How Superfoods Have Surfaced in Culture in Recent Years
Like we’ve said, sometimes it seems that every year we learn about another superfood that’s supposed to change the way we eat and live. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a short list of the superfoods that have entered the public consciousness over the last few years.
- The term “superfood” – it’s been used for almost a century, though it was first referenced as recently as 1998 in a journal called Nature Nutrition
- Juicing – became super popular in the 1990s, but it’s been around since the 30s
- Goji Berries – caught the public’s attention back in 2006
- Kale – Sure, it’s been around since the time of the dinosaurs, but it wasn’t until 1996 when the LA Times published a poem on the leafy green. After that, in 2008 and 2009, Whole Living magazine deemed it a power food and then Martha Stewart started referencing it in recipes. The rest is history.
- Acai Berries – all the rage in 2008-9, though previously they were only well-known inside of Brazil
- Chia Seeds – as always, it tough to pin an exact moment on when a superfood becomes popular, but around 2012, it seemed that chia had made its way back into the news, though it was a staple of both Maya and Aztec peoples many years ago.
- Pichuberries – Men’s Fitness magazine predicts that these and a few other superfoods (Manuka honey, Nutritional Yeast, Hemp Hearts, and Sacha Inchi, among others) will begin their rise in popularity starting in 2014
We recommend choosing 4-5 foods that are going to become part of your life and then really trying to stick with those.Now let’s get serious – there’s NO way anyone who isn’t working in health and nutrition full-time is really going to keep track of all this. Minding the shop when it comes to the latest superfood fad, weighing the pros and cons, understanding how things work in concert with each other in your body – it’s a lot to handle. But we recommend choosing 4-5 foods that are going to become part of your life and then really trying to stick with those.
Any of the superfoods that we’ve mentioned in this article are probably going to good for you when consumed properly and in moderation, but we’ve rounded up five solid choices that we think will work well for the 40+ man. You have specific health needs, and these nutritional powerhouses have what it takes to help you stay healthy in your prime. They are all very easily incorporated into your diet, too.
Got Hypertension? Get Garlic
If you have hypertension lurking in your family tree, then garlic is one thing for you to consider adding to your diet. A double-blind study conducted at the University of Adelaide in Australia found that patients who were given aged garlic extract daily over a period of twelve weeks had greatly reduced systolic blood pressure, compared to those who received placebos.
In fact, the garlic worked just as well as first-tier blood pressure medications, so go ahead and throw an extra clove or two into your favorite spaghetti recipe. Just don’t forget the breath mints after dinner.
What You Need to Know About Watercress
In a surprise upset, a recent peer-reviewed study conducted at William Patterson University named watercress as the single most nutrient-dense vegetable available. The study’s criteria focused on the 17 nutrients recognized by the Institute of Medicine to be crucial for good health, and cancer and heart disease risk reduction.
Some of the nutrients are especially key to the health of men over 40. For example, zinc is essential for healthy testosterone levels, and watercress is rich in zinc. Per calorie, watercress contains more nutrients than romaine, collard greens, and yes, even kale. If you’re not a big fan of salads, you can always throw some watercress in your Vitamix to add a pleasant peppery richness to your favorite savory juice recipes.