We have all heard of superfoods. Everyone is talking about them. If they paid me a dollar for every time I saw them on a talk show, I’d be rich! So what are they?

Superfoods range from various types of fruits and vegetables to spices to nuts to herbal supplements. They are believed to have higher amounts of antioxidants as well as phytochemicals that provide more health benefits than the run-of-the-mill food. 

• Antioxidants are molecules that help remove free radicals (things in our system that cause damage to the cells in our body) from our bodies by binding with them, thus reducing the damage that would have originally taken place.
• Phytochemicals are found in all plants and do not qualify as vitamins or minerals, yet, they play an essential role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases. An example would be the lycopene found in tomatoes that help reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men.

The current theory is that by including superfoods in your diet, you will significantly decrease your risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Some superfoods that you may have already heard of include: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cacao (raw chocolate), green tea, Noni fruit, raw honey, aloe vera, curry, probiotics (in yogurt), red wine, and the list goes on.

While it is nice to think that one particular type of food may keep you from developing heart disease or cancer or any other chronic disease, the best thing you can do is focus on an overall healthy diet with a wide variety of foods. As I’ve said several times this month, choose foods from all food groups…don’t leave any of them out. Look for brightly colored fruits and vegetables and choose from all of the color groups. This will ensure that you get a wide variety of antioxidants and phytochemicals from the foods that you eat.

Check out the American Dietetic Association’s current opinion on the topic of superfoods for further information.

Catherine Joiner
Cardiac Clinical Dietician

Catherine Joiner, a registered dietician and volunteer for the American Heart Association, joined the Food for Thought blogging team as a guest writer as Let’s Dish! focuses on heart health in February.  If you’d like to ask Catherine a question, please email us or add a comment to any one of her posts.

>  Read all of Catherine’s tips on Food for Thought