Fitness and nutrition experts all over the world emphasize the importance of superfoods, and for good reason. Andrew Demetre, a Charleston-based fitness expert, says there are many nutritional benefits to this rather large category of foods.
Foods such as wild blueberries, strawberries, acai, coffee, pomegranate, kale, spinach, green tea, tomato, and broccoli are some of the most popular superfoods. Yet, there are two other crucial superfoods that you should not leave out of your diet.
They are dragon fruit and maqui berries.
What's So Great About Superfoods?
Superfoods are loaded with many amazing nutrients, but polyphenols are the main reason why they're so great. These bioactive compounds help to repress inflammation in the body since they inhibit the damage that free radicals can cause in the body.
Incorporating a solid amount of superfoods in your diet can help lower your blood pressure, reduce your cholesterol, lower the risk of you getting type 2 diabetes and help to improve recovery during training.
Different types of polyphenols can have a positive effect on metabolic pathways and hormones, while others can protect against a number of different diseases.
Dragon Fruit's Many Benefits
Dragon fruit is sometimes referred to as a pitaya. It's a fruit that's on a certain type of cactus that grows in South America and Mexico. It's pink in color, oval in shape, and has green scales.
It's not a common fruit in most people's diets, but it certainly should be. Dragon fruit is packed with carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lycopene. It also has loads of vitamin C, iron, and magnesium.
Many studies have shown dragon fruit can help strengthen the immune system while stabilizing your blood sugar and serving as a major anti-inflammatory.
The Benefits of Maqui Berry
Another South American fruit that you shouldn't skip out on is maqui berries. These small, dark purple fruits look a bit like blueberries. They've been harvested since back in the years of the Mapuche Indians in Chile.
Speaking of blueberries, they are often regarded as the best berry in the world. Yet, maqui berries typically have three times as many antioxidants in them. In addition, they're packed with anthocyanins, which is where the fruit gets its dark purple color.
Like dragon fruit, maqui berries can stabilize blood sugar, fight inflammation and support both gut and heart health.
Don't Skip These Crucial Superfoods
Andrew Demetre, a Charleston-based fitness expert, says that everyone should try to integrate more superfoods into their diet. Aside from the traditional superfoods, you should also consider working dragon fruit and maqui berries into the plan, both of which pack quite the bang for your buck, so to speak.
While these fruits aren't as common as some of the others on the "traditional" superfoods list, they have been found to have an exponentially more impactful effect on a person's health.
So, when you're increasing your superfood intake, don't skip on dragon fruit and maqui berries.
About Andrew Demetre
Andrew Demetre, Charleston health coach, physical trainer, and bodybuilder, first found his calling during the pandemic when he realized that many of his clients preferred working out from home. These days, Demetre uses his expertise to train clients from home, whether in the greater Charleston area or worldwide. Andrew firmly believes every client can achieve their ideal body through hard work and dedication — no gym membership needed.
