SuperFruits? Hype or Fact?
This post has been provided courtesy of Sarvaa Superfood, Durango.
You know about blueberries, now double the potency and you’re talking about the top six SuperFruits.
How do you benefit?
Why are SuperFruits so underestimated? It’s because so few of us actually understand the wide array of awesome benefits from these fruits in our lives! Did you know that your skin, your hair, your nails, and even your eyes absolutely love the Phyto-nutrients, Bioflavonoids, Vitamins and Minerals in SuperFruits?
Do you want to truly thrive? Do you want that extra zing of potent vitality? Then give yourself the gift of SuperFruits!
History
Prized by indigenous cultures for countless centuries, SuperFruits are something science is only recently catching up to. These fruits are the most nutrient-rich fruits on the planet, and are always organic or wild-harvested. They contain an exceptional amount of Vitamins and Minerals, phyto-nutrients, fiber, antioxidants, polyphenols, and bioflavonoids. These special foods are typically berries that include Camu Camu, Acerola Cherry, Goji Berry, Rose Hips, Mangosteen, Amla Berries, Black Currants, Noni Fruit, Schisandra Berries, and Wild Blueberries. Super-berries are either harvested in the wild or from small scale farm settings. Not every fruit qualifies as a superfruit and they are more than just a supplement. They are nutrient-dense foods that not only build immunity, but support vitality, anti-aging, and prevent disease. When consumed on a daily basis, they are excellent foods to support optimal health.
Health benefits you can really use!
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is probably the vitamin that we are all most familiar with. Vitamin C is exceptional at preventing and beating the common cold. Most of us can testify to the incredible health benefits of consuming lemons, pomegranates, and grapefruit. Although all of these foods are excellent sources of Vitamin C, SuperFruits differ in that they often contain a much higher amount of Vitamin C per ounce. Camu Camu Berries, for instance, contains nearly 60 times the amount of Vitamin C compared to a common orange. And
Antioxidants
SuperFruits contain a phenomenal amount of antioxidants. By removing free radicals from the blood stream, antioxidants assist the body in protecting cells from disease and fighting oxidative damage attributed to aging. Antioxdants are known to improve skin tone, eyesight, and promote hair growth! Consuming foods rich in antioxidants on a daily basis will not only can result in a longer life, but make you look better! Some superfruits with excellent amounts of antioxidants include camu camu berries, acerola cherry, goji berry, noni fruit, schisandra berry, and mangosteen!
Phyto-nutrients
Phyto-nutrients are essential to your health in over a dozen interrelated ways! Did you know that right now as you’re reading this, your eyes and optic nerve are relying on phyto-nutrients. Without boring you with the intricate details, the important thing to know is how to get this broad spectrum of micro-nutrients into your life. First off, there are NO phyto-nutrients in animal products! Only plants contain phyto-nutrients! And in general, you can count on the intensely colored fruits and vegetables to be absolutely loaded with excellent quality photo-nutrients. Especially the deeply hued reds, purples, magentas, violet colors. In general, the less sugary, deeply colored fruits such as camu-camu berries, acerola cherries, rose hips, cranberries, goji berries, blackberries, alma berries, mangosteen, noni, black currants, blueberries, and pomegranates are going to give you the most nutrient density per gram.
Fiber
It is estimated that 92% of people are deficient in this vital nutrient! The standard American diet consists of foods that are deficient in fiber, most notably, animal products such as meat, dairy, and eggs. Fiber is naturally occurring in fruits, vegetables, legumes and some grains. Did you know that by eating a plant-based diet that you can triple your amount of dietary fiber? Many diseases and illnesses can often be attributed to a lack of fiber. Fiber is responsible for healthy digestion that is in turn responsible for everything from positive mood to outer appearance. It is perhaps the #1 reason why we can be feeling less than our best. When we have healthy digestion, it is easier to feel happy, healthy and glowing! Superfruits are especially beneficial in this regard as they contain “soluble fiber.” Soluble fiber dissolves in water, making it easy to digest and for the body to assimilate quickly and efficiently. This means that you can consume superfruits in vast quanities and it will be easy for your body to process and absorb nutrients.
Anti-Inflammatory
Less well-known is the fact that all the SuperFruits are excellent at preventing and decreasing excess inflammation! And considering that new studies show as much as 2/3 of human ailments are directly or indirectly related to excess inflammation! Again, you want to focus your attention and purchases towards the least sweet fruits to get the most bang for your buck! Think of it like this: All fruits are somewhat beneficial, but the “sweet fruits” like mangoes and bananas are like a 55 lb sack full of sugar, and the vitamins and minerals are in an average ziplock bag tagging along with the sugars. Remember, you want the Vitamins, Minerals, Fiber, Amino Acids, Phyto-nutrients and Bioflavonoids!
Polyphenols & Bioflavonoids
You’re familiar with antioxidants and their amazing ability to fight illness and the damage that free radicals can cause in your body. Polyphenols are one of the three major groups of antioxidants, and are found in fruits and vegetables, concentrated near the outside layers of the plant (the dark skins). Polyphenols are what give fruits and vegetables their deep and bright colors along with their bitter, astringent, and aromatic properties! They help protect the plant from external damage from weather, sunlight, and pathogens and have similarly protective effect inside our bodies when consumed. Polyphenols make your food look good, taste good, and help you feel good!
As a good rule of thumb, the deeper the color of the fruit or vegetable on your plate the more polyphenols that are present in your meal! This can be a great reason to celebrate while eating!
Based on their structure, polyphenols can be broken down into further categorization. The first of the four categories of polyphenols is the bioflavonoid. Bioflavonoids are both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and are found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, red wine, and green tea!
Many of our favorite foods like legumes, algae, coffee, blueberries, apple skins, currants, and cherries contain a blend of the four varieties of polyphenols. So eat up! The more colorful, tasty varieties of fruits and vegetables you can get a day, the better your antioxidant and anti-inflammatory intake! What a gift, and we get to receive it up to three times a day!
SuperFruit makes a Super You
If you intend to thrive in your life, then SuperFruits are your powerhouse ally in making that happen. From fighting cancer and inhibiting angiogenesis, to protecting your skin from ultraviolet radiation, SuperFruits are here to help you feel your best. And feeling your best starts on your plate. Eating foods that lower inflammation and maintain healthy blood sugar levels is your formula for success. Remember, you are worth it! Give yourself the gift of SuperFruits!
sources: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/12/14/polyphenols-benefits.aspx
