Could These Next Generation Superfoods Keep You Healthy?

You’re reading this article right now because you recognize that food is a great place to start when it comes to feeling great and living stronger.

Using food as preventative medicine makes sense, don’t you think?

We have to eat to live and the foods we eat are the first step in our defense against disease. The fuel you consume determines how well your “engine” will run. A diet filled with high fat, high salt, and over processed foods isn’t going to get your engine where you want it to go. It’s like filling your tank with gas contaminated with sludge and deposits that clog up the works.

You need high-octane fuel – the best of the best.

The Benefits of Quercetin and a Protein that Enhances Antioxidants

Researchers at the University of Warwick Medical School found that a particular protein called Nrf2 is critical to our cellular health. It moves in and out of your cells on a microscopic level to determine the wellness of each one. If a cell seems sick, Nrf2 moves faster and faster to stimulate an antioxidant response and repair the illness.

The scientists are able to duplicate this process with antioxidant rich foods. In this particular study, they found the most remarkable benefits with quercetin (taken from onions) and sulforaphane (found in broccoli).

The supplements they created from these natural food sources are being studied further in human trials as a way to decrease the risk of heart disease and diabetes!

The Warwick team is the first to catch Nrf2 in action and it provides incredible insight into how oxidation – which leads to the formation of dangerous free radicals – works inside your body and ways to combat it. Their results were published in the Antioxidants and Redox Signaling medical journal.

Professor Paul Thornalley explained, “By understanding how this process works and increasing Nrf2’s speed without putting cells under threat, new strategies for design of healthier foods and improved drugs can be devised.”

Revolutionized Nutrition – Available Right Now in Your Grocery Store!

The ability to “boost” the natural antioxidant effect of superfoods is one that could revolutionize nutrition over the next decade. Antioxidants are already powerful…boosting them means giving your body more of the good stuff you need.

In the meantime, don’t forget to add these six Daily Superfood Love favorites to your nutrition! Even without an added “boost,” they have been proven again and again to be some of the best fighters of disease currently available!

Top 6 Superfood Compounds You Need Now

1. Phytoflavonoids – Doctors, scientists, and nutritionists the world over recognize the power of the compounds found in high abundance in the tiny blueberry. Incredibly rich in antioxidants, this small superfood (frozen or fresh) are naturally anti-inflammatory and have shown incredible results in lowering heart disease and cancer risk.
2. Omega-3 – Rich in omega-3s, fatty fish includes salmon, mackerel, tuna, shrimp, and sardines but you’ll also find this critical compound in walnuts, flax seeds, and winter squash. Your body doesn’t produce the alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) form of omega-3 and your entire body requires it so getting it through your diet is key.
3. Fiber – Found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans, the right combination of fiber-rich foods will ensure your digestive system is functioning at its best and that water and nutrients are absorbed at the most effective levels. Fiber is crucial to maintain cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It is also important to obtaining and maintaining a healthy body weight.
4. EGCG – All tea is good for you but green tea has a little something extra. A compound called EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) has become an antioxidant of great interest to scientists over the last decade. It is found in few plant-based sources but the easiest to find (and most effective) is green tea. Studies are still being done but the presence of this powerful antioxidant in green tea makes it a must-have for your own diet. Another little-known source of EGCG is carob flour.
5. Resveratrol – This wonderful antioxidant is found in delicious dark chocolate and red wine. Found to reduce blood pressure and the risk of stroke – in moderation, of course – this fascinating compound is also making great strides in obesity research. Unlike other “sweets,” dark chocolate helps to curb cravings for other sugary and salty snacks while making you feel fuller longer. It’s also a great treat when you’re looking to slim down.
6. Quercetin – The benefits of quercetin have been apparent for much longer than the study referenced above. You can also find it in more than onions! Citrus, apples, tea, olive oil, grapes, dark cherries and berries, parsley, and red wine are great sources of this antioxidant that has been shown in many studies to help control allergies and asthma by inhibiting your body’s release of histamines. Lower your risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, digestive conditions, and cancer by including foods high in quercetin to your diet!

Superfoods are a great way to make you stronger and more energetic every day. The proven antioxidant benefits of quercetin, omega-3s, and many more boost your immune system, slow the effects of aging, and lower your risk of serious disease.

Adding them to your eating plan – while limiting the high fat, over-processed foods – will give you the fuel without the sludge.

Experts estimate that more than half the disease in the world could be prevented with proper diet and exercise. It doesn’t take much to affect positive change in your life right now.