The best superfoods: top 5 Indian superfoods

 

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Today I am going to share with you 5 superfoods of India just including them in your diet will have an enormous impact on your fitness goal and over all health. A Food becomes super when it has a Plethora of benefits, versatile uses and suits almost all body types. No, I am not going to talk about some rare, exotic foods but are very owm local produce which is very easily available and is also pocket friendly. Let alone weight loss these foods will provide glowing skin, lustrous hair, strong immunity and robust digestive system naturally. I will also share with you when and how to consume them so that you can derive maximum benefits out of these superfoods. I make it a point to include them in my diet and I firmly believe that you should took. The food industry seems to discover a superfood every week. However, the 5 superfoods that I am going to talk about have stood the real test of time have been a part of our culture for long and also find an elaborate mention in our ayurvedic scriptures.

The 5 Best Indian Superfoods are-

1. Mango-

Mango is the quintessential summer fruit is also the king of all fruits and why not, this Royal fruit is not only among most delicious fruit but it is also extremely versatile and healthy. Mango trees considered sacred in Indian culture for the variety of uses and benefit it offers. Almost every part of mango tree including seed, bark, stem is still used in classical ayurvedic medicines. Scriptures explain that a completely ripe, juicy and sweet mango nourishes all the seven dhaatus of the body providing instant energy. If you are suffering from low hemoglobin so don't miss out mango this season rich in vitamin, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fibres. Mango has many more health benefits but is it fattening? Not really if you do not over do with it, a super food like this is a must have in this season.

Mango is a unique fruit which can be consumed at all times except for an empty stomach in the morning. The nutrients from mangoes similac better when they are soaked in water for few hours before being eaten. Mangoes followed by Kachhi lassi staple in Punjab which is an intelligent way to beat the heating effect of mangoes while mangoes are hot in potency but the Aam Panna drink is cooling and ideal to beat the heat. Dried raw mango powder that is amchur, a common spice in India is not only great for palad but also increases the digestive fire. Raw mangoes are used in the form of pickles, chutneys or eaten just like that in small quantities.

 Mango leaves have a special significance in our culture, they are worshipped, they are tied at home entrances to increase the positive vibrations, it's even mentioned in the shrimad bhagwat Geeta. scientifically mango leaves are antimicrobial, releases a lot of Oxygen and promote hygiene and health. Mango leaves are also effective in controlling blood sugar level and aid weight loss with so many benefits and taste which can beat almost all Sweet dishes. Mango is surely among my favourite superfoods.

We are actually blessed to live in a country like India which is a native of so many such superfoods. So let us focus more on eating our local superfoods, not only your body will thank you but also our farmers

2. Jackfruit-

With thorns on the outside and sweetness on the inside, nature had done well to protect the jackfruit so that we can reach the benefits this superfood. Jackfruit is probably the number one fertility promoter and effective anti aging food and an immunity booster. It's interesting that jackfruit curry is often used as a meat substitute due to its texture which is comparable to shredded meat. So much so that it is used in pure veg biryani to mimic the taste and flavour of a meat biryani. Jackfruit is a great addition to your regular diet if your goal is to put on some healthy weight.

 The ripe jackfruit bulbs eaten RAW as a fruit are sweet in taste and are extremely rich in antioxidants, maintain gut friendly bacteria and even kills the cancer cells. Never miss out on jackfruit seeds which are extremely rich in iron, natural antidepressant and they also rejuvenate skin and hair. The leaves of jackfruit are known to enhance the taste of foods so various rice pudding are prepared by trapping them in leaves. The phytonutrients present in the leaves not only enhance the flavour of food but also help in boosting immunity. Jackfruit being such a nutrient dense food, Indians have always found different ways of  consuming it So that even if it is not in the season it benefit could be read .

3. Green gram-

If there is best among all dals its the humble moong daal, it is probably the only lentil which suits all body type cooling for the body extremely rich in protein, fibre, potassium, iron, folate, vitamin b6 its easy to digest and strengthens the body and it's ideal for both muscle gain and weight loss. Moong daal is consumed in myriad ways in Indian culture be it as soup, dosa, pakodas, halva, laddu and namkeen.

Ayurvedic text mentioned moong daal which is prepared by boiling it and straining out the lentil as a food which is almost equivalent in terms of how nourishing it for the body tissues and intestine. It is prescribed to infants after the feeding phase, if you are suffering from weak eyesight or any other eye disorders moong daal should be a part of your weekly diet.

Then moong daal sprouts are favourite among athletes, what are the nutrients dense food that it is? Not to forget moong daals special part which exfoliate your skin and remove the layer of dead skin cells giving you the brighter, lighter and softer skin. All you have to do is soak little green gram in Some raw milk overnight, the next morning grind the soap daal to form a paste and apply it on your face for 15 minutes then rinse it off and dab your face with a soft towel. It's an ultimate grandmother recipe try it out with so many versatile uses both external and internal moong daal is no less than a superfood.

4. Lemon-

We are quite aware of numerous benefits of lemon. however let us go a step deeper to find out some of the lesser known uses of this miracle food. ayurvedic scriptures beautiful explain it, no matter lemon should always be in your kitchen this is because the aroma of lemon keeps the tiny insects at bay. 

Do you know that the lemon peel which we uncaringly throwaway is probably the most nutritious part of the lemon. It has much higher vitamin c then that in the juice, so how do we use it? Simply peel it off and add it in your Ginger tea, in uric acid problems where sour food is strictly curtailed off lemon peel can still be used. Looking for a quick pill for that sudden stomach ache? Have a little lemon pickle and see that ache disappearing, it also increases appetite, what about weight loss? Lemon juice along with honey and Ginger juice in warm water does not promote weight loss. 

After squeezing the lemon juice you can scrub the remaining on your hair hand watch that dandruff fade away. Lemon is probably the best cleansing agent, rub it on your face all over the body and see that dirt Vanish moreover it will keep the minor skin problems away. If you are stressed out and feeling low then simply smelling lemon will instantly give your mind a soothing effect that's the power of lemon. Lemon leaves and lemon peel are used in various culinary dishes just to give an additional touch of their flavour. I can actually go on and on explaining how miraclus this little superfood is, so make sure that you extract maximum of it.

5. Moringa-

While moringa has been proclaimed as one of the more recent superfood by the weight loss industry. The fact is that this vegetable has been used in Indian cooking for centuries. The drumsticks are one of the best blood purifier for the body so you can probably give Safi a break. Apart from this drumsticks have more calcium than milk. 

The most amazing thing about moringa is that every part of the tree, the leaves, flowers, the roots are for medicinal uses, This is the reason that it is referred to as miracle tree. Moringa powder which is thankfully now extensively marketed in the fitness circuit is an age old practice of extracting the powder from moringa leaves which are sun dried, crushed and finely grounded. 

You will be surprised to know that moringa leaves contains three times more iron than spinach. In bhavprakash nighantu, an ayurvedic text moringa is called Sigru something which moves like an arrow, it is described as one which deeply and rapidly penetrate the tissues even to the depth of bone marrow for deep cleansing. No under it is fast becoming the wests favourite detox drink, see you can have one tablespoon of moringa powder mixed in warm water in an empty stomach for 30 days to reach the benefits and do not forget to have drumsticks in sambar and mix veg.

Dishonourable mentions-

It includes all the exotic so called superfoods be it those multicolor capsicums, kale, berries, kiwis, broccoli, avocadoes which travel the 7 seas to reach the Indian supermarkets. thanks to the marketing strategies, not only they rip our pockets but also not superfood for us because superfoods are always local.