I’m sure you’ve heard the term superfoods and wonder what makes them super. Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore as this article will explain it all to you.

We all know that all different foods contain different nutrients in different amounts. Superfoods contain more nutrients per gram than any other type of food. These can be vitamins, minerals or antioxidants. A very good example is blueberries which are a good source of vitamin K. They also contain vitamin C, fiber, manganese and other antioxidants.

Superfoods are great because they provide the nutrients needed to maintain good health and well-being. This definition will cover most foods that are considered healthy, but “superfoods” are more nutrient dense.

They contain more nutrients and other elements with antioxidant properties. Others fight heart disease and various types of cancer, and others contain healthy fats that help control blood cholesterol levels. Superfoods have a positive impact on your health, but should be taken in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

Various criteria have been applied in an attempt to measure what sets superfoods apart from all other foods. An example of this is the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) system that measures all the nutrients and micronutrients contained in different foods. Each food is then assigned a score between 1 and 1,000. The higher the score, the healthier a food is because it contains more nutrients.

Another measure is the ORAC value (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) which measures how effective a substance is at quenching free radicals. This is essentially a measure of the antioxidant properties of a substance. Superfoods tend to be found at the higher end of the scale. Examples will include:

• acai – a small fleshy berry-like dark purple fruit from a tall, slender palm of tropical Central and South America often used in beverages
• goji – the slightly acidic dark red berry of a mainly Asian prickly bush that is usually dried and used in beverages
• mulberries – small deciduous trees native to East Asia, with broad leaves and unisexual flowers in pendent catkins and multiple edible fruits
• dark chocolate: a slightly bitter dark brown chocolate with no added milk, coca beans contain high amounts of flavonols, which are plant compounds with potent antioxidant properties

Superfoods like these stop the development of free radicals in the body.

There you have it, that’s what makes superfoods great. Make sure they are part of your diet and cut processed foods from your diet.