What Are the UK’s Favourite Superfoods?

AD | We always try to add healthy to our weekly shopping list. Recent years has seen the emergence of the likes of sweet potato, kale, and quinoa. However, sometimes healthy eating can be costly and is it actually worth the extra money you spend? And what exactly is a superfood? Well, to be a superfood a product must give a high quantity of nutritional value and antioxidants.

What are the popular superfood options? Remember that you can always grow your own vegetables too and you don’t always have to go to the supermarket!

Eating mango

Everyone loves a mango every now and then, but did you know that’s it’s a quick-digesting carbohydrate? It’s bursting at the seams with over 20 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and is thought by many to be one of the tastiest ways to support a healthy lifestyle. The fruit can rapidly boost your energy at a time when your body needs it.

If you’re not a lover of fruit on its own, adding it to a salad could be one option. A great way to get the most out of the mango in a tasty, light and cheap dinner.

Eating sweet potato

It’s no secret that we’re a nation gripped by sweet potato, even more mainstream restaurants are adopting it to their menu. Jam-packed with carbohydrates, minerals and antioxidants, this orange tuber is a great source of potassium. This, according to studies, aids muscle tissue repair and can help prevent fatigue in your muscles. Their fibre content is higher than the average potato and, when combined with the likes of magnesium, the sweet potato can help improve your digestion. Elsewhere, they are an effective remedy to curing congestion of the nose, which can help relieve asthma and treat bronchitis. Other benefits are said to include a boosted immune system, helping to cure stomach ulcers, and maintaining the body’s water balance.

As mentioned previously, you can grow your own vegetables — even sweet potato! Save money and switch to a healthier potato: what’s not to love?

Eating quinoa

Quinoa is becoming more popular by the day. Featuring all 10 essential amino acids, quinoa is understood to be a complete protein which can help your muscles repair. Due to it being a complex carbohydrate, offering 46 grams each cup, it provides longer lasting energy. As well as being gluten free, quinoa is higher in fibre than most grains, but unfortunately, it’s not all soluble fibre. It has a low glycemic index which can help be part of a lower calorie intake.

With many believing quinoa is an expensive commodity, a quick and easy cheap recipe is spinach and mushroom quinoa.

Eating avocado

You can add avocado to anything these days, and it’s taste is something that we’ve all grown to love. It’s becoming more of a major player in restaurant menus due to its easily adaptable approach to recipes. It offers a host of vitamins, including A, C, D, E and K, as well as folic acid, magnesium, potassium, Omega 3, lutein, and fibre.

It’s also believed to help cholesterol and reduce any risks to the heart as it includes Omega 3. The grease can be used instead of butter or oil when cooking and the actual flesh can also be used to create hair and face masks. Super, right?

Whatever you include it in, we’re sure it’ll make a delicious meal.

Eating sardines

Sardines are the perfect addition to any diet. The little nutrient powerhouse may provide a strong scent that smacks you in the face, but they can go a long way in helping to reduce inflammation and promoting bone, heart, and skin health.

Interestingly, they have more calcium than a glass of cow’s milk. As well as this they are high in vitamin D and, like avocado, have a great omega 3 fatty acid profile. Some of its great qualities include immune-boosting properties due to its high amount of selenium. This is normally found on its skin, so don’t go skinning this fish! The skin also helps your skin, aiding conditions such as psoriasis.

As they’re cheap to buy in the supermarket, you’ll be able to fill your cupboards! A recipe to rely on could be fresh sardines on toast with sweet pickled red onion.

Superfoods do exist. With so much goodness to offer, these superfoods don’t have to be part of an expensive recipe and by researching meals, you can incorporate into your diet without adding too much cost to your weekly shop.

Sources

https://www.frutasmontosa.com/en/reasons-avocado-superfood/
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/feb/01/cheap-meals-food-2-pounds-a-head-cook-budget
https://wellseek.co/2017/06/20/sardines-ultimate-superfood-youre-passing/
https://www.bbc.com/food/sardine
https://www.aldi.co.uk/chicken-mango-salad/p/000000038359500
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-quinoa#section10
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/manuel-villacorta/5-high-performance-superf_b_10496780.html
https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/food-and-drink/cheap-easy-things-quinoa/