SUPERFOODS

We know how important it is to 'eat the rainbow' and incorporate a wide variety of fruit and vegetables into our diets on the daily. Yet, not many of us know why eating certain plant-foods can provide more nutrients than others. I'll give you a hint - it all comes down to colour.

Food pigmentation is what will differentiate a 'health' food from a 'super' food and this all comes down to the antioxidant status of that particular plant!

Antioxidants: Compounds produced by the body that are obtained from a variety of foods, which fight oxidation and free-radicals via a process of neutralisation.

Dietary compounds found only in plants called phytochemicals ('phyto' meaning plant in Greek) are believed to have greater antioxidant abilities in the body compared to vitamins and minerals. These compounds protect cells from damage, support skin, hair and nail health whilst providing the body with overall protection from degenerative diseases.

The highest sources of phytochemicals are found in red, orange, yellow, dark green and purple plant-foods.

Think of it this way: sweet potato has more nutrients than white potato, black and kidney beans offer more vitamins than white beans, broccoli is higher in nutritional value than cauliflower - the list goes on and on;

colour. means. everything.

Recently, I was asked by a friend whether they needed to consume more superfoods in order to level up their health and wellness game. In response, I gave them my opinion and belief that every plant food which has colour to it is indeed a superfood.

You don't need to waste your money on purchasing stupidly expensive foods which are 'in' for 1 month and then replaced by another food the next; rather, I advise my clients, family and friends to aim to incorporate at least 1 different fruit or vegetable into their diet per week - that they wouldn't usually consume on a regular basis. Not only is this going to flood your body with a wealth of vital nutrients and vitamins, but it will also do wonders for your gut microbiome.

For example, one week you may include okra into your diet, the next eggplant. Also, depending on the seasonal produce available to you at the time, you may find that the variety is limited or expensive during some periods, in this instance, just try your best to be as diverse as possible in colour, shape and size of your chosen plant-food as best you can!

Our gut microbiome THRIVES off diversity.

Did you know that upwards of 90% of our immune system lives in the gut? Similarly, important neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine are also produced in the gut. If that doesn't give you a reason to look after your gut health today, I'm not sure what will!

To summarise, the term 'superfood' is thrown around pretty carelessly in the health and wellness space - especially in product marketing..

Always keep in mind that at the end of the day, no specific food can have extraordinary 'super' abilities, just like no particular form of exercise can make you drop 10kgs in one day..

When it comes to health, moderation is key. Eating açai every day will provide you with a great source of nutrients and vitamins but if we rely on consuming just one nutrient-dense plant daily, we sacrifice variety and diversity in our diets.

Do your gut a favour and aim to incorporate one new fruit or veg per week into your diet - that you wouldn't usually consume regularly, and reap the benefits of longevity, cell vitality and overall general wellbeing.