There’s a lot of hype surrounding superfoods, but it’s not always easy to separate fact from fiction.
With a lot of superfoods, there is no scientific evidence backing up the health benefits they’re supposed to provide.
Others can prove to be a terrible addition to your diet.
Below, we explore five superfoods that are worth the hype and five to ignore.
5 Superfoods To Add To Your Diet Immediately
Avocado
Avocados have gained a reputation as the superfood of choice among millennials. In fact, their inability to get on the housing ladder was even blamed on their avocado toast addiction.
There are certainly worse foods to blow your savings on. Avocados are packed with healthy fats. Studies have suggested they are among the most nutrient-dense fruits. As well as spreading it on toast, consider adding it to salads and smoothies.
Kale
Kale has been dubbed the most nutritionally-dense vegetable known to man. It is stuffed with vitamin C, vitamin K, and lutein. Try adding boiled kale to a salad or hearty winter soup. Kale juice is probably one of the healthiest beverages on the face of the earth. It tastes like being kicked in the face by a horse, but it can work wonders for your concentration and energy levels.
Almonds
It’s worth adding any nuts with high fiber levels to your diet. Almonds appear to be the most common choice of nut among Western society and deservedly so.
They’re stacked with protein, vitamin E and magnesium, as well as being a brilliant source of fiber.
They’re incredibly versatile too. Try pouring them other cereals, fruit salads, protein shakes or desserts. Alternatively, munch on them whenever you’re peckish between meals.
Spirulina
This is an algae which grows in freshwater lakes. It’s most commonly taken as a supplement to help people get their recommended dosage of calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and vitamin B. Click the link to learn more about the benefits of Spirulina.
Oysters
Most fish is protein-rich, has been shown to improve cognitive function and is well worth adding into your diet. Oysters are among the most nutritionally-dense choices from this food group. By eating them, you’ll get your fix of zinc, iron, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C.
5 Superfoods To Stay Away From
Chlorella
Similarly to spirulina, these algae is marketed as a supplement packed with health benefits. It’s taken to help boost energy and detox the body. However, there’s not much scientific evidence suggesting it’s particularly useful for this.
Goji Berries
Berries are a great snack to add to your diet. They’re full of anti-oxidants and can fill you with energy while boosting your immunity.
Goji berries are among the most expensive berries you can add to your weekly shop, but there’s barely any evidence suggesting these any better than any other berry. Save your money and stick with standard berries.
Pineapple
It’s a beloved fruit, with an addictively sweet taste. It might, therefore, be unsurprising to hear that it’s among the fruits with the highest sugar content. If you’re looking to maintain a healthy body, it’s worth cutting sugar from your diet completely.
Coconut Oil
There’s a lot of hype surrounding coconut oil, even though it contains more than double the saturated fat of lard. A Harvard nutritionist recently described it as “pure poison”. Avoid it.
Anything described as “low fat”
This rarely applies to superfoods, but it is still a tip worth mentioning. Avoid pre-made meals described as “low fat”. Food manufacturers typically plow sugar and artificial sweeteners into these so they retain an enjoyable taste. The same strategy is applied to diet soda.
You’re better of creating your own meals from scratch, so you know exactly what’s in them.
