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Friday, 19 May 2006 |
Superfoods are the new must-haves in your foodstore – distinguished usually by deep, bright colours, they are packed with goodness and many of them are already part of the Spanish diet. Oranges, broccoli, tomatoes, olives, pumpkin, yogurt, nuts, spinach…check out any Spaniards' purchases in their shopping trolleys in the local supermercado and they’ll all be there. Food yes, but ‘super’ – what’s that all about?
Superfoods may sound somewhat Californian, and it is, admittedly, an idea from the American West Coast, but you can’t get away from the increasing data confirming their powers that go beyond normal foodstuffs.
Interest in these foods was sparked by Steven Pratt, a Californian ophthalmologist, whose book Superfoods RX: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life has sold thousands of copies. Pratt says he became convinced of the power of super foods whilst researching age-related degeneration of the eye. He found that his patients suffered amazing improvements to their condition after making a few basic changes to their diet.
Furthermore, his theory goes much further than simply ocular-related problems; he maintains that the same diet choices can prevent the onset or improve many diseases. "You don’t need 20 different diets for as many complaints you just need one with 20 superfoods in it", he says.
These foods, which can help prevent heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s diabetes and hypertension, are not hard to find and it will come as no surprise to followers of the Mediterranean lifestyle that many of them form part of Spain’s daily diet. Recommended are:
* Beans * Blueberries * Broccoli * Oats * Oranges * Pumpkin * Salmon * Soy
* Spinach * Tea * Tomatoes * Turkey * Walnuts * Yoghurt
 Since this book many foods have jumped on the superfood band-wagon including avocado and pomegranate, all nuts, water melon and rice, most of which are not only produced in Spain but eaten on a daily basis, The health-giving properties of superfoods vary but, when eaten regularly and in conjunction with one another, you can ensure you get essential nutrients, anti-oxidants and vitamins - naturally and enjoyably!
COLOUR: One of the secrets to these foods lies in their colouring. Red, for example -whilst the humble tomato, a staple of almost all Spanish savoury dishes and the biggest export crop from the province of Almeria, is the richest source of lypocene, a ‘cancer preventer’, this can also be found in other red, or partly red, foods such as water melon and pink grapefruit.
Pomegranates also fall into this category with their juice - the syrup of which is referred to as "Grenadine" - being the new ‘superjuice’ to hit the shelves in America and the UK. Seen growing in many Spanish gardens during July and August this fruit has exceptionally high levels of polyphenols – antioxidants that prevent free radical damage by limiting the build up of plaque in arteries.
Orange: the original superfood list says pumpkins, which are widely grown and eaten in Spain, also sweet potato, butternut squash and orange peppers.
Sticking with orange, this time the fruit - one of Spain’s biggest success stories – it is the most readily available source of vitamin C, which lowers the rate of risk of cancer and heart disease.
On taking supplements, Dr Pratt has some bad news: "It is impossible to manufacture a supplement that has all the nutrients found in food. For example there are more than 8000 polyphenols (antioxidants) in foods. Can you imagine manufacturing a product that has over 8000 ingredients…?
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