SUPERFOODS
A superfood is a type of food believed
to have health benefits beyond those of more common foods due to specific
phytonutrient content. For instance, blueberries are considered a superfood
or superfruit because they contain significant amounts of antioxidants, anthocyanins,
vitamin C, manganese and dietary fibre which are believed to provide important
health benefits.
Definitions
There
is no government definition, but a superfood is a natural food source that
is highly concentrated with a complex supply of quality nutrients. Bee pollen
is the most famous superfoods, incredibly dense with thousands of phytonutrients
(plant nutrients) including enzymes, bioflavonoids, phytosterols and carotenoids,
free amino acids, Omega 3 essential fatty acids, naturally chelated minerals
and whole vitamin complexes. The açaí berry is considered a superfood because
of its extremely high level of anthocyanins (an antioxidant), vitamins A and
C and omega 6 and 9 essential fatty acids, fiber and amino acids. Others include
blueberries, coffee berries, raw cacao, goji berries, green tea and pomegranate.
According to a 2007 report from Datamonitor, “Superfood & Drinks: Consumer
Attitudes to Nutrient Rich Products,” the superfood food and beverage market
is expected to double by 2011 as consumers are paying more attention to diet
and nutrition and increasingly seeking food and drinks with additional health-promoting
benefits.(1)
source (1)
wikipedia