Super foods refer foods\u00a0that are loaded with nutritional value and contain\u00a0powerful antioxidants<\/strong>. Antioxidants fight against free radicals that cause damage to cells. In other words, antioxidants help\u00a0reduce the risk of common health conditions<\/b>\u00a0such as heart disease, diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and even cancer. Antioxidants help boost your immune system as well as \u201cslow\u201d the aging process.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here\u2019s our list of Top 10\u00a0super foods\u00a0to consider\u00a0in your diet:<\/i><\/p>\n Active ingredient:<\/b>\u00a0Lycopene<\/p>\n Health benefits:\u00a0<\/b>Reduces risk of\u00a0heart diseases, prostate cancer\u00a0and digestive tract cancers; improves bone health<\/p>\n Lycopene\u00a0<\/b>is a pigment responsible for the reddish color of the tomatoes, but it has some pretty impressing alternative uses as well. Lycopene is a\u00a0phytochemical<\/b>\u00a0that helps eradicate cancer-causing free radicals in the body. Recently, researchers have linked the importance of lycopene to\u00a0bone health<\/b>. A study conducted on postmenopausal women showed an increased risk of osteoporosis in women when lycopene-containing foods were removed from their diet.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Active ingredient:\u00a0<\/b>Flavonoids including EGCG\u00a0(epigallocatechin gallate)<\/p>\n Health benefits:\u00a0<\/b>Reduces risk of certain cancers such as those affecting the bladder, prostate, breast, stomach, and blood. It improves brain function,has anti-aging properties and promotes healthy gums. \u00a0It alsohelps to reduce the risk of diabetes and depression and inflammation among patients with arthritis.<\/p>\n Green tea<\/strong>\u00a0is made from the\u00a0Camellia sinensis\u00a0<\/b>herb. Green tea has been an ancient anti-aging secret among people in China and Japan. Now, people around the world are becoming more and more aware of the health benefits this drink has to offer. A\u00a0study conducted \u00a0in 2009 by Dr. Kaijun Niu at Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering in Sendai<\/a>, suggested that men and women, 70 years old and above, who drank\u00a04 or more cups of green tea daily<\/strong>\u00a0were less likely to exhibit depression symptoms as compared to those who only drank once a day. In another study, it was found that older adults who consumed\u00a02 or more cups daily<\/strong>\u00a0were half as likely to exhibit cognitive impairment compared to those who drank 3 cups or less each week.<\/p>\n While a rich source of antioxidants, green tea also contains\u00a0caffeine.\u00a0<\/b>Therefore, it should not be consumed in excess although the amount of caffeine is less than in a typical cup of coffee. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends an intake of\u00a02-3 cups of green tea per day<\/b>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Active ingredient:<\/b>\u00a0Resveratrol, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins<\/p>\n Health benefits:\u00a0<\/b>Reduces risk of heart disease<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0increases the good (HDL) cholesterol level. It improves blood clotting and has anti-aging properties. Amazingly, it promotes a lowered risk of tooth decay and gum diseases. To ound it out, it also reduces the risk of osteoporosis and aids in the prevention of certain cancers<\/p>\n A common misconception is that drinking is \u201cbad for you\u201d. Consuming alcohol in excess is definitely detrimental to all areas of your health. However, drinking responsibly has its benefits. That being said, the\u00a0National Institute of Health<\/strong><\/a>recommends that people aged 65 and above should\u00a0not exceed<\/b>\u00a0seven drinks per week\u00a0<\/b>(one drink is equivalent to\u00a05 ounces of wine<\/b>) and\u00a0no more than 3 drinks<\/b>\u00a0in one day. Also, mixing alcohol and medicine together may be dangerous. It would be best to consult your doctor before adding red wine to your diet.<\/p>\n Active ingredient:<\/b>\u00a0Flavonol<\/p>\n Health benefits:\u00a0<\/b>Improved brain function; lowered risk of diabetes and heart disease<\/p>\n Got a sweet tooth? Indulge in some dark chocolate!\u00a0It is packed with\u00a0antioxidants, soluble fiber, and minerals\u00a0<\/b>which are\u00a0<\/b>known to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.<\/p>\n A study conducted on over 400 elderly men suggested that the rate of cardiovascular deaths was significantly\u00a0reduced by 50%<\/b>\u00a0over a period of 15 years when dark chocolate had been consumed regularly.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Active ingredient:<\/b>\u00a0Omega-3 fatty acids<\/p>\n Health benefits:\u00a0<\/b>The foods\u00a0<\/b>have\u00a0<\/b>anti-inflammatory properties and help to reduce the risk of arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.<\/p>\n Omega-3 fatty acids<\/i><\/b>\u00a0are abundantly found in nuts such as pistachios, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, and pecans. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil are also rich sources of Omega-3. Fish like sardines, salmon, and tuna also have high omega-3 fatty acid content. This is an often overlooked area of the \u201csuperfood group\u201d, but is also extremely beneficial! Omega-3 heavy foods also improve brain function, which is why foods such as salmon and tuna are called \u201cbrain food.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Active ingredients:<\/b>\u00a0Folate, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals<\/p>\n Health benefits:\u00a0<\/b>Legumes have anti-inflammatory properties and help to improve blood vessel function, lower bad cholesterol levels as well as improve heart health.<\/p>\n Beans and peas are fully loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that exhibit\u00a0anti-inflammatory properties<\/b>. They are saturated fat-free and cholesterol-free. Legumes are also rich in soluble fiber. Good examples of these beans and peas include chick peas, kidney beans, lentils, black beans, and red beans. The\u00a0National Heart Foundation of Australia<\/a>\u00a0recommends that legumes be included in the diet in\u00a0at least 2 meals<\/b>\u00a0each week, but recommend more. If you aren\u2019t a fan of beans as a stand alone dinner, consider recipes that include ideas\u00a0like hummus or soups.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Active ingredient:<\/b>\u00a0Ellagitannin compounds<\/p>\n Health benefits:\u00a0<\/b>It will help to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and prostate cancer. It is considered as a cure for menopausal hot flashes, gastric irritation, conjunctivitis, and viral infections (such as influenza).<\/p>\n Another superfood that tops the list is the oh-so-juicy pomegranate. Since it is packed with vitamins and very potent antioxidants, it has been shown to play a role in\u00a0reducing bad cholesterol levels.\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0It will help to prevent the build-up of cholesterol plaque and thereby reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. Also, as a neat trick, here\u2019s a 10-second trick to de-seeding a pomegranate:\u00a0click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Active ingredient:\u00a0<\/b>Hydroxychalcone<\/p>\n Health benefits:\u00a0<\/b>Cinnamon helps decrease the risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower bad cholesterol levels and has anti-inflammatory properties, medicinal properties. It helps to regulate blood sugar by improving sensitivity to insulin. In addition, it enhances brain function especially in the areas of cognitive processing, visual-motor responses and attention.<\/p>\n Daily intake of cinnamon<\/b>\u00a0has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels as well as blood sugar levels by\u00a020-30%.<\/b>\u00a0Additionally, even just smelling the aroma of spelling gives some health benefits by boosting cognitive processing and visual motor responses.<\/p>\nTomatoes<\/b><\/h3>\n
Green Tea<\/b><\/h3>\n
Red Wine<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
Dark Chocolate<\/b><\/h3>\n
Foods rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids<\/b><\/h3>\n
Legumes<\/b><\/h3>\n
Pomegranate<\/b><\/h3>\n
Cinnamon<\/b><\/h3>\n