You may have heard of superfoods... or not, because 52% of Spaniards still don't know what they are.

Raise your hand if you want to know exactly what they are. Raise your hand if you want to know what benefits they provide.

Now lower your hand so you can scroll, we'll tell you all about it in this post!

WHAT ARE SUPERFOODS?

Superfoods are , from a nutritional point of view, foods that are especially rich in nutrients and have been consumed by aboriginal peoples for thousands of years to maintain their physical and mental health. In the modern world, it is a good idea to include them in the diet to mitigate the deficiencies of today's diet and feel more vital, rejuvenated and full of energy.

For the first time in human history, more deaths are caused by too much food than by too little food (study)

We are overfed but also undernourished. The modern diet, full of ultra-processed foods , takes away our hunger, but does not provide us with the nutrients necessary for good health.

As if that were not enough, in 2006 the UN recognised a new type of malnutrition (malnutrition B) related to the lack of micronutrients in fruits and vegetables. It was observed that they no longer had as many vitamins and minerals as before.

This is where a paradox occurs, and that is that we could be producing food that “does not nourish.”

You can see in this table the loss of vitamins and minerals since 1985.

Source: Dr. W. Amzallag (University of Montpellier) Anesthesiology and Intensive Care

And if we look further back, the loss is even more alarming. An easy way to mitigate this problem is to add superfoods to our diet, as they provide us with a large amount of nutrients and restore our health.

Superfoods are also rich in vitamins and antioxidants, and many of them promote a healthy inflammatory, antimicrobial and adaptogenic response (that is, they allow you to adapt to the physical and emotional stress to which we are exposed).

That is why it is increasingly common to hear about chia , açaí , matcha , Andean maca , or spirulina .

Matcha tea is 130 times more antioxidant than normal green tea and provides energy gradually

Dr. Antonio Hernandez says: “There are many people who, unfortunately, suffer from deficiencies of proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins or minerals that need to be supplemented in some way. That is when superfoods appear, which can counteract this deficiency when added in small quantities throughout the week. Although superfoods cannot solve serious pathologies, they do help us achieve nutritional balance .”

We have forgotten something basic: the true purpose of eating is to nourish ourselves. Processed foods are convenient and satisfy our appetite, but they do not provide what our body needs to stay healthy.

The importance of nutrition to maintain health has been known since ancient times: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food, " said Hippocrates.

We are increasingly experiencing deficiencies that affect our body but also our emotions . We feel stressed, lacking energy and we try to counteract this state with energy drinks, coffee or refined carbohydrates. These are just a patch that does not allow us to address the root problem.

The good news is that you can turn this situation around.

Superfoods can help you counteract major deficiencies in the modern diet , and they have benefits that will fascinate you. Keep reading, we will tell you about them quickly and also the best way to take them.

• AÇAÍ : is a Brazilian fruit similar to a blueberry. It helps keep us young, to have beautiful skin and hair and to eliminate fluid retention. How to take it: The best way is in dehydrated powder, 5-10g added to yogurt, smoothies, juices...

• BAOBAB : This is an African fruit that is already dried on the tree. It is effective in preventing colds and reducing fever. You can take it by adding 10g to orange juice, yogurt or sprinkle it on any recipe.

• HEMP SEEDS : These seeds do not have a psychoactive effect. They improve sleep, help build muscle mass and reduce cholesterol. Eat them like any other nuts.

• MATCHA TEA : This is the most premium tea that exists. It boosts fat burning. It keeps you alert without getting you excited and prevents cravings. Almost nothing... The effective dose is 3gr. It does not need to be infused, you can take it with milk, water or add it to more elaborate recipes...

• SPIRULINA : Yes, we know the name is special, but as special as its properties. This algae fights anemia, eliminates heavy metals, and helps you get a tan. It is sold in powder form, add 2-3g to a green smoothie, vegetable cream, or fish soup.

• COCONUT : You probably know this one 😀 but you may not know that it protects your heart, eliminates fluid retention and prevents cravings. Eat it as a snack between meals or add it as a topping.

• MACA: This is a Peruvian root that has been shown to help adapt to stress, regulate sleep and increase libido. Take 5g in a bowl or smoothie. It goes very well with cocoa.

• COCOA: It is very important that it is pure, without sugar, so that you can obtain its benefits: it improves mood, stimulates concentration, delays aging. Add it to milk or prepare healthy sweets with it.

• GOJI BERRIES: native to Tibet, they protect your eyesight and have an anti-aging effect. Use them as a snack, add them to yogurt...

• CHIA SEEDS: They were already consumed by Mayans and Aztecs, perhaps because they reduce cholesterol and provide a lot of fiber and energy. You can eat them by soaking them in milk or another liquid (chia pudding ) or use a pepper grinder and sprinkle them.

Whether you want to improve your body composition, boost your mood or feel more energetic, nutrition is key.

The term superfood has been overused. In fact, no food is magic. Nothing will improve your health if the context of your diet and lifestyle is not healthy.

What's more, there are common foods that can also provide you with great help (avocado, nuts, olive oil, etc.). But it is also clear that other benefits such as helping you combat stress, providing you with very high doses of antioxidants or eliminating heavy metals are more typical of superfoods .

Click here to go to our catalog of the best superfoods.