The festive season is over and so should be the over-indulging in sweets, fried food and snacks. This is the perfect time to recharge your body and detoxify it. Here are a few superfoods that can help...

Eggs
With their rich protein, vitamin and mineral content, eggs contribute significantly to improving your concentration, maintaining healthy weight, developing the brain, strengthening eyesight, clotting the blood as well as preventing both birth defects and breast cancer says nutritionist Pooja Makhija.

Quinoa
This resembles couscous when boiled and can be used as a substitute for rice. Like egg, Quinoa is a 100% reference protein which has all nine essential amino acids, including lysine, which no other cereal has, states Pooja.

Blueberries
Blueberries has the highest antioxidant content of all fresh fruit and is rich in Vitamins A, B Complex, C and E as well as in anthocyanin, copper, selenium, zinc and iron say experts. It is one of the best sources of antioxidants in the world has been known to fight super battles against disease, ageing, heart ailments and belly fat.

Pumpkin
Both the seeds and the flesh of this Superfood are bursting with benefits. The fruit itself is high in antioxidants, Vitamins A, C, K and E and is a rich source of magnesium, potassium and iron. Pumpkin seeds have been associated with treating osteoporosis, prostate problems, depression and preventing cancer.

Oranges
What people do know is that oranges are a wonderful source of Vitamin C. What they might not know is that this simple fruit helps with asthma, kidney stones, high BP and arthritis as well as assists in the lowering of cholesterol and the prevention of diabetes, says Pooja.

Broccoli
Nutrient rich, this superfood helps those with blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis. Pooja says, It is believed to contribute to the control or prevention of cataracts, stomach and colon cancer, arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer's, tumours, as well as ageing.

Walnuts
This nut, which looks like a brain, is actually good for your brain! Pooja says, Walnuts have also been known to do wonders for your heart, mood, bone health and weight loss as well as help with insomnia, gallstones, diabetes and cancer. Deepshikha states that nuts are calorie dense foods packed with protein, healthy fats and some essential vitamins and minerals and one must include a handful of these daily.

Yogurt
There's such a thing as good bacteria and your dahi has an abundance of it. Additionally, yogurt with active cultures helps with gastrointestinal conditions to include constipation, diarrhoea, lactose intolerance, colon cancer and bowel disease as well as in the prevention of osteoporosis and regulating blood pressure.

Green tea
Dietician Deepshikha Agarwal says, Having two cups of green tea can do wonders for your skin and also increase the efficiency of our immune system. It also helps in lowering your risk of cancer, easing arthritis pain, regulating your cholesterol, preventing heart disease, boosting the immune system, losing weight, having healthier teeth, fending off allergies and infections and reducing or preventing acne.

Spinach
Spinach is a nutrient-dense food, loaded with not just iron but a whole host of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. This vegetable protects your heart, promote gastrointestinal health and keep your brain young and active.

Oats
If you want to have a better chance at fighting high cholesterol and heart disease, regulating your blood sugar, blood pressure and bowel movements, reducing the risk of getting cancer or controlling your weight, eat more oats.

Flaxseed
Flaxseed is a wonderful source of fibre, omega 3 and is a natural laxative. It also helps with lowering bad cholesterol and protect against diabetes as it decreases insulin resistance.

Wheatgrass
The Wheat-grass is always greener! This food has been known to cleanse the liver, boost production of haemoglobin, increase immunity, heal wounds, purify the blood and improve digestion.

Salmon
Salmon's high Omega-3 fatty acid content makes this an unbeatable Superfood. Salmon has been known to fight heart disease, decrease cancer risk, protect joints, improve mood and cognition as well as treat eye problems like dry eyes.

Tomatoes
This superfood derives its luscious red colour from lycopene, an antioxidant which does not occur naturally in the body and has to be derived from an external food source. Tomatoes are associated with prevention of cancer and heart disease as well as the lowering of cholesterol.

Bananas
A rich source of potassium and fibre, go bananas if you want to work on lowering your blood pressure, maintaining the health of your bones, having a healthy digestive tract and preventing the development of cancer, states Pooja.

Strawberries
The delicious strawberry doesn't just look and taste good. This is an antioxidant superfood and has been associated with cardiovascular benefits, blood sugar regulation (and is therefore good for diabetics) as well as with fighting cancer.


Source: Times of India

BDST: 1415 HRS, AUG 29, 2015
Edited by:  Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor