What do superfoods do for us?

Superfoods are foods with exceptionally high nutritional values - and as if that wasn't good enough, they also contain exactly those nutrients that vegans, vegetarians or raw foodists urgently need. Magazines report on cancer-curing effects, support for healthy weight loss or paving the way to becoming a strong, enduring fitness athlete in connection with superfoods. But what is really so great about them? First of all, a superfood is defined by the fact that it can do more than an everyday food. All too often they have been known for thousands of years, just not in our culture. Or they have simply not been seen in the same way as they are today. Vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are difficult to obtain are found in high quantities in superfoods, making them useful and valuable for nutrition. However, it is not enough to just try them once. They should be on the menu regularly, otherwise they are not an effective contribution to a healthy lifestyle. The currently more well-known superfoods include chia, hemp and quinoa. We want to take a closer look at these. Chia Surprisingly, chia belongs to the sage family and comes from Central America. The Mayas and Aztecs used chia as a medicinal plant and staple food, and the black seeds can now be found in many supermarkets. They contain up to 40% vegetable fat and provide valuable omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, plus 20% protein of the total mass. The package also contains fiber, vitamins and minerals. However, it is recommended not to eat more than 15g per day, as there are no long-term studies on chia. They are eaten in smoothies, muesli, yoghurt or quark as a side dish and for decoration. Seeds or oil can be used equally. Since the seeds absorb a lot of liquid, they can also be used for baking or in thick sauces. Chia seed oil and the flour from the seeds expand the possibilities of use. Hemp seeds Hemp? Yes, that's right - but only the seeds! They are very high in protein and were therefore introduced to us by sportsmen and women who did not want to consume animal protein and found an alternative. Since they really don't taste bad, they are mixed into muesli or salads and can also be found as pure hemp protein in protein shakes for athletes. With a little hemp protein, the protein content of a drink can be increased by 20-30%. Hemp seed oil is a good substitute for olive oil. It provides valuable unsaturated fatty acids, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is exactly the recommended ratio of 3:1. We actually need this fat because the body cannot produce it itself. Hemp protein is also ideal for vegetarians and vegans as well as raw foodists who need a healthy protein source without animal products. Quinoa Quinoa, the Inca grain, is a pseudocereal and is closely related to beetroot or spinach. It is gluten-free and can be enjoyed without any concerns by people with celiac disease. Quinoa is popular for its high protein content, calcium and iron - all in all, pretty great. What makes it unique, however, is that it contains all nine essential amino acids, which is almost impossible to find in other plant-based foods. Quinoa is a South American plant and was valued as a staple food in the high Andes over 6,000 years ago. For today's healthy diets, quinoa is an easy-to-prepare source of protein and also provides attractive amounts of vitamins and minerals. Similar to rice, quinoa seeds are simply boiled in water. The taste is reminiscent of nuts and goes well with almost everything that rice is served with. Tip: sprinkle with linseed oil and salt beforehand - the taste will thank you! But the best thing is of course to try it yourself. These three superfoods are quite easy to integrate into your daily diet and pose no major challenges even for inexperienced cooks.