Improve Your Diet With These Superfoods

Living a healthy lifestyle is easier said than done. In fact a lot of people struggle with trying to be healthier nowadays.

There are many factors that affect the quality of life you want to lead – work-life balance, meaningful relationships with loved ones and friends, having a positive mindset – but today it is best to zero in on a factor that anyone can have a hard time dealing with: diet.

What you eat certainly helps in helping your body keep itself in optimal shape. However, whenever the word “diet” is thrown around, the immediate thought that comes to mind is,

“What do I need to get rid of in my usual diet?”

Or

“I have to stop eating this and that to be healthy!”

Diets aren’t supposed to be restrictive. What they do need to be is balanced with the food you eat and any supplements, such as those from Activated You, that you wish to take to further support your body. The occasional treat here and there is certainly okay. Your diet needs to be filled with a nutritious blend of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for your body to function properly and to be in tiptop shape.

Let’s focus on food we can add to our diet to make it more nutritious: superfoods.

What are superfoods?

Have you heard of superfoods? Most likely you have. You might have seen it on packaging or through an advertisement.

Superfoods are natural foods that have a much higher nutritional value than other foods. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals, bringing them into a much higher calibre than other foods.

Superfoods help our bodies in different areas. Because of its high nutritional value, superfoods can help with gut health, brain function, and heart health. It can even help boost our immune system, something that many of us value in recent times to help fight off illnesses and viral infections.

While superfoods are mostly plant-based, salmon is an exception. Please keep in mind that other foods aren’t necessarily nutritious – they just don’t pack a punch like superfoods do!

Superfoods to add to your diet

Maca root

Hailing from Peru, maca root has been a staple of the Peruvian diet for centuries. It is only recently that other parts of the world have started to enjoy the health benefits of maca root.

The Peruvians valued the maca root for its energy boosting properties. They also believed that it can improve one’s mood. We can thank high levels of B vitamins, copper, magnesium, potassium, iron and vitamin C for this.

Maca root is best enjoyed in powdered form. It has a nutty flavour palette that will go well with cereals, oats, and your morning shake!

Matcha tea

Matcha green tea has been a beverage of choice in eastern Asia for centuries, particularly Japan.

Standard green and matcha green tea differ in flavour – matcha has a stronger, more pronounced taste. It also contains antioxidants that help the body deal with stress and can even aid in weight loss. Matcha green tea is considered one of the best green superfood powders and is also said to help protect brain health.

Serve it hot or cold, but matcha green tea can also be added in pastries and other baked goods.

Pine pollen

Who doesn’t want to look youthful? Pine pollen is a superfood that has been known to help fight the signs of ageing and it has been in popular demand in the past years.

Pine pollen’s high levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants make it a go-to anti-ageing superfood to those who would like to feel as though age is nothing but a number.

Enjoy the health benefits of pine pollen in a number ways – in a drink, morning cereal, or your added to your favourite snack!

Shitake mushroom

If you’re familiar with Japanese cuisine, then you might have come across the shitake mushroom in one of the many flavourful dishes one can enjoy from Japan. The shitake mushroom is a popular fungus that is native to east asia and has been in heavy use for its taste and health benefits.

The shitake mushroom can help boost your immune system, eliminate swelling, improve heart health, increase energy levels, and even positively affect cognitive function. Get your shitake mushroom extract fix in Australia.