“Superfood” is not a scientific term, but is used by some nutritionists to identify foods that are rich in healthy vitamins and minerals. Essentially, if foods have high nutritional value they are referred to as superfoods. Superfoods are great for you and can help you balance your energy levels and increase productivity.
Superfoods have a healthy relationship between nutrients and the energy they provide. They are also low in contaminants such as poison and artificial additives or should be. It is a misconception that these so-called superfoods are always new or can only be found far from home. For example, local kale is a perfect example of a superfood.
Superfoods vs Junk Foods
Examples of superfoods are blueberries, broccoli and other green vegetables, avocados, tomatoes, coconut oil and various nuts and seeds, for instance, chia seeds. You can also count fatty fish as a type of superfood due to the high values ​​of omega-3 fatty acids.
The opposite of superfood is junk food that you know as fries, frikadellen, doughnuts, etc. These foods are the infamous “empty calories”. While junk food does provide you with calories, it has no nutritional value. As a result of which you will tend to feel hungry constantly while increasing your weight. Junk foods also cause your body to feel less energetic and do not help you increase productivity as your body not get it’s required nutrients.
Consequences Of Junk Foods
If you eat a lot of junk food, you will become unhealthy and tired. Take a look at the effect of a McDonald’s diet in the documentary “Super Size Me” by Morgan Spurlock. For a month, he ate McDonald’s consistently. While the first couple days seem okay, by the end of the month he faced disastrous consequences for his overall physical and mental condition.
An Easy Way To Get More Superfoods
If you are tired often and for a long time, take a look at your eating habits. Do you recognize yourself more in the list of superfoods or the list of junk foods? Try to eat more foods from the list of superfoods. Be sure to eat your portion of green veggies every day!
According to the Nutrition Center, we need 2 ounces of vegetables and two pieces of fruit every day. But on average, a person eats about 131 grams of vegetables and 113 grams of fruit per day.
An easy way to get more vegetables is through green smoothies. A smoothie provides your body with the necessary nutrients it needs to increase productivity! Your vegetables and fruit together in a blender grind into a delicious healthy smoothie.
Another way to easily eat more vegetables is to replace your lunch with a delicious crispy, colourful salad or, in colder weather, a healthy vegetable soup. In the market, you will find all kinds of handy thermos flasks specially made to take warm soup to work.
What Exactly Are Superfoods?
Superfoods pretty much contain extreme amounts of nutrients. For example, most foods have 3 properties that are good for your health, but superfoods contain around 12. Essentially, the name “superfoods” came to be due to the high number of properties they contain.
Superfoods are an addiction for me. I prefer to have every superfood that exists in my cupboard, and I eat them all, from time to time.
Our diet plays a major role in how we feel and how much energy we have. If you eat better, you will also feel better.
Here are the top 6 of the best superfoods to add to your diet to help you increase productivity in your life:
Pine Nuts
Pine nuts are a mixture of all the vitamins, minerals, trace elements and amino acids that the human body needs. They are considered an “energy supplier” and therefore are especially beneficial to those affected by chronic fatigue.
Physalis
Physalis is particularly important to South American folk medicine. It is valued for its antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. In addition to the protective functions, the proportion of vitamin B12 is also convincing. This helps to keep your energy level high and increase productivity. So, the Physalis can help the low efficiency in the office quite well.
Artichoke
The artichoke convinces its fans, among other things, with its cholesterol-lowering effect, but can also be confidently described as an energy supplier. A mix of magnesium, iron and potassium is responsible for this, which also provides muscle relaxation and slows down fatigue considerably.
Dates
The date, also known as, “Nature’s Candy”, is a remarkable fruit with a glucose content of around 60%. This makes it a strong source of energy, but at the same time, it has been proven to control the blood sugar level. After physical exertion, the mix of iron, magnesium and folic acid helps to compensate for the loss of minerals and quickly recharges our energy reserves.
Goji Berry
The goji berry is considered the healthiest berry in the world because of its nutrients, a large number of secondary plant substances. It lives up to its reputation by, among other things, strengthening the immune system. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is also known as a source of energy. In China, it is often used to counter tiredness and exhaustion.
But beware of goji berries that come from China: consumer advocates have found traces of pesticides in test products. If you buy superfoods from distant countries, you should at least opt ​​for products with a Fairtrade seal and organic certification.
Matcha
Matcha tea is essentially a modern Japanese alternative to energy drinks. The simultaneous occurrence of caffeine and L-theanine is unique. While caffeine is very stimulating, L-theanine relieves stress and anxiety. Matcha tea slows the absorption of caffeine in the blood, making it a gentle, long-lasting source of energy than, for example, coffee.
