JUST HOW SUPER ARE SUPERFOODS?
QUINOA
Qunioa, can be used as a staple in the same way as white rice, it’s
gluten free like white rice but around 3 times the price. So why spend more? Why choose quinoa, does it have any
advantages? Quinoa has around twice as
much calcium, as rice, 5 times as much potassium and a whopping 8 times the iron. Added to which is it’s protein packed and
boasts around 7x the fibre content of while rice. But that’s just the start as it also scores
much lower on the Glycaemic Index, meaning that it doesn’t have such an adverse
effect on raising blood sugar levels. So
does all this make Quinoa a superfood? Well
a significantly lower impact on blood sugar does make it a good ingredient, add
to that it’s nutrient rich credentials and that it’s high in protein and fibre;
so now might be a good time to make that switch.
WHEAT GRASS
Have you tried wheat grass? Do
you even know what it is? It is the
young grass of the wheat plant – turned into juice form. Perhaps you have it every day. It is said to increase stamina and
performance levels in athletes or those training to, for instance, run a
marathon. The science around this is
quite convoluted and complicated concerning haemoglobin and iron. Or, put more simply the claims are that
taking a regular shot of wheat grass will increase a person’s red blood cell
count. Red blood cells oxygenate the
blood more efficiently thereby increasing athletic performance. However, in trials people who consumed wheat
grass regularly and then had their blood oxygen levels measured in a lab showed
no significant increase.
KEFIR
Kefir is a fermented milk drink which many people swear by they believe
it helps them with gut or intestinal conditions. Kefir is not a new thing in fact it’s thought
to have been around quite a while.
Actually around 5,000 years. Unlike
other yogurt drink products sold aids which contain one active bacteria, kefir
has around 20 strains and is also a source of protein, potassium and calcium. While many believe it has fantastic and
valuable health properties the medical community does not currently endorse
these claims as not enough studies or trials have proved anything conclusively
and you are still advised to seek medical advice for conditions relating to
digestive disorders or gut health.
OMEGA 3 FISH OIL
With around 73,000 deaths per year in the UK from heart attacks and
stroke it is a wonder that we don’t hear more about Omega 3 every day. The oil contained within oily fish is an anti-inflammatory
which can effectively reduce the risk of dangerous blood clots. It is also known to have many other proven
health benefits and is linked to heart health, hypertension and increased brain function. This really does tick the superfood box,
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