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Personal Training & Nutrition |
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SUPERFOODS: What are they? |  |
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Not all foods are created equal. Super foods are extremely rich foods with higher than normal nutritional levels. They include common supermarket products, vegetables, fruit and legumes/grains that enrich our diets and boost our ability to fight disease and build strong immune systems. Here is a list of some of our favourites that are easy to incorporate into your eating without too much fuss or cost. Avocados: these contain “good fats”, similar to those in olive oil, which help lower ‘bad’ cholesterol levels and raise ‘good’ cholesterol levels (yes, we all have ‘good cholesterol’ in our bodies) Berries: highly nutritious and potent, berries are an incredible source of antioxidants and vitamins C and E. Frozen berries are just as nutritious as fresh ones, and allow you to enjoy their nutritious and sweet benefits all year around Fatty fish: any cold-water fish is suitable here, so try out salmon, trout, tuna, herring, mackerel, anchovies or sardines. The omega 3 fats are the big benefit here; helping to lower cholesterol, treat arthritis, cancer and heart disease, lower inflammation and aid with people who suffer from memory loss. Canned fish is a convenient and affordable way to increase your intake of omega 3 Oats: some of the cheapest Super foods, oats are an incredible source of nutrients. Fibre, protein, potassium, magnesium, phytonutrients and antioxidants – all from those tiny grains! Oats are the perfect breakfast, as they fill you up and are low GI, releasing a constant stream of energy for hours, instead of a sugar high typical of most sweet breakfast cereals Spinach: rich in vitamins B and C, antioxidants, folate and iron. There’s a reason Popeye ate so much of this stuff: there’s no calories so you can east as much as you like! Tomatoes: The red pigment in tomatoes is called lycopene, and is a very powerful antioxidant. Tomatoes increase heart health and lung disease, and are one of the few foods that are better for you eaten cooked than raw (heat increases the lycopene content) Yoghurt: the live bacteria found in yoghurt (the real stuff, not the sugar filled, highly flavoured brands), are extremely beneficial for the health of your gut. The good bacteria like Yoghurt aids digestion. |
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