What are the benefits of superfoods?

Superfoods alone should never replace a healthy diet, but if you’re already eating healthy, superfoods can be a great way to supercharge your health and add variety to your diet.

Because they're packed with so many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients, superfoods have been shown to help reduce inflammation, support healthy cholesterol levels, rejuvenate the complexion, strengthen hair and nails, and more.

Each superfood is unique, of course, but did you know a food’s colour can offer you a peek into its nutrient profile?

Let’s look at some common superfoods from the colour perspective:

✓ Leafy greens (green): Greens like broccoli and kale are exceptionally high in vitamin C, which has been shown to help prevent damage from free radicals that can cause premature ageing. The greens are also high in phytonutrients like beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are thought to protect against macular degeneration (a leading cause of blindness), cataracts and other eye diseases.

✓ Berries (blue, red and black): Berries get their deep, dark colour from their high levels of anthocyanins, which is a group of flavonoids that have been shown to help prevent cancer, heart disease and age-related cognitive decline.

✓ Salmon (orange). Salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which may help to prevent heart disease and stroke. It’s also high in protein, B vitamins and selenium, a trace mineral that helps protect against DNA damage from free radicals (one reason why it might reduce the risk of cancer). It gets its peach colour from astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant that may help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

✓ Tomatoes (red): Tomatoes get their bright red colour from lycopene, a carotenoid that has been linked to a reduced risk of several types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of vitamins A and C, potassium and manganese.

✓ Turmeric (yellow): Turmeric is best known for adding colour and flavour to many Indian dishes. But it's also an antioxidant powerhouse. Its bright yellow colour comes from curcumin, a phytochemical that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Tumeric is also known for its ability to lower cholesterol levels, improve blood sugar control and fight cancer.