What is a superfood? Is it food that wears a cape and fights crime? Yes and no. Superfoods are foods that are nutrient dense. These foods can help you feel energized throughout the day so that you can be productive and skip on the afternoon chip cravings. Some of them also have the ability to fight diseases!
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Cocoa
Cocoa is rich in flavanols (also found in fruits) which have been linked to benefiting cardiovascular health. Unprocessed cocoa powder is packed with antioxidants measured in ORAC units as 55, 653 per 100 grams. Remember, these properties are destroyed once cocoa is heated and processed with milk to form candy. So next time you’re in need of an energy boost, skip the Kit Kat and grab a dark chocolate bar!
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Pecans
Pecans are the highest antioxidant nut with 17, 940 ORAC per 100 grams. Antioxidants are essential for our bodies as they break down free radicals that tend to attack our proteins and DNA. There are many benefits to antioxidants such as slowing down aging and decreasing the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer.
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Turmeric
In recent years, turmeric has been studied due to its incredible anti-inflammatory effects. Not only that, but it also has an abundance of antioxidants at 127, 068 ORAC per 100 grams. Since most diseases are caused by inflammation within the body, turmeric has been determined to be beneficial for diseases such as heart disease and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Try cooking with hints of turmeric or trying out turmeric tea!
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Chia seeds
Chia seeds contain more omega 3 than salmon and have an ORAC of 9800 per 100 grams. These small but mighty seeds contain all 9 amino acids and have a high protein content. On top of that, they have the ability to absorb 27x their weight in water so that you can drink more water and your body will take longer to digest the seeds and absorb the water.
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Green tea
Green tea has been recognized for its antioxidant content as well as for its ability to reduce levels of LDL known as the bad low density lipo-protein. When drinking green tea, wait a couple of minutes for the water to cool before putting in the green tea bag so that the leaves don’t burn and lose their benefits. Many drinks state that they have green tea within them but be aware that most are also filled with sugar as well.