Carrot Juice
Carrot Juice Superfood
Who knew of carrot juice a few months ago?
Sure we all have carrots in the fridge but juicing it…well research shows that drinking just 150ml of carrot juice and eating a red pepper with it once a day for six weeks has the ability to make your skin look more radiant and healthy.
This goes for all skin colours, on the before and after pictures every person taking part looked more healthy, with a nice glow to their skin.
But even more so for those with pasty pale skin the carrot juice actually colours the skin to make you look a little tanned. Presumably this is what’s happening with everyone whether they are Asian, Black, Indian or white, the orange (carotene) comes out through the skin once the body has had enough.
But skin is clearer to which is presumably from the vitamins and minerals in the carrots.
Beetroot Juice
Beetroot Juice Superfood
For anyone that wants to feel like they can do more, perform better and feel healthier beetroot juice is a great drink to guzzle down.
Beetroot juice has the ability to lower blood pressure, stamina and blood flow, it’s the nitrate in the beets that helps with our bodies and it may even be possible that it helps with heart disease.
Blood pressure has been proven to be lowered within 24 hours of either taking a nitrate tablet or by drinking beetroot juice. Basically the nitrates help the blood vessels in the body which increases blood flow and oxygen to places lacking oxygen.
This can benefit someone running an athletic race by allowing their muscles to access the oxygen or an older person by improving the blood flow to the brain.
Salmon and Oily Fish
Salmon- Oily fish superfood
Its long been said that we should eat at least two portions of oily fish a week and really we probably should.
Firstly it was noted that Eskimos had fewer than average heart attacks and so their diet was studied.
Because oily fish which includes salmon, sardines, mackerel etc are rich in vitamin D, protein and also B vitamins and selenium. Fish is also a great source of the omega -3 fatty acids.
Not only are oily fish associated with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease but also in the long term prevention of dementia, if taken early enough, there is research looking into its help with prostate cancer and age related vision loss, though these are not conclusive.
Chocolate
Chocolate Superfood
We’ve all heard it that eating a small amount of chocolate a day can be good for you….but only if it’s over 75% cocoa solids due to the percentage of flavonoids. Chocolate also contains iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and manganese.
Well, new research may suggest otherwise and that in fact all chocolate may have its health benefits, even milk chocolate.
This new research found that those who ate the most chocolate were 12% more unlikely to go on to develop heart disease and also they were 23% less likely to suffer from a stroke, this was compared to those were at the bottom of the spectrum for chocolate eating.
The suggestion is that not only are the flavonoids in the chocolate taking an active part but perhaps the calcium and fatty acids in the milk may play a role.
Broccoli
Broccoli Superfood
As a child these were fairy trees and bushes, anything associated with fairies should have positive effect on whether a child will eat their dinner.
Well, it’s a good job because this broccoli superfood is a great source of vitamin C, vitamins A and K, also calcium, beta carotene and fibre. Broccoli contains antioxidants also so it all makes for a nutritious and worthwhile vegetable.
As a superfood, broccoli is thought to have properties that are able to protect from some cancers, these include mouth, throat and stomach cancers. In other studies there has been evidence that it can help lower blood cholesterol.