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There is a general awareness among people that fruit and vegetables are healthy, but despite this, many people don't eat enough of these foods. There are many reasons why modern society's intake of fruits and vegetables is not up to scratch.
Many people don't like the taste or texture of vegetables and fruit
Many people don't find vegetables and fruit satisfying
Few people know how to prepare vegetables properly
Many kids have homes where both parents work full-time and there's little time left for meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking.
Fruits and vegetables are expensive - often costing much more than fast foods.
The problem is that a diet that lacks fruits and vegetables also lacks important nutrients and to make up for this shortage people are taking to superfood powder.
Superfood powders are fruit, vegetable, herbs, and algae concentrates that contain a well-balanced mixture of phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds.
The ingredients that make up these powders vary from brand to brand, but generally include:
Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and cabbage
Vegetables high in antioxidants and vitamins, including beets, tomatoes, and, carrots
Fruits high in antioxidants, including several berries
Herbs such as parsley, holy basil, echinacea, and milk thistle
Sugar substitutes like stevia leaf and monk fruit extract
The supplements are also enriched with fiber, probiotics, seaweeds, and extracts from different plant sources, such as green tea, grape seed, or ginkgo biloba extract.
The term"superfood" is a marketing term that refers to highly nutritious foods like berries and leafy green vegetables. It is not an official term recognized by the FDA or the scientists.
The power of superfood powders lies in their ingredients: they are high in antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals, all of which contribute to a healthy body.
Antioxidants protect cells by neutralizing harmful molecules that can otherwise damage cells. And so, antioxidants reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Vitamins support the immune system, keeping the body strong and protecting it against diseases.
Minerals like calcium, magnesium, copper, and iron, fulfill multiple essential functions in the body. These include fighting infections, strengthening bones and teeth, wound healing, regulating hormones, and balancing body fluids.
Phytochemicals are compounds like carotenoids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. These have various health-supporting functions such as neutralizing free radicals, reducing oxidative stress, and lowering the risk of chronic diseases.
While supplements can never replace eating actual food, nutrient-dense superfood powders are a healthful and convenient solution to meeting your nutritional needs.
Here is what you can gain from taking a superfood powder.
Superfood powders are nutrient-dense, providing vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. These nutrients support the immune system and various functions in the body.
Because these supplements are high in antioxidants, they can neutralize the damage done to cells by free radicals. This reduces inflammation in the body, which reduces the risk of chronic diseases like arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
A 2019 systematic review concluded that fruit and vegetable concentrate supplementation is effective inlowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases.
Studies show that phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables improve energy and vitality. So, a superfood powder can help you feel more energetic based on its ingredients.
Scientists have studied the effects of these chemicals on physicalperformance and endurance. They concluded that supplementation with phytonutrients can boost energy, improve physical performance, increase muscle strength, and improve agility.
Flavonoids have a wide range of beneficial effects on the body. Whether the superfood powder you take will increase your energy levels will depend on its composition and the extraction methods used, ensuring bioavailability.
Superfood powders can be rich in soluble and insoluble fiber – which are crucial for digestion, regular bowel movements, and healthy weight maintenance.
Soluble fiber acts as a prebiotic to the beneficial bacteria in the gut. That means good gut bacteria eat and thrive on such fiber. This also promotes much-needed diversity of the gut bacteria. Additionally, it also reduces LDL cholesterol levels in the blood – by preventing some cholesterol from breaking down and being absorbed into the bloodstream.
Additionally, fiber slows down carbohydrate absorption during digestion which reduces sugar spiking.
Research has also uncovered several positive effects of superfoods' phytochemicals on digestion. For instance, flavonoids – a type of phytochemical, can relieve digestive symptoms associated withirritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.
Superfood powders containantioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and protect against cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and other age-related diseases.
When there are not enough antioxidants, free radicals cause‘oxidative stress’ in our bodies. This unchecked oxidative stress can damage cells, proteins, and DNA. Researchers suggest that chronic oxidative stress is often an underlying trigger for variouschronic diseases, including:
Cancer
Cardiovascular disease
Kidney disease
Neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's
Respiratory diseases, such as asthma
Rheumatoid arthritis
And so, superfood powders can potentially reduce the risk of all these diseases, especially for people who don't eat fruit and vegetables.
That said, taking supplements doesn't guarantee 100% protection against disease but to be frank, nothing does.
Superfood powders help to maintain a healthy immune system. Most of these supplements contain all the essential nutrients to support immune function, including:
Vitamin C – which is a known antioxidant.
Vitamin D – whichmodulates immune responses and reduces inflammation.
Zinc – whichpromotes communication between immune cells and promotes wound healing.
Flavonoids in superfood powders reduce oxidative stress – which may otherwise weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to infections.
Since 70% of the immune system is in the digestive system, a healthy gut microbiome is the basis for a healthy immune system. Superfood powders are rich inprebiotics and probiotics – which contribute to a balanced gut biome, ensuring a healthy immune system.
Superfood powders can help detoxify the body by supporting the three organs responsible for detoxification: the liver, kidneys, and digestive system.
Supporting the liver – The liver has many functions, including metabolizing proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, plus clearing toxins from the blood. The ingredients in superfood powders support liver function, thereby helping to rid the body of toxins.
For instance, chlorophyll (from wheatgrass and spirulina) can help bind andremove heavy metals and toxins.
Supporting the kidneys – The electrolytes from coconut water powder, dandelion root, and celery seeds in some superfood powders help the kidneys to filtrate and flush out toxins.
Supporting the digestive tract – The fiber in superfood powders, such as flaxseeds and chia seeds binds toxins in the gut and helps remove them through stools.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are not always readily available. Not to speak of the many exotic ingredients like spirulina, ginkgo biloba, Echinacea, seaweeds, and digestive enzymes that often feature in these supplements.
It is simply not feasible to always have fresh produce on hand or the time to shop for them. Also, depending on where you live, you might not have access to healthy and fresh foods.
This is where superfood powders can be indispensable in helping you meet your daily nutrient needs. These powders usually contain the vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber you need to support your overall health.
Ahigh-quality superfood powder can enhance your energy levels, reduce inflammation, boost your immune system, and support overall vitality. These products are easy to incorporate into your daily routine mixed into shakes, smoothies, and sprinkled over food.
It is probably best to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Most manufacturers provide instructions plus a scoop to ensure users take the right amount.
It is fine to consume superfood powders daily but keep in mind that choosing a balanced diet is still the way to maintain health. Use your superfood drink as a supplement to your diet, not a replacement for healthy food items.
The standard Western diet consists of processed foods high in saturated fats and added sugar and low in minerals, phytochemicals, fiber, and vitamins. While superfood powder can never replace a balanced diet featuring fresh fruits and vegetables, taking these supplements can be invaluable for your health especially if you can't access healthy food regularly for whatever reason.