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Super Foods are whole foods that have been identified by
leading Nutritionists, and Dieticians as being high in a variety of essential
vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients for the amount of kilojoules per serve.
These superfoods have been acclaimed for their healing and health-giving
properties. What we eat can either contribute to the prevention of a wide
range of illnesses or cause them. Superfoods pack in them more disease fighting
compounds than other foods with similar amounts of protein, fat or kilojoules.
All fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and nutrients. However, certain fruits,
vegetables and plant based foods contain far higher amounts of these nutritional
properties. These foods have become known as Superfoods and the description is an
obvious one when you look into the powers they have. All Sureslim programs contain
the majority of the Superfoods that nutritional experts recommend we eat regularly.
Apples
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, and there may be more than one reason why this
saying is right! Apples have long been thought to be a healthy food. Apples contain in
high concentrations the phytonutrient quercetin. From clinical research, quercetin has
anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and cardioprotective properties, to
name just a few. Quercetin is also found in berries, beans, teas, onions and even red
wine. Apples also contain the soluble fibre pectin. Pectin has been found to be effective
for lowering cholesterol. Pectin also has a high ion binding capacity. This means it can
bind to heavy metals in our gut and remove these from our body.
Beans and legumes
Beans are great-tasting and good for you. Because they are so good for you, beans are
increasingly being recognised by nutrition experts as a true super food that has many
health benefits. Beans promote digestive health and they also provide resistant starch.
White kidney beans have been found to have the nutrient phaseolus vulgaris which blocks
the activity of the digestive enzyme alpha amylase, and have the potential of reducing
carbohydrate (sugar) load available to the body.
Blueberries and Bilberries
Bluberries not only taste great but also contain anti-oxidants known as anthocyanidins,
some of the strongest antidotes to oxidative stress, which many scientists believe to
be the cause of aging in humans. Athocyanidins give the vivid colour to the berry family
of fruits. Research carried out at the US Department of Agriculture found that blueberries
had the highest antioxidant capacity of 40 tested fruits and vegetables. Bilberries contain
not only athocyanidins, pectin and quercetin but also vitamin C and chromium.
Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the most nutritious vegetables. It is a member of the cruciferous family.
It contains complex carbohydrates, fibre, protein, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, potassium,
folic acid and calcium. Broccoli is also a good source of anti-oxidants such as the
caretenoids, alpha carotene and lutein. Intake of vegetables and fruits rich in carotenoids
might be a protective factor against hyperglycemia (high sugar found in pre-diabetes and
diabetes).
Broccoli should be a “mega-super” food. Researchers are finding a wealth of healthy compounds
in this vegetable, which include two power anti-cancer substances, sulforaphane and
indole-3-carbinol. Sulforaphane has been found to destroy carcinogenic compounds that have
been. Sulforaphane (particularly in broccoli sprouts) has been found to eradicate the bacteria
Helicobacter pylori. This bacteria causes stomach ulcers and can lead to the development of
stomach cancer if not treated.
Indole-3-carbinol is another nutrient found in abundance in broccoli, as well as other
members of the cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage and brussel sprouts. Indole-3-carbinol
helps your body to metabolise or break down one form of oestrogen in the body called Estrone,
potentially protecting against breast cancer. Many Nutritionalists recommend eating broccoli
at least three times a week.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce heart
disease, strokes, and inflammatory diseases and are linked to many other positive health
results. Flaxseed also contains high levels of Lignin. Lignin’s are a phytoestrogen that
is thought to improve cholesterol profiles and reduce the activity of oestrogen in the body.
Flaxseed is essential for vegetarians who cannot get their essential fatty acids from
sources such as fish. It comes in seed or oil form but make sure you refrigerate the oil as
it oxidises (becomes stale or rancid) easily.
Garlic
Numerous clinical trials have shown garlic to be an excellent cancer fighter – studies
suggest that it has the ability to prevent development of cancers of the breast, colon,
skin, prostate, stomach and oesophagus. Garlic also helps stimulate the immune system by
encouraging the growth of a population of white blood cells known as natural killer cells,
which can directly attack cancer cells. It also has the ability to inhibit the growth of
the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, a major cause of stomach ulcers and stomach cancer.
Garlic possesses anti-bacterial activity. A recent study at the University of East London
claims that garlic has the ability to destroy many of the antibiotic resistant strains of
MRSA, the “hospital super bug”.
Garlic also has strong strong anti-oxidant and cardioprotective properties (reducing
cholesterol and lowering blood pressure).
Sweet Potato (orange)
Sweet potato contains beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which are converted to vitamin A
in your body. It’s high in fibre, low in calories, and a good source of several important
minerals, including iron, potassium and magnesium. It also contains amounts of Vitamin C
and Co-enzyme Q10.
Salmon
Many health conscious consumers have added salmon to their diet. Salmon is a highly
nutritious food rich in Omega 3 (the ‘good fats’) and is high in protein. Omega-3 are
the essential fatty acids containing essential nutrients which when present in the diet
over time, have a strong anti- inflammatory effect helping conditions such as arthritis,
migraines, colitis, and other similar ailments. Salmon is one of the best oily fishes
for providing an excellent source of Omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids have been linked with
protecting against breast and other cancers and may aid in relieving autoimmune diseases
like rheumatoid arthritis. Omega 3 is also essential for brain and heart health, and has
been linked with accelerated learning and improved attention span in children and helping
mental functions in the elderly. Other oily fish include herring, tuna and mackerel.
Mackerel in particular also has high levels of Co-enzyme Q10.
Spinach
Nutritionists have long known that dark green leafy vegetables are among the healthiest
of all foods, and spinach is certainly no exception. Spinach is loaded with calcium, folic
acid, vitamin K and iron. Spinach is also rich in vitamin C, Co-enzyme Q10, fibre and
carotenoids.
Tea - green or black
Tea has been widely recognised for containing no calories, and is linked to relaxation
and pleasure. It is great tasting and full of antioxidants.
Until recently, tea research has focused on green tea. Green tea is loaded with the
polyphenol and flavonoid compound, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a powerful anti-oxidant.
Black tea and green tea differ because of their oxidation process, black tea is fully
oxidised, which reduces its polyphenol activity and content, whereas green tea is not
oxidised at all. Black tea has one sixth the potency of green tea.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are loved for their fresh taste and the versatile role they play in cooking.
Research indicates that there may be another reason to love them — they're loaded with
a carotenoid compound, lycopene. Lycopene gives tomatoes their red colour. It also
offers many health benefits. Lycopene has anti-oxidant, cholesterol reducing and cancer
preventative properties. It has been widely studied in populations who have prostate
cancer and regular consumption of tomatoes for their lycopene content may reduce the risk
of prostate cancer as well as stomach cancer.
SureSlim’s range of Weight Loss and Wellness programs contain the vast majority of the
“Super Foods” and that is another reason why you will “eat yourself to good health”
with SureSlim!
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