Diet plays a major role in our quest to be fit and lean; we have to consume a healthy diet to stay fit and maintain a lean body so that we can be free from diseases and illnesses.
In recent years there has been an upsurge in the advertisement of certain foods which have been labelled as “super foods” that have supposedly “extraordinary properties”.
However even though recent scientific research and information from the National Health Service have refuted some of the extra ordinary claims about these super foods, you can still make use of these foods if you add them to your diet in the right way.
So here are some tips that you can use to add super foods to your fitness diet properly:
Tip 1-Only add super foods that have been classified as healthy foods
The National Health Service classified most of these foods into three main groups in the year 2001.
These three groups are:
a) Healthy foods-These are those food items that have beneficial nutritional benefits.
b) Good and bad foods-These foods have both good and bad effects on the body.
c) Unhealthy foods-These foods actually have detrimental effects on the body.
You should eat only those ones that have been classified as healthy foods. Good examples of this group of foods include the following:
Broccoli-This vegetable contains certain chemicals substances called glucosinates which help to fight stomach cancer. To gain maximal nutritional benefit you should steam the tender stem broccoli variety; it contains more nutrients than the standard broccoli.
Tomatoes-Tomatoes are rich in anti-oxidants like lycopene and it also contains lots of vitamin C. You can eat tomato soups, bolognaise sauces and baked beans in tomato sauce.
Chillies-Chillies contain capsacin which is actually responsible for their scorching taste; this capsaicin has anti-cancer properties.
Onions-Onions are rich in bioflavonoids which have strong anti-oxidant properties to counteract the effect of free radicals which are part of the underlying causes of most diseases.
Carrots-Carrots contain a lot of the natural anti-cancer chemical called falcarinol. It is recommended that you should eat at least one carrot every day to stay healthy and fit.
Blueberries-These types of berries contain a compound called pterostilbene which has anti colon cancer properties.
Apples- Apples are rich in anthocyanin which has anti-cancer properties.
Green tea-This tea contains anti-oxidants that help to prevent lung cancer.
Tip 2-Realise that these foods are not as super as they are touted to be
Even though these foods have some nutritional benefits, you cannot rely on only these foods to supply you with all the nutrients that your body needs to be healthy and fit; these foods should at best be used as adjuvant to your main healthy diet.
The main type of diet that you must consume is a healthy balanced diet that consists of major food items like carbohydrates, protein and fat in conjunction with essential minerals and nutrients in the right proportions. It is by eating a balanced diet with “super foods” as adjuvant that you can stay healthy and fit.
