We’re here to help you answer the frequently asked question: what are superfoods? A relatively new term coined in the early 21st century, mostly for use in marketing, superfoods are foods that are packed with nutritional goodness and naturally provide plenty of health benefits.
Superfoods are often a great source of essential vitamins and minerals, and provide high nutritional value from fibre, protein, and other great nutrients.
Discover the top 10 superfoods we’re loving that you can easily add into your diet today.
Top 10 Superfoods to Add to Your Diet
1. Blueberries
Out of all the berries, blueberries always come out on top as the best superfood. Rich in both vitamins and fibre, this little berry is packed with anthocyanin, which is a type of flavonoid that provides essential antioxidants to help protect against free radicals that contribute to ageing skin. Berries are a great superfood for adding to your morning oats or to smoothies and are just as delicious to consume on their own.
Try our delicious vegan protein smoothie for a great way to add more blueberry superfood into your diet:
2. Garlic
Garlic is a flavoursome superfood. This pungent and super popular spice is a staple ingredient in an abundance of dishes throughout the world. Not only does it pack a punch with its flavour, garlic is a superfood because it’s packed with nutritional goodness; providing a source of protein, fibre and carbohydrates while being low in calories, and with vitamin B6, potassium and iron among others, garlic is believed to have multiple health benefits.
3. Turmeric
We’ve added this spice to our list of superfoods due to the incredible health benefits of turmeric. Known for its antioxidant properties, you can easily introduce this superfood to your diet with turmeric powder or in the form of turmeric supplements such as our Organics Herbal Turmeric Tablets. With added black pepper, these turmeric tablets are a quick and effective way to add this superfood to your diet.
4. Fish
Oily fish like salmon and tuna are a great superfood. Providing a wide range of health benefits thanks to its concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, oily fish definitely makes our list of the top 8 superfoods. Known to help maintain normal heart function, you can introduce omega-3 into your diet through the use of omega-3 supplements – such as our Dr Formulated Advanced Omega-3 Softgels - or as cod liver oil. Omega-3 is also beneficial in supporting concentration and brain function, as well as supporting eye and brain health.
5. Maca Root
You may not have heard of the maca root plant, but it’s certainly growing in popularity! Also known as Peruvian ginseng, maca root is a superfood that contains an array of essential vitamins and minerals, whilst also being low in fat. Often used as a superfood powder, our Garden of Life Organics Herbal Maca Root Powder can be added to your oats or smoothies for an extra nutritional boost.
6. Leafy Greens
Spinach and kale are the OGs in the world of superfoods, along with broccoli and cabbage. Loaded with essential nutrients and fibre, you’ll often find these dark leafy greens at the top of any superfood list.
Providing vitamins A, C, and K, plus a whole host of other nutrients and minerals, green superfoods are perfect for adding to your daily diet – whether they’re eaten raw in salads, blended into a superfood smoothie or added as a green superfood powder.
Mix a superfood powder, like our Raw Organic Perfect Food Green Superfood Powder, into juices, smoothies or water for a quick and easy way to get all the goodness from this green superfood.
7. Whole Grains
Did you know that there are over 20 different kinds of whole grains? These include oats, barley, wheat, quinoa and brown rice, as well as whole grain foods that are high in iron, fibre and B vitamins.
Whole grains are a superfood as they are known to support a healthy heart, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease as a result. Get inspired with these five delicious protein overnight oat recipes to introduce more whole grains into your diet.
8. Chia Seeds
Another relatively new addition to our list of superfoods is chia seeds. Although tiny in size, these small seeds are packed with a huge variety of nutrients. From essential antioxidants to providing one of the best sources of fibre, there are so many positive health benefits to eating chia seeds.
9. Legumes
Legumes as a category covers a wide range of superfoods, including chickpeas, soybeans, lentils, peas and beans. They are often used as a great meat replacement for vegetarians and vegans as they provide high levels of plant-based protein, as well as fibre. Try adding more pea protein from legumes into your diet using a superfood powder like our Sport Plant-Based Protein, available in a tasty chocolate or vanilla flavour.
10. Nuts & Seeds
Last but not least, nuts and seeds are a superfood you don’t want to miss out on. Nuts will get their superfood status from the good fats and protein they contain, along with the vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidant content they can add to your diet. Almonds are one of the most versatile superfoods as you can add these fibre-filled nuts to salads, curries and other meals, as well as to healthy sweet treats and baked goods or eat them raw.
Seeds are also worthy of superfood status. From sunflower seeds to flax seeds, these small superfoods naturally contain an abundance of vitamins, minerals, fibre and protein too. They also contain plenty of healthy fats.
Superfoods
Our list of superfoods is not exhaustive, as there are plenty more foods out there that provide extra nutritional value and health benefits. One of the best ways to incorporate some of the listed superfoods into your diet is by blending them into smoothies and juices, especially berries, chia seeds, leafy greens, turmeric and maca root.
For more inspiration, discover the best protein smoothie recipes from Garden of Life below:
