Super Foods – Healthy Choices – Fact Or Fiction?

Super foods are not really new. They have always been there and are a part or a normal healthy diet. Our grandparents knew what it meant to have nutritious meals and a balanced diet. Their knowledge of healthy foods came more from experience than from science. Scientific evidence is now validating their experience.

Nutrition and healthy living is a growing trend among baby boomers who want to look younger and live longer. Healthy choices are a common topic of discussion in magazines, television programs, radio and even newspapers. Healthier lifestyles and a better understanding of nutrition, with the potential to improve health and extend life, is of interest to our aging population.

Super foods have been getting a lot of press lately and sometimes it is difficult to separate fact from fiction.  Almost every form of media has an interest in providing information about achieving better health. Scientific studies are discovering interactions between what we eat and the benefits that our bodies receive which has led to using the description of super foods.

It is true that we now have access to exotic foods from other lands that were previously not commonly available. Improvements in air transportation has made it possible to import fresh foods from virtually any country in the world. Many of these foods are said to have health giving properties and have been advertised as super foods.

Super foods fall into a number of categories. Some are powerful antioxidants or anti-inflammatory properties while others are high in vitamins and minerals. Their action on the body and the benefits people experience are what qualify a food to be called a super food.

Food does not have to be exotic to qualify as a super food. Many of our home grown grains, fruits and vegetables are high in the same nutrients as exotic foods. We take our home grown foods for granted however science is uncovering the mysteries of nutrition and nutrients that promote better health.

Everyone wants to have better health and vitality. We have always known that good nutrition is essential to good health. Advances in research of nutrients, vitamins and minerals is validating some of the common sense knowledge of our forebears. It turns out that an apple a day really does go a long way to keeping the doctor away.

Certain foods have long been known to have positive effects on certain conditions. Experience and knowledge passed down from one generation to the next about healing properties of certain plants and foods is now being validated by science. Scientists are proving the wisdom of our forebears through research, clinical studies and trials.

The health giving properties of super foods are being harnessed by nutraceutical companies and offered as supplements. Supplements that are produced from super foods can offer the healthy features in greater concentrations than the original food.

Blueberries are a natural source of lutein which is necessary for eye health. In order to get enough of the lutein for the blueberry itself, one would have to eat a bucket full every day. You may be willing to do that for a few days but it does not make sense on an ongoing basis. Taking a supplement that is made from those same blueberries can offer a therapeutic concentration in a small tablet or capsule.A balanced diet is still the key to promoting good health. Following food guidelines is still the best way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Experimenting with different foods is a pleasurable experience and you just may discover your best super foods.