What is a Superfood?

Keep yourself healthy by incorporating superfoods into your diet.

While there’s no official definition of a superfood, it’s usually agreed upon that it’s any nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for your health and well-being. Superfoods generally contain high levels of essential vitamins and minerals and they can also be a source of antioxidants, which helps your body prevent diseases. While there’s a number foods that provide these nutrients, we want to tell you about 12 of our favorites.

1.) Seaweed

Try wrapping your sushi in seaweed paper.

Unlike land-grown vegetables, sea-grown veggies are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Seaweed is also full of important minerals, including bone-friendly calcium and magnesium, along with iron, potassium, iodine, and zinc.

2.) Eggs

The incredible, edible egg.

Eggs are a wonderful protein and they’re considered a superfood since each egg has 6 grams of protein. Eating eggs for breakfast can even help you slim your waistline, considering they only have about 72 calories per egg.

3.) Walnuts

Like nuts? Walnuts are a great choice.

Eating just 14 walnut halves provides you with more than twice your daily dose of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fat that’s been shown to improve memory and coordination.

4.) Strawberries

Who doesn’t love strawberries?

The next superfood you should be adding to your diet, if it isn’t already in it– is strawberries! They’re an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps your body build and repair tissue. They can even help boost your immunity to certain diseases.

5.) Avocados

Craving something healthy and delicious? Grab an avocado.

A delicious snack that’s also good for you? Sign us up! The healthy fat in avocados keeps you feeling full and satisfied, along with helping your body absorb other important nutrients it needs.

6.) Brown Rice

Need an energy boost? Brown rice will do the trick.

Brown rice is a top source of magnesium, which is a mineral that your body uses for more than 300 chemical reactions, including building bone strength and converting food to energy.

7.) Spinach

Maybe Popeye had the right idea.

Our next superfood on the list is spinach. Just a half of a cup of this leafy green provides you with more than five times your recommended daily dose of vitamin K. This vitamin helps your blood clot and builds strong bones.

8.) Lentils

Have you had lentils? If not, give them a try!

You might not be familiar with lentils, but they’re a great source of protein. Just a half of a cup gives you nearly half of your daily folate, which helps to protect a woman’s unborn baby from birth defects.

9.) Baked Potato

Potatoes are a great source of potassium.

Each potato is packed with potassium, which helps to lower your blood-pressure. Baked potatoes have even more potassium than bananas!

10.) Kiwi

Need Vitamin C? Eat Kiwi!

Italian researchers found that Kiwi reduces asthma-related wheezing, thanks to its high vitamin C content. Just one kiwi has 110% of your daily requirement.

11.) Sunflower Seeds

Get some Vitamin E.

Just a quarter-cup of sunflower seeds gives you half of your day’s recommended amount of vitamin E. Vitamin E helps to keep your heart healthy and fight infection.

12.) Brussels Sprouts

Brussel sprouts are loaded with nutrients.

Our last superfood on the list is brussels sprouts. Don’t be so quick to dismiss them, since they have more glucosinolates than any other vegetable. Glucosinolates are compounds that combat cancer and detoxify your body, so if you don’t already– you should try eating them more often.

That’s Super!

Research has shown that by incorporating these superfoods into your diet on a regular basis, you can reduce your risk of chronic disease and prolong your life. In addition, people who eat more superfoods are generally healthier and more in shape than those who don’t.

What’s your favorite superfood?

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

The Burba Buzz

12 Superfoods You Should Add To Your Diet