We're all searching for the ultimate eating plan. And the latest one promising high-quality health, shining eyes and glowing skin is the Superfoods diet. It works on the premise that there are 14 super foods that can help you live a longer and healthier life, slow the ageing process and help prevent cancer and diabetes. Great - where do we sign up?
It all started when a book called Superfoods: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life (Random House) was published in the US, fast becoming the latest grazing craze. And, unlike many faddish eating plans, the Superfoods diet is based on proven scientific evidence - even though it does mean dramatically changing the contents of your shopping basket.
Superfoods are a group of wholesome foods that pack a nutritious punch. In addition, they contain an exceptionally high nutrient content when compared to the amount of calories per serving. Wild Oats staff has researched the superfoods most recommended by dietary experts and has highlighted the following food groups in its stores: berries, citrus, cruciferous vegetables, eggs, green foods, green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, oats, olives and olive oil, fish rich in Omega-3fatty acids, orange vegetables, sea vegetables, seeds, soy, tea, tomatoes, turkey, whole grains and yogurt and kefir.
Medical professionals say that superfoods may help people feel more energetic, provide protection against disease, and promote a healthy lifestyle now and for the future. The antioxidants found in these products are a class of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that may help eliminate chemically active oxygen molecules thought to contribute to aging and chronic ailments such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
So, what can you eat? The Superfoods diet dictates that you need to eat the following every day - at least one or two cups of blueberries, half-a-cup each of broccoli and pumpkin, five to seven servings of oats, one of tomatoes, one orange, at least half an ounce of soy, one cup of steamed spinach or two cups of raw, one cup of tea and two cups of yoghurt. Every week, followers must also have four servings of beans, two to four of wild salmon, three or four of turkey and five ounces of walnuts.
So is it too good to be true? Well, not necessarily. Meredith Kennedy, a dietitian for Nutrition Australia says that all of the components of the Superfoods diet are nutrient-dense foods which are fantastically good for you - just don't be put off by the rigidity of the plan. "We'd recommend all of these foods as healthy choices," she says.
But don't fret if you can't stand broccoli, or if oranges turn you off. "You can substitute cabbage, bok choy, cauliflower or cabbage for broccoli," says Kennedy. "And grapefruit, limes or lemons will give you similar nutrients to oranges." The most important part to remember is to consume a wide variety of fruit and vegetables in your diet if you want to make sure you really are eating a super diet.
