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Super-Duper Foods Everything you need to know about the five most powerful superfoods. Superfoods are foods that are teeming with nutrients and can positively affect your health. While no standard legal or nutritional criteria classifies a food as a superfood, experts agree that those offering maximum nutritional benefits—like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—for minimal calories are the most likely to do your body and mind good. When you make superfoods part of your diet, you may feel better and lessen your chances of developing health problems. Here, we take a deep dive into some of the most popular foods considered "super." Learn what they are and what makes them so powerful. B e r r i e s Berries are sweet, nutritious, flavor-packed powerhouses. Enjoyed alone or as a fruity punch in smoothies, cakes, and sauces, berries are one of the world's healthiest foods. High in fiber, berries may help your body slow down the movement of food through your digestive tract. Plus, they deliver nutrients like vitamin C, manganese, and folate. Health benefits: • Helps maintain a healthy body weight • Promotes heart health • Aids healthy brain function • Aids in connective tissue formation Superpower: Loaded with antioxidants, berries help protect your cells from free-radical damage. Free radicals can lead to oxidative stress, which can initiate a number of diseases, like diabetes and high blood pressure, over time. Fun fact: The strawberry is related to the rose. Both belong to the genus Fragaria, meaning fragrant. They also share similarities like their red color and attractive smell. D a r k , L e a f y G r e e n s Dark, leafy greens have been a part of the human diet for centuries. Ancient civilizations may not have known all the nutritional perks of leafy greens, but they were sure to notice the feel-good effects of consuming these plant-based superfoods. Bursting with vitamins, salad greens like kale and spinach are rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K. Leafy vegetables like broccoli and bok choy boast vitamin B superiority. Health benefits: • Promotes heart health • Helps prevent certain congenital abnormalities or disorders • Protects bones from osteoporosis • May prevent inflammation • May lower the risk of certain types of cancers • Helps maintain a healthy body weight Superpower: Leafy greens contain fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, and have very low amounts of carbohydrates, sodium, and cholesterol. They're fast-acting foods that promote a healthy, regular digestive tract, which improves your daily level of comfort. Fun fact: The oldest leafy green in the cabbage family, collard greens date back 2,000+ years. Ancient Greeks and Romans were the first to grow the crop. 16