All food has some dietary value (yes even your favorite Ben & Jerry’s or your Friday night pomegranate vodka martini). However, certain foods are nutritional powerhouses. These are the “Super Foods” which you should be loading into your shopping cart every time you make a visit to the grocery store!

What’s so “super” about Super Foods?

Most fruits, vegetable, fish, poultry and lean meats are packed with good nutritional supplements; however, “Super Foods” are those that are powerful enough to provide us maximum benefits in terms of health and longevity. These food are full of fiber, potassium, magnesium, healthy fats and antioxidants. A healthy diet incorporating a variety of these Super Foods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer!

What foods are “Super”?

A good guide is that all richly-colored vegetables (green, yellow, purple, orange and red), nuts, fruits and fish are a major thumbs-up. Here is a list of some of the super foods offering major health benefits: Almonds, Walnuts, Brazil nuts, Coconut, Apples, Beans, Broccoli, Blueberries, Olive oil, Oats, Whole-grain seeded bread, Salmon (and other fish with omega-3 fatty acids), Green or black tea, Yogurt, Bananas, Sweet potatoes, Citrus fruit, Berries, Tomatoes, spinach, pumpkin, soy, barley and quinoa among others. You probably see a lot of your favorite foods listed…which is another reason why you should always include these items on your weekly grocery list!

Why Super Foods?

When it comes to our health and what we choose to put into our bodies, it should be nothing but the absolute best. Super foods are packed with antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins and proteins… vital nutrients that our bodies need. Making major changes to your diet can be challenging, however, if you slowly incorporate a few Super Foods each week, you’ll start to notice how much better you feel, your skin will improve and your digestion will optimize. You may even begin to crave fruit and vegetables to replace your vending machine snacks.

With cancer and obesity rates sky-rocketing around the world, it’s a good idea to include a few items from this list at every meal. Your body will thank you!