In recent years, the concept of “superfoods” has taken the food and health industry by storm. So much so that, the moment you enter a supermarket, you are surrounded by a number of foods labelled as “healthy”. These foods are advertised and praised as nutritional powerhouses that can transform and improve our overall well-being. You may consume these foods thinking that these will provide you with the nutrients you need, but most of the time they contain one or more unwanted ingredients. Do you consume these foods? If you are concerned, this article is for you! Nutritionist Shalini Sudhakar (@consciouslivingwithshalini) shared a video on her Instagram handle revealing three foods that are known as “superfoods”,
Also read: A call from celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar Lemon A superfood and know why
Watch the full video below:
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What are superfoods?
Superfoods are simple foods that are packed with essential compounds like antioxidants, fiber, or fatty acids that are considered beneficial to a person’s health. They are nutritionally dense and have low calories, so consuming them can improve your overall health.
Here are 3 superfoods that aren’t actually that healthy:
1. Green tea
As shocking as it may sound, nutritionist Shalini Sudhakar suggests that you should drink green tea only if you like its taste. Many people drink green tea to improve their overall health as it has always been promoted as a superfood for weight loss. However, according to the expert, drinking green tea will never reduce your weight or belly fat or change your health with the micronutrients present in it.
2. Packaged juices
Juices contain nutrients but the way they are processed takes away the fibre. Packaged juices are high in sugar, artificial colours and emulsifiers which are harmful to health, especially for children. If you want to reap the benefits of fruits, nutritionist Sudhakar suggests eating them whole rather than juicing them.
3. Healthy Drinks
Healthy drinks available in the market contain a lot of milk powder, sugar and artificial flavours. Although they may make milk tastier, they will not provide enough nutrients for your or your baby’s overall health.
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Some healthy alternatives to the food mentioned above
As nutritionist Shalini Sudhakar busts the myth about these three superfoods, here are some healthy alternatives that you, your kids and your family can eat.
1. Herbal tea
Instead of green tea, try drinking tea made from herbs and spices to improve your gut health, lose weight and focus on overall health. Also, according to nutritionists, the only way to shed those extra kilos and lead a healthy life is to eat a balanced diet and stay on a calorie deficit.
2. Eat fruits
Nutritionist Sudhakar advises against drinking fruit juices, even if they are made at home. Juicing removes the fibre and leaves behind only sugar with little or no nutritional benefits.
3. Homemade health drinks
Instead of buying processed health drink powder from the market, make it at home. Use plain cocoa powder or nuts mix powder to flavour children’s milk. However, nutritionist Sudhakar says that if they still prefer processed health drink powder, limit it to one teaspoon a day, but do not expect any health benefits from it.
Check out a list of Desi superfoods to include in your diet here.
Also read: 6 Indian Foods to Lose Belly Fat
Which superfoods do you think are most beneficial for the body? Let us know in the comments below!