How Superfood Diets Can Lower Cholesterol
The term "Superfoods" is becoming commonplace as an increasing number of natural lower cholesterol foods are found to contain extra high quantities of "antioxidants" and "phytochemicals" and are classified as nutritionally dense.
They can now be seen as a particular category of foods which provide extra high benefits for our health.
We will examine the terms mentioned, in more detail shortly.
Nutritional density is a measure of the levels of the health giving minerals and vitamins which the food substance contains.
Among these are minerals like Calcium, Iron, Zinc etc and vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K etc.
As you are probably aware, trace elements such as these are found in virtually everything we consume, so why are superfoods special? Well, compared to more ordinary, healthy foods, they contain a much greater level of minerals and vitamins for their size, so you can very easily extract all the necessary nutrients required for healthy bodily function whilst consuming a relatively small quantity of food.
As an example, you can often eat a total days' requirement of nutrients with just one mouthful of a superfood.
There are only a few foods with which you can do this, so the term "SUPERFOOD" is more than appropriate.
Antioxidants: Under normal conditions oxygen has a reaction with the cells in your body, which causes them damage.
This is called the OXIDATION process.
This damage is thought to cause various ailments including cancer, heart disease and premature ageing.
Antioxidants prevent oxidation and its damaging effects by interacting with the various chemical reactions that take place within the body cells.
Phytochemicals: Natural compounds that are found in both plants and animals.
Although not at present considered essential to human survival, there is increasing evidence that these phytochemicals play a large part in fighting body deterioration and disease.
This is bound up with the need for continuous supplies of essential vitamins and minerals to carry out the many chemical processes within our bodies.
In summary, in order for our bodies to work healthily and efficiently we need a wide variety of essential vitamins and minerals and very often, if, for various reasons we are lacking in any of these, our body functions can begin to break down.
It appears from recent research that there may well be new types of powerful nutrients that can have a great effect on our well-being and are contained within varieties of these superfoods, and may well be how superfood Diets lower cholesterol.
It therefore makes a great deal of sense to include a regular supply of these foods within your diet.
They can now be seen as a particular category of foods which provide extra high benefits for our health.
We will examine the terms mentioned, in more detail shortly.
Nutritional density is a measure of the levels of the health giving minerals and vitamins which the food substance contains.
Among these are minerals like Calcium, Iron, Zinc etc and vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K etc.
As you are probably aware, trace elements such as these are found in virtually everything we consume, so why are superfoods special? Well, compared to more ordinary, healthy foods, they contain a much greater level of minerals and vitamins for their size, so you can very easily extract all the necessary nutrients required for healthy bodily function whilst consuming a relatively small quantity of food.
As an example, you can often eat a total days' requirement of nutrients with just one mouthful of a superfood.
There are only a few foods with which you can do this, so the term "SUPERFOOD" is more than appropriate.
Antioxidants: Under normal conditions oxygen has a reaction with the cells in your body, which causes them damage.
This is called the OXIDATION process.
This damage is thought to cause various ailments including cancer, heart disease and premature ageing.
Antioxidants prevent oxidation and its damaging effects by interacting with the various chemical reactions that take place within the body cells.
Phytochemicals: Natural compounds that are found in both plants and animals.
Although not at present considered essential to human survival, there is increasing evidence that these phytochemicals play a large part in fighting body deterioration and disease.
This is bound up with the need for continuous supplies of essential vitamins and minerals to carry out the many chemical processes within our bodies.
In summary, in order for our bodies to work healthily and efficiently we need a wide variety of essential vitamins and minerals and very often, if, for various reasons we are lacking in any of these, our body functions can begin to break down.
It appears from recent research that there may well be new types of powerful nutrients that can have a great effect on our well-being and are contained within varieties of these superfoods, and may well be how superfood Diets lower cholesterol.
It therefore makes a great deal of sense to include a regular supply of these foods within your diet.