Superfoods

Superfoods are foods packed with anti-oxidants and anti-ageing properties. These raw foods have loads of vitamins, nutrients and minerals. By eating more superfoods, you could build your immune system and lose weight.

♥ Blueberries
All kinds of berries are really great superfoods for your overall health, supposedly packed full of anti-oxidants this fruit is wonderful for your overall health. Buying organic fruit will also boost its immune boosting powers. Buying frozen blueberries instead of fresh can be an easy way of getting them in your diet.

Include this superfood in your diet by: making a delicious blueberry smoothie, baking some scrumptious blueberry muffins, or popping them onto your cereal for breakfast.

♥ Walnuts
Putting walnuts into your cooking can really improve your cholesterol and are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids. Keep them in a cool, dry place to stop them from becoming rancid. Why not use them to make a delicious Waldorf salad? Or how about mixing them with dark chocolate and ground almonds to make some healthy chocolate brownies?

♥ Apples
Can help fight cancer and other immune weakening diseases because they have many antioxidants. They can easily be cooked and put into anything from cakes to meat dishes.

Put homemade apple sauce onto porridge at breakfast, or serve a delicious hot apple pie for dessert at your next dinner party.

♥ Flax seeds
Flax seed oil or ground flaxseeds have many benefits. These little apple pip look-a-likes may have anti-cancer properties, and help to stabilise blood sugar levels in those with diabetes. Sprinkle flaxseed on your muesli at breakfast in the morning, your chicken and vegetable salad at lunch, and use it to make the breadcrumb topping for your fish at dinner.

♥ Oats
Long lasting carbohydrates are the most important kind, and getting these into your body in the form of wholemeal options is important. Oats have been linked with lowering cholesterol levels, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease, and are perfect for those on a gluten-free diet.

Enjoy oats in their purest form at breakfast, create your own muesli, or mix with water and soya milk and heat for a hearty porridge - and don't forget to drizzle with honey!

♥ Garlic
These are great for fighting against colds, as they have fantastic antibacterial properties. Adding a small amount of garlic to your cooking is easy and beneficial. Simply add it to any sauce, whether it be for fish, meat or pasta.

Or, for a really good-for-you starter, make some garlic mushrooms. Add mixed mushrooms into a pan with lots of chopped garlic and shallots, add butter (or margarine), olive oil, tarragon, low fat creme fraiche and some chopped chives. Serve with toasted homemade bread.

♥ Oily fish
Full of omega 3 fatty acids, which may help those who suffer with depression and improve conditions like arthritis. Oily fish has most commonly been linked with increased brain function, and when eaten once a week may help prevent the onset of dementia.

Grill it, barbeque it, fry it, bake it. Sprinkle it with herbs and salt or add it to a fish stew. Pop it in a pie or slide it in your sandwiches. There are too many delicious ways to eat oily fish!

♥ Soya
This has some great benefits as they are full of complete proteins, and can be a great inexpensive way of getting this into your diet. A great option for vegetarian cooking, and those on a limited budget who can't afford meat.

Drizzle on your cereal in the morning, instead of cows milk, and add it in all your healthy baking.