What are the Best Superfoods of 2022?

Superfoods are incredibly healthy foods that are making a name for themselves in the health food industry. Everywhere you turn, there's a new superfood on the market promising to make you feel all kinds of healthy. But what are superfoods and how can they help you feel good?

Superfoods can come in a variety of forms, from powders and tonics to raw and packaged, and they can be used in a variety of ways. Adding them to smoothies, using them in cooking, and popping them into your soup; superfoods are incredibly easy to get into your diet.

Superfoods are nutrient-dense, full of vitamins and minerals, and tend to be incredibly high in antioxidants. All of these nutrients are great for your body, they boost your health, support good bodily function and have a huge number of other health benefits that will make you want to get these nutritious treats into your diet.

We here at Australian Organic Products + More love superfoods. We have a whole category dedicated to them on our site with lots of great products, which is why we've gathered all we know about them to help convince you of their worth!

To find out everything from what a superfood actually is to how to get them into your diet, keep reading now!

What is a superfood?

So, what is a superfood?

A superfood is a food that has high nutritional density, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other plant compounds, and along with the substantial number of nutrients they have, superfoods also have low a calorie number.

The major benefits of superfoods come from their high volume of antioxidants. Antioxidants are fantastic for the body. They fight free radicals in the body and can reduce and reverse damage caused. Free radicals are a by-product of energy production and can wreak total havoc on the body. They have been linked to a range of chronic illnesses and antioxidants can fight the damage that will cause them.

Chronic illnesses that free radicals have been linked to include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis, stroke, respiratory diseases, immune deficiency, emphysema, heart disease, and Parkinson's disease.

Superfoods are not a cure-all and to see their benefits you cannot simply add them to a poor diet and hope for the best. The best way to stay healthy is to eat a balanced and healthy diet and incorporate superfoods in a healthy way.

What health benefits do these nutritious foods offer?

Superfoods are packed with all of the good stuff but how does this benefit you and your health? Below, we have summarised how each of the benefits of these nutritious superfoods can be linked to your good health. Take a look now.

• The high volume of antioxidants - We've discussed how high the levels of antioxidants are in superfoods and the main benefit the body gets from this is that these antioxidants can fight free radicals and oxidative stress in the body. This can help to reduce your risk of many chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and a range of inflammatory conditions. Antioxidants are also known to flush out toxins in the body, keeping your organs healthy as well as helping to prevent signs of aging.
• Lots of nutrients - Superfoods are loaded with nutrients that help the body to function properly. Vitamins and minerals are needed for almost every bodily function and so eating foods that are high in a wide variety of them will always be good for your health. Nutrients can help to reduce inflammation, prevent bacteria from wreaking havoc and causing illness, and help to boost energy.
• Boosts immunity - With all of the good stuff that can be found in superfoods, it's not a shock that they can help your body fight off disease. With high nutrient volumes, particularly of crucial vitamins, superfoods help to protect the body from illness and can have a positive effect on blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Nurtures your skin - Superfoods are known to help brighten the skin, prevent acne, reduce puffiness, offer evenness to the skin, and even prevent signs of aging.
• Boosts energy - Superfoods are low in calories so can easily be added to your diet without adding to your caloric intake and they could help with healthy weight loss. They help to boost energy production and can reduce cravings too.

Our favourite superfoods with great nutritional value

There is a tonne of different superfoods out there for you to try, and below we have listed our absolute favourites. These superfoods vary in form and in the ways they can be used, but all are really good for the body! Check them all out now to find out more.

Dark leafy greens

Dark green leafy vegetables (or DGLVs) are packed full of nutrients like folate, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin C, and fibre. They are known to reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes and are regularly prescribed in patients with such conditions.

DGLVs are anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce chronic inflammation in the body which can be responsible for a number of different diseases. Examples of leafy greens include spinach, kale, collard greens, and swiss chard.

While you can eat leafy greens as they come in different meals, like salads, soups, and pasta, you will also find their powdered form in green superfood powders too.

Berries

Berries of all kinds are packed full of nutrition, in fact, they are commonly referred to as nutritional powerhouses. They contain fibre and antioxidants and are really great for digestive issues and for boosting immunity.

There are lots of different kinds of berries you can try out but some are better than others. Blueberries are renowned for their help with digestive issues, and goji berries are known to have incredibly high antioxidant numbers. Additionally, acai berries, usually found in powdered form, are packed full of nutrition.

Berries can be eaten on their own, added to jams and compotes, used on breakfasts like granola, porridge, and pancakes, and can even be added into smoothies.

Green tea

Green tea is one of the best drinks in the world. This lightly caffeinated beverage is packed to the brim with antioxidants and polyphenols. The main one is EGCG which is thought to give green tea the ability to prevent the development of chronic diseases. Green tea is also thought to be good for healthy weight loss.

When it comes to tea, we would always recommend drinking organic options as pesticide and fertiliser use is very high in the tea industry and the residue these synthetic chemicals leave behind can be bad for your body.

Green tea is an incredible superfood and it is also used outside of the body, in skincare, because of its high nutrient content.

Nuts and seeds

Like berries, there are a whole host of nuts and seeds that can offer you individual benefits. Collectively, nuts and seeds can provide you with lots of fibre, plant-based protein, healthy fats, anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants. Nuts and seeds are incredibly calorie-dense and the fats they contain are monounsaturated fatty acids which are very good for heart health.

The list of nuts and seeds goes on and on but our favourites include almonds, which can also be found in butter form, pistachios, which are great in pesto, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, good toppings for smoothie bowls and in granola, and walnuts, which are great for snacking on.

Olive oil

When it comes to oil, you should always ensure you're sticking within recommended guidelines for portion size, but it is no longer thought of as something that is bad for your health. Indeed, extra virgin olive oil is actually fantastic for your health and is a staple of the Mediterranean diet (a diet that is frequently recommended by nutritionists for its health benefits).

Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats (like nuts and seeds are) and contains polyphenols and antioxidants like vitamin E and K. It is thought to reduce inflammation in the body and is good for heart health.

Like green tea, olive oil is also used in skincare as its nutritional benefits can also help your skin.

Ginger

This root has been used throughout the centuries in herbal medicine and is a known remedy for nausea. High in antioxidants and other nutrients, ginger root is used in cooking across a range of cultures and is thought to lower your risk of certain illnesses.

Ginger can be found in a range of forms, including powdered form, in the form of candy, as a drink, minced, or in its raw form. Ginger can be used as flavour within cooking, added to tea, and into smoothies.

Turmeric

Closely related to ginger, the two are often found in combination. Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric and is thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It is effective in treating certain chronic and non-communicable diseases, like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer and is also used in wound healing.

One drawback of turmeric is that it isn't absorbed easily by the body. Indeed, most remedies combine turmeric with black pepper to allow for absorption more easily.

Turmeric can be used in cooking and is also found in lattes.

Avocado

Avocado took the world by storm a few years ago and it has continued in its popularity due to its numerous benefits. As well as being able to be eaten in lots of different ways, it is highly nutritious and contains important nutrients like fibre, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. The main fat in avocado is oleic acid which has been linked to reduced inflammation.

Avocado can be eaten on toast, added to smoothies, used to make condiments like guacamole, and is also found in oil form.

Seaweed

We love seaweed snacks. They're highly nutritious and contain essential minerals like iodine, vitamin K, folate, and have tonnes of fibre. As an ocean vegetable, seaweed contains unique bioactive compounds only found in this environment, making it a special superfood to add to your diet.

Seaweed can be used as a salad topper, in cooking in general, and as a seaweed snack. Seaweed snacks come in lots of different flavours, including teriyaki, sea salt, and sesame.

Soy

Soybeans are highly nutritious and rich in isoflavones and phytochemicals. These compounds are known to reduce low-density lipoproteins (the bad kind of cholesterol, known as LDLs) and can prevent age-related memory loss. Indeed, soy is frequently used to reduce symptoms of menopause and other age-related conditions like bone loss.

Soy is everywhere. From soy sauce to miso paste to soy milk, you can find this nutritious ingredient in lots of places in your kitchen. Soybeans can be used raw in cooking, can be used to flavour foods, in the form of soy sauce and miso, and can be used in milk form for sauces as well as in smoothies.

How to use superfoods in your diet

We've given a few different examples of how each of these superfoods can be used in your diet, as both dietary supplements and in meals. To get the health benefits of these superfoods, you should incorporate them in as many ways as possible.

These nutrient-dense foods are versatile and work in a variety of ways when it comes to healthy eating. Below we have listed some of the common ways that superfoods can be added to your diet. Check it out now to learn more.

• In liquids - Adding superfoods to smoothies, soups and juices is a great way to get them into your diet. You can add nuts and seeds to smoothies, in raw form and as butter, you can also add superfood powders. In soups, you can add powders, soy milk, nuts and seeds as toppings and ginger and turmeric as flavourings.
• As toppings - Continuing with the toppings idea, nuts and seeds can also be added to smoothie bowls, granola, and avocado toast. You could also scatter seaweed on top of salads, add superfood powders to pasta and use berries to top off your pancakes.
• In cooking - Lots of superfoods are used as a flavouring in cooking, including ginger, turmeric, soy sauce, garlic, seaweed, and olive oil.
• In supplement form - You can find some superfoods in tonic or capsule form. This is a great way to ensure you're getting them into your diet daily without having to add them to your food.

Photo credit: Kratom.IQ

Final thoughts

Superfoods are the perfect addition to a healthy and balanced diet. Adding nutrients, antioxidants and other beneficial compounds, superfoods can help to elevate your health and protect your body from disease. Superfoods can be added to your diet in many ways and there are tonnes of different ones to try out.

Find out more about the superfood products we offer by checking out our superfoods section now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the healthiest food in the world in 2022?

There are tonnes of healthy foods you can add to your diet today. Superfoods are the best kinds of foods to add to your diet as they offer the body lots of different nutrients, as well as minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and other plant compounds that keep the body in good working order. Try adding berries, nuts and seeds, and green tea to your diet for that health kick you need.

How do you eat healthy 2022?

Eating healthily is about understanding the balance between foods you need more of and foods you should eat in smaller quantities. In 2022, most nutritionists are still recommending Mediterranean or plant-based diets. These diets both focus on eating lots of whole foods, including whole grains, fruit and vegetables as well as healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil. These diets keep meat, fish, dairy and unhealthy fats to a minimum and avoid refined grains like white bread and pasta.

What is the next superfood?

Superfoods are a huge deal in the health food industry these days and there are so many to choose from it can feel like it's hard to keep up. Many common ingredients are now classified as superfoods, including ginger, turmeric, and garlic. Additionally, berries have a superfood status because of their nutrient content and can be added to your diet easily. Other superfoods include leafy greens, nuts and seeds, and green tea.

What are the top 10 superfoods?

There are a huge number of superfoods and all come with lots of benefits to your health. Below are ten superfoods that are easy to add to your diet and can provide your body with lots of nutrients.

1. Acai berries
2. Green tea
3. Dark chocolate
4. Turmeric
5. Goji berries
6. Kale
7. Olive oil
8. Avocado
9. Seaweed
10. Sunflower seeds