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Superfoods: Ten top foods written by Kate Pollard

‘But how can that be?’ I hear you say. The ‘secret’ superfood Acai has been unveiled to the developed world and the Acai companies are loving it. The Acai berry is a 5cm round, reddish-purple fruit, from the Acai palm tree, which is native to Central and South America.  Internet advertising fuels the fire and the Acai case continues to build higher than Mt Everest.

What makes a food super anyway? A superfood is simply a food containing a significant amount of key vitamins and minerals beneficial for health. Yes, of course vitamins and minerals are fantastic for you. However unfortunately superfoods have been twisted by multi-million dollar companies to play on people’s insecurities of needing the ‘magic pill’ in their diet to help them with their health problem, whatever that may be!

Broccoli is a superfood, as are kidney beans, spinach and many other versatile foods! Yet there’s more money to be made through the ‘secret’ goji berries with claims of up to 500-times the vitamin C content of an orange. This claim, as with many others is simply impossible and incorrect(1).

My advice? If you love the new fad of Acai available at your café cashing in on the trend, by all means enjoy it! Just don’t be fooled that Acai will solve every health problem the marketing company can think of.  Also large amounts of Acai might affect medications for high cholesterol or diabetes and for people with kidney disease.

If you’re after healthy delicious foods that don’t cost a fortune and are easily versatile in your diet here’s my top 10 foods (that are super) for great skin & general health this winter:

1. AVOCADOS: A great source of monounsaturated fats. ‘Nature’s butter’ helps to prevent dry skin and brittle hair and nails.

2. FRESH FISH: Salmon is a fantastic source of omega-3, which reduces inflammation in the body and keeps your skin feeling moisturised.

3. BABY SPINACH: This super versatile leafy green vegetable is easy to include in your daily diet at any meal throughout the day. Spinach is rich in a wide range of nutrients and antioxidants to keep your skin healthy and sparkling.

4. ALMONDS: High in vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium and iron, all of which are essential to skin oxygenation and function.

5. EGGS: Contain biotin, which is essential to protect against dry skin, and to improve the shine in your nails and hair. Eggs also contain iron, which is required to produce new red blood cells which carry oxygen through the entire body, including the skin.

6. BROCCOLI: Get your glow on with this versatile vegetable packed full of antioxidants, as well as many vitamins and minerals, to improve cellular repair.

7. LEMONS: Start your day with lemon in warm water to boost your digestion and improve your glowing, healthy skin! Lemons are rich in vitamin C and are amazing to supply your skin, hair and nails with essential nutrients for your glow.

8. BRAZIL NUTS: These are one of the few foods that provide the essential antioxidant selenium, which helps improve your immunity and reduce cellular damage. Add this to the high level of vitamins E and C and you’re really looking at reducing the ageing of your skin.

9. KIWI FRUIT: Packed full of antioxidants to reduce cancer, as well as the essential skin nutrient vitamin C, helps keep your skin firm and reduces the formation of wrinkles.

10. BLUEBERRIES: This wonderful berry is one of the richest sources of antioxidants. Where possible, I recommend choosing the fresh or organic ones!

Keep it real and enjoyable – simply enjoy natural and nutritious food.

Author of this article:

Kate Pollard, APD, AN, BND (Nut & Diet) (Hons), is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist at the Centre For Integrative Health in Brisbane. She coaches clients towards improving their long-term health and is passionate about assisting chronic dieters to implement sustainable changes, decrease weight fluctuations, and improve physical and mental health. Contact Kate today on 07 3161 0845 or email info@cfih.com.au

This article is a preview of the many articles from our upcoming magazine in Issue 3. For more articles like this, please subscribe to the Great Health Guide magazine – (subscription FREE for limited time only)

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