Superfoods

For quite some time now SUPERFOOD happens to be much-discussed health and wellness topic, and the list keeps growing by the day. If you wondered what exactly a superfood is, you probably aren’t alone. Most people wonder about this term. If one has to be honest, it is purely a marketing term used to promote some nutrition-dense foods.

No one food can be termed as THE SUPERFOOD, one that provides all the nutrition you need to sustain. However, some foods seem to be quite rich in nutrition, and help you get a good proportion of your required daily nutrition intake, termed RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance). Some foods provide the required RDA, and thus when included in the daily diet, they prove beneficial.

A few elements of our common Indian diet fall into this category, for example, turmeric and garlic . Pomegranate, which is used in India for its medicinal value has also been touted as a superfood in recent times. We also have some foreign additions like Kiwi fruit and Chia seeds, which resemble the Indian Sabja seeds. However, you may be surprised to know that some ancient Indian foods like millet and drumstick are also part of the superfood list.

Some Common Superfoods

Not all superfoods are exotic or expensive, there are a few superfoods that are indigenous and are quite easily available too. Sabudana contains a lot of health benefits. The starch in Sabudana, known as resistant starch, is prebiotic in nature and helps in promoting good gut health. Sabudana also contains zinc, which aids in building the body’s immune system response.

Sattu, (roasted gram flour), once known as the poor man’s protein, is rich in iron, calcium, and fiber. It helps in blood circulation and reduces inflammation, while also strengthening hair follicles and improving skin quality.

Jackfruit is an extremely versatile and valuable superfood that is widely available across the country. It is a storehouse of Vitamin A and C, which protects against viral infections, and is also a very good source of antioxidants, helping in improving immunity. The seeds of jackfruit also help in keeping a good eye, hair, and skin health, but also in building up bone density.

Turmeric, pomegranate, ginger, garlic, nuts and seeds, and ancient grains like millet, etc. which have always been part of our diet, are popular superfoods.

In India, we use turmeric in many home remedies. When mixed it water, it is known as Golden milk and is one of India’s most popular home remedies against colds, coughs, and many common infections. It is rich in antioxidants and has inflammatory properties as well. It possesses anti-cancer properties, apart from helping chronic heart diseases and diabetes, etc.

Ginger is also used in many home remedies and is rich in antioxidants, while garlic has a lot of nutrients beneficial to us. Nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds are said to belong to the superfood category.

Additionally, all fermented foods fall in the superfood category, as they help keep the gut healthy by promoting good bacteria growth, and easy bowel movements. Foods like yogurt (curd), cheese, paneer, etc, come under the good probiotic category.

All cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, etc. are called superfoods because of the numerous nutrients present in them. Apart from all this, legumes and beans that Indian include in their staple diets like chickpeas, lentils, peas, etc are also superfoods.

Berries like strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, etc are also effective as superfoods. Some other desi superfoods that are slowly becoming popular are sprouted moong, banana stems, dark leafy greens, and sweet potatoes.

Therefore, we Indians have access to and are eating a lot of superfoods in our staple diet. Perhaps, all that is needed to keep oneself healthy is a good mix and match of all these foods. When mixed up with some regular exercise, both physical and mental, it makes for a great way to live wholesomely.

Waiting for your views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

20^th October 2022.