable. Like carrots and other foods that grow beneath the ground, beets are dirty, kind of funny-looking, and ridiculously healthy!Just consider this list of what beets have to offer. Beets:
- Are an aphrodisiac, so they enhance your sexual drive and performance
- Are a great source of fiber, helping to keep your digestive system regular
- Are serious energy boosters
- Are blood pressure reducers
- Are natural cleansers that can balance your digestive system
- Make you feel happy and more peaceful
- Provide a wide variety of essential vitamins and nutrients
If you’re thinking "great, beets are awesome for you but I hate them" have no fear. There are a ton of creative recipes out there that make beets much more palatable and even appealing.
3. Apples
You probably know the old adage: an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well, as it turns out, apples really are that good for you. Long treasured and included in a variety of recipes, apples are packed with essential vitamins and nutrients that can have a long-lasting impact on your health.Eating apples regularly might keep the doctor away (or impress your doctor at annual check-ups!) because apples:
- Are high inanity-oxidants, which play an important role in fighting disease
- Can prevent cancer and help to get the disease under control
- Keep the digestive tract healthy by preventing trouble like gallstones and hemorrhoids while also neutralizing acids and offering fiber that keeps you regular
- Boost your heart health while reducing your cholesterol
Beyond impressing your primary doctor, keep in mind that apples can wow your dentist as they keep your teeth healthier and whiter. Your eye doctor may be pleased by your apple-consumption as well because the fruit reduces cataracts. Add in the apple’s ability to help you lose weight and you can count on visiting the gym less, too!
4. Ricotta
Synonymous with Italian food, ricotta cheese is well-known as a main ingredient in lasagnas, calzones, and even cannoli. What most people don’t know about ricotta though is that it’s a superfood –as long as it is low-fat or fat free!High in protein and calcium, ricotta offers the added benefits of being a diary product. Dairy is known to be an extra advantageous for boosting bone health.
Further, ricotta offers benefits like:
- Boosting your energy levels
- Providing protein needed for muscle growth
- Loading your bones up with needed calcium
- Offering vital nutrients like phosphorus, riboflavin, zinc, and vitamins A and B-12.
5. Local Honey
When you have a sore throat, what do you reach for? Tea with honey. Do you know why? Honey is a superfood! Local honey is even better for you because it includes local pollen (the same kind that irritates your allergies and may affect the disease in your region) from the bees in your area.Check out some of honey’s best benefits:
- Suppressing coughs and relieving sore throats
- Serves as a salve or healing ointment because it has anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic traits
- Contains phytonutrients that fight cancer
- Offers anti-oxidants that help prevent and fight disease in general
- Helps to prevent and relieve some allergy symptoms
- Provides a variety of vitamins and nutrients, including calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, and potassium.
- Enzymes in honey can make digestion smoother and relieve painful internal ulcers.
