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Superfoods

Superfoods Delivery or Pickup

Superfoods Delivery or Pickup

About superfoods

Understanding more about superfoods can help your purchase decisions. Whether you are using the convenience of Intacart delivery or pickup, shop confidently knowing everything you need to know about superfoods.

What is a superfood?

A superfood is a popular term used in the world of health, but what does it mean to shop for superfoods? A superfood is considered a nutritionally dense food. That means it has lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. An added benefit is that these foods usually have a lower calorie count as well. 

There is no standard definition or qualification that classifies certain foods as superfoods. Still, by considering the nutritional values of foods by looking at their vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant counts, certain foods fall into the superfood category. Most superfoods are plant-based, but there are also a few fish and dairy products that fall into this category. 

To be considered a superfood, the food should be whole and unprocessed, but there can be exceptions to the rule. As a result, it can be hard to find what you are looking for. Still, Instacart offers shoppers a wide variety of superfoods to choose from when shopping for groceries with the added benefit of same-day delivery.

Different superfoods

Because there is no official definition of what a superfood is, many foods fall in this category. If you are trying to determine whether a food is a superfood, remember that the food should have a good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients. You should also make sure the food isn't processed if you can. The more processing that occurs to the food, the more nutrients are lost. You want to get as many of the nutrients that you can when looking for superfoods. 

Here are some foods that are considered superfoods:
  • açai berries
  • blueberries
  • goji berries
  • soy
  • tea
  • leafy greens
  • salmon
  • dark chocolate
  • wine
  • grapes
  • kale
  • sweet potatoes
  • beans
  • nuts 
You can also get superfood blends that combine different foods into a powder. You can add this powder to drinks and other foods, making it easier to eat these superfoods in different forms.  Be careful if these powders are a supplement, as they can include other medicinal ingredients you don't need. 

Benefits of eating superfoods

There are many health benefits associated with eating superfoods. By eating healthy foods like berries, leafy greens, and soy products, you can reduce the risk of many health issues. Nutritionists tend to shy away from the term superfoods because of unrealistic expectations it can carry. Still, the reality is that you will reduce health issues by maintaining a good diet. By eating foods with high minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, you can promote proper heart health, weight loss, and improve energy levels. 

It's also important to remember that you must maintain a healthy diet in general. Eating one or two superfoods on top of a poor diet will not give you the health benefits you are looking for.

The next time you order through Instacart, try adding some berries or leafy greens to your cart. Adding these nutrient-filled superfoods to your diet is an easy way to boost your immune system and keep your body running the way it's supposed to.

Superfoods Near Me

Buy your favorite Superfoods online with Instacart. Order Green Food Blends, Spirulina, Moringa, and more from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.

FAQs about superfoods

Many stores offer different types of superfoods. At Instacart, we'll do our best to pick high-quality produce and products for you. Buying produce can be tricky if you don't know what you are looking for. For most produce, you want to pick pieces that don't have soft spots in them. You can also tell if the produce is fresh if it has a fragrant smell, or by looking at its color.

It's a good idea to buy produce when it's in season because it will be more flavorful and less expensive. Also, be wary of the pricing when it comes to buying superfoods. Don't feel like you have to buy expensive products.

While buying fresh produce is ideal, it doesn't last as long as frozen foods. The freezing process preserves most of the nutrients in the fruit or vegetable and keeps it at almost the same quality as fresh produce if you want to store it for longer periods of time. 

So, if you are looking to store your superfoods, freezing is a great way to keep their nutrients while maintaining the freshness you would get when eating the food fresh. Just be aware that when using frozen fruit, ice crystals can damage the fruit's cells and make it soft. Certain fruits could turn to mush, and you could lose some of their minerals and vitamins as the ice melts. 

When fruit is dried or dehydrated, the process takes the water out of the food, significantly increasing its sugar content. A benefit of the added sugar content is that you can get extra energy from the fruit after eating it. Drying fruit can also concentrate its vitamins and minerals, so you can eat less fruit by weight and get the same amount of nutrients. If you consider adding dried fruit to your cart, it is healthy for you, but make sure you are eating small portions because of its sugar content.

Antioxidants are known to boost your immune system. They work with your body to help fight off damage and keep your immune system strong. These antioxidants can help you ward off infections, colds, and cases of flu. 

There is also evidence that antioxidants can reduce damage in your body caused by free radicals, which are byproducts of oxidization happening inside your body. Antioxidants have been shown to reduce and decrease effects of health problems such as:
  • heart disease
  • cancer
  • arthritis
  • stroke  
You can tell if a superfood is high in antioxidants by its color. If it's all brown, its antioxidant levels are low. Look for foods with naturally bright colors.

Remember: superfoods high in antioxidants are not miracle cures. They are just healthy foods that help support your body in taking care of itself. You can not rely solely on superfoods to keep you healthy.