
How It Works
Superfoods are, in a sense, exactly what they sound like: a category of foods that are super-healthy. But not every healthy food is a superfood.
“Superfoods are those that offer exceptional health benefits, beyond what you’d expect based on just their nutritional profile,” Czerwony explains.
In particular, superfoods are rich in:
Antioxidants: These natural compounds protect your cells from damage and may lower the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Minerals: These essential nutrients (think calcium, potassium, iron and the like) help your body perform at its highest level.
Vitamins: It’s better to get these organic compounds from natural foods — like superfoods — than from supplements.
Superfoods may also be high in:
Fiber: Fiber helps decrease cholesterol, prevent heart disease and control glucose in Type 2 diabetes.
Flavonoids: Found in plants, flavonoids (once called vitamin P) have anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties.
Healthy fats: Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, a.k.a. “good fats,” help lower your cholesterol and prevent heart disease and stroke.