Surprise! 7 Superfoods You Already Have in Your Kitchen

If you’ve read any health blogs (including this one) for any period of time, ever, I’m sure you’ve come across the term “superfood.” But what, exactly, does it mean? Superfoods are foods with a “concentrated amount of beneficial nutrients and food components that can help prevent the risk of the major food related health problems we face today,” says Bensalem-based dietician Lauren Swann. In other words, they’re foods that pack an extra nutritional oomph, which means they give you more bang for your caloric buck.

One big misconception with superfoods, though, is that they’re all super exotic, have names you can’t pronounce (Queen-oh-ah? Kween-waah? Quinoa?) and hail from far-flung parts of the world. The truth is that you probably already have a few superfoods in your pantry or freezer without even knowing it. Here are seven unsung super-charged superfoods I’m betting you already have in your kitchen. So, what’s for dinner tonight?

Almonds

Almonds almost feel like an afterthought in a lot of meals, what with their shavings sprinkled atop fish or salad. But what most people don't know is that these shavings actually contain Vitamin E, a disease-preventing antioxidant, and magnesium, which helps with healthy blood pressure. {Photo: Shutterstock}

Black Beans

Remember the old, catchy rhyme: "Beans, beans, they're good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you ..."?Yeah, you get the point. Black beans contain lots of fiber that helps keep the digestive tract healthy. They're also packed with protein, iron and folic acid. {Photo: Veer}

Cabbage

As a member of the cruciferous family, which also includes broccoli, collard greens and kale, cabbage is highly nutritious and low in fat and calories. The leafy-green vegetable is also a storehouse of phyto-chemicals that help protect against breast, colon and prostrate cancers. {Photo: Shutterstock}

Oatmeal

Now that the weather has finally started to feel like fall, you should start your mornings with oatmeal. Oats are high in fiber, which help remove cholesterol from the body. They are also rich in antioxidants that help fight against free radical damage. {Photo: Shutterstock}

Salmon

Salmon is a good go-to post-workout meal because its Omega-3 fatty acids strengthen the heart and re-synthesize muscle tissue. As a lean and light protein, it's also easily digested and filled with a large amount of Vitamin D. {Photo: Shutterstock}

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes make for delicious Thanksgiving side dishes, but they do more than satisfy our taste buds. They are full of beta-carotene, an antioxidant power house that helps lower the risk for heart disease and cancer. {Photo: Shutterstock}

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a fruit (or a vegetable if that's what you believe), and fruits are, well, healthy. But there's more to their sweet and juicy nature. Tomatoes are a good source of Vitamins A, C, and K, and concentrates (like tomato paste) provide lycopene, which help lower the risk of cancer. {Photo: Shutterstock}