4 of the Most Underrated Superfoods

 

The term superfoods may have made it to the dictionary, but it doesn’t have any scientific bearing. It started as a marketing strategy to help sell certain produce and protein and unwittingly ended up being a part of the green movement.

However, some natural foods indeed have more nutritional value than others, so let’s look into some of them.

1.    Seaweed

Seaweed like nori, kelp, and wakame, is an umbrella term for sea vegetables. East Asia's culinary trademark, this green stuff looks leafy and tastes like everything else from the oceans.

However, different from fish—regular consumption of which is often discouraged due to high mercury levels—seaweed is known for its antioxidant qualities. 

It is rich in vitamin K, iodine, and fiber and has been associated with areas possessing a high age average and low heart disease, cancer, and diabetes rates.

2.    Rhubarb

Rhubarb tastes sweet, sour, and savory, making for a tricky ingredient in any dish. However, it has gained popularity because it’s chock-full of nutrients like calcium, vitamin C and K, fiber, and potassium.

A popular garden plant, rhubarb is sustainable, has antioxidant properties, and is good for the bones, vision, and blood circulation.

3.    Ginger

A plant that has been around for centuries, this East Asian root has so much clout in the world of superfoods because of gingerol, which contains antioxidants and is effective against reflux, low blood sugar, weak memory, and chronic as well as acute muscle pain.

Moreover, ginger helps in flavoring food, and its long-term use has been associated with a decreased risk of heart disease and age-related conditions.

4.    Salmon

As previously mentioned, salmon, like any other fish, has the disadvantage of ranking high on the mercury-level scale; however, that does not change the fact that it is also rich in vitamin B, potassium, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.

It has excellent inflammatory benefits, and consuming them once a week decreases your odds of getting heart disease or diabetes.

If you need nutrition counseling customized to your needs, Tavicare is the way to go. A holistic practice in Bethesda run by OB-GYN physician, MD, and surgeon Dr. Tavakoli, it focuses on the individual rather than the collective needs of their clients.

They start by recommending changes to your lifestyle, especially dietary ones, where they introduce superfoods like the above to your diet plan.

Call the practice at (301) 859-4400 or get in touch online.