You've heard the term applied to lots of things, but what does it take to get superfood status, and what does that really mean?
Some so-called superfoods.
If you want to eat healthy, you have options: Paleo, keto, Whole30, vegetarian or vegan. However you go, you might as well do it all the way by loading up on superfoods -- never sacrificing taste, of course. But wait, what are superfoods, exactly?
Try these nutritious, spotlight-loving ingredients: matcha, kava, kudzu, seaweed, quinoa, kombucha, chia seeds, goji berries, cacao, kimchi, açaí, miso, moringa and turmeric. They've all had their moment, but just because they may no longer be the "It" ingredient, that doesn't mean they're not still, well, super.
In addition to being packed with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, many of these ingredients are said (some even proven) to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, improve brain function and help fight memory loss, help you lose weight and provide tons of other health benefits. It's no wonder that there are even meal kit services that specialize in superfoods these days, or at least emphasize their inclusion in certain recipes. Even fast food chains have jumped on the bandwagon, with Chick-fil-A offering a Superfood Side salad.
While food trends come and go -- even in the health-food world -- unless you have an allergy or overdo it (everything in moderation, even kale), the bottom line is that you can never go wrong with whole fruits and vegetables, and their friends nuts, seeds and whole grains.
Here's how to tell if you've got a true superfood on your hands:
A superfood is a whole (read: real, unprocessed, in its original form) food with high nutrient density -- providing more bang for your buck. Usually plant-based, superfoods are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
There's no standard criteria or an approved list of superfoods, according to the American Heart Association. For that reason, among others, many nutritionists avoid using the term to prevent unrealistic expectations of protection from chronic diseases. Bottom line: These are not magic substances, but foods that are especially healthy for you, and there are dozens of them.
The best health foods possess three of these four components, according to the Mayo Clinic:
The best superfoods are packed with the aforementioned benefits, although some are easier to find than others. While this is by no means a complete list, some of our favorite superfoods are as follows:
Combine fellow superfood beets with avocado for a nutritious and beautiful plate.
Chia seeds are the basis for countless breakfast bowls.
A smoked egg sandwich on seeded bread is healthier than mayo-laden egg salad.
Kale and apple slaw is full of crunch.
Pomegranate-spiked maple syrup tops off healthy whole wheat oat pancakes.
A teriyaki salmon bowl with veggies is even more nutritious over whole grains or cauliflower rice.
Top unsweetened yogurt with homemade granola and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Green Superfood powder is one more way to add extra nutrients to your diet.
"Green Superfood" is both a brand name and an umbrella term to describe a couple of different things. Actual green superfoods include your standard leafy green vegetables, plus other veggies like avocados, Brussels sprouts and broccoli, as well as things like spirulina, wheatgrass and algae.
However, green superfood powders are also popular additions to smoothies and juice. These supplements are comprised of various greens, plus other fruits and vegetables, and are an easy way to work more of those ingredients into your diet (although consuming them in their whole form, or as minimally altered as possible, is always preferable).
Amazing Grass Green Superfood powder: The popular Green Superfood brand offers several different blends (like a protein-rich vegan chocolate option, and an antioxidant-rich berry-flavored blend), but this one goes heavy on greens and wheatgrass.
Eating a diet comprised largely of superfoods can help you lose weight if that's what you're after, but they're also just great for your overall health -- and taste fantastic. If you need a little assistance, you can jump on the healthy meal kit delivery train and try Sakara and Daily Harvest, which both name-check superfoods in their descriptions and focus on clean eating.
Or, you can hit up your grocery store, sticking to the produce, meat and seafood departments (and avoiding the packaged foods, although if you can't resist temptation, try picking plant-based snacks!), and make these superfood recipes for yourself:
Açaí Bowl.
Start your day off right with a superfood smoothie bowl based on açaí berry purée and fresh fruits, and go as wild as you want with the toppings; it's a great chance to pack in even more superfoods like flax and pomegranate seeds. Get our Açaí Bowl recipe.
There are countless versions of superfood salads out there (this Twelve Superfoods Salad packs a dozen superfoods into a single bowl), and you could build infinite variations of your own, but this one is especially striking, and the addition of salmon makes it perfect for dinner too. Get the Superfood Salad with Salmon recipe.
Chilled avocado, cucumber and kefir soup.
Creamy, crunchy, light, refreshing, satisfying and super healthy -- oh, and you can make it in less than 10 minutes. Yep, this recipe from The Kefir Cookbook by Julie Smolyansky might be the perfect summer lunch (but it's refreshing in winter too when you need a break from heavy meals). Get the Chilled Avocado, Cucumber and Kefir Soup recipe.
Seeded Apple Bread with Honey and Thyme
Oats, Greek yogurt, eggs, apples and flaxseeds all figure into this recipe from the Lagom cookbook by Steffi Knowles-Dellner -- and honey is also considered a superfood by many (at least when you use a raw honey). While you might not be able to say the same for the butter, it's not so bad in concert with all these other healthy ingredients. Get the Seeded Apple Bread with Honey and Thyme recipe.
Easy Salmon with Lemon and Capers
Marinate the skin-on salmon fillets for about 15 minutes while you chop the shallot, garlic and capers for this easy treatment that yields a tangy, salty savory main meal that will fill you up with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Get our Easy Salmon with Lemon and Capers recipe.
Almond-whole wheat blueberry muffins.
Antioxidant rich blueberries get more punch with the fiber and protein of almonds in this healthier version of the classic blueberry muffin. Leave off the streusel if you're cutting down on sugar, and toss in a spoonful of wheat germ if you have it. Get our Almond-Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins recipe.
Three superfoods -- kale, beans and garlic -- packed into one brothy bowl provide vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein to make you, as well as your tastebuds, feel great. Get our Kale and Cannellini Bean Soup recipe.
Spiced pumpkin-oatmeal cookies.
You could do a lot worse when making cookies. Rolled oats, pumpkin, ginger and cinnamon not only taste good and are full of filling fiber, they're nutrient-rich. Leave off the powdered-sugar glaze if you're cutting down on sugar. Get our Spiced Pumpkin-Oatmeal Cookies recipe.
Broccoli slaw.
This slaw not only has the superfood broccoli, it has purple and green cabbage, Greek yogurt, cranberries and walnuts. The result is creamy, crunchy, tangy and nutty. Get our Broccoli Slaw recipe.
Read more: 8 ways to make healthier coleslaw
Antioxidant-rich dark chocolate is even better made into a bark with other tasty (and beautiful) superfoods like almonds, goji berries, matcha and bee pollen. Get the Dark Chocolate Superfood Bark recipe.
This story was written by Amy Sowder, updated by Jen Wheeler and originally posted at Chowhound.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.