Do Spain?s superfoods really hold the key to a healthier lifestyle? Ellie Bligh investigates
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Being a full time resident in Spain can be hard work, what with all the sunbathing, swimming, eating good food and guzzling fine wines.
But unfortunately, like most enjoyable things in life, there can often be health-related implications, particularly when we overdo it.
So, in a bid to sway even the most avid fans of pie and chips away from their beloved British cuisine, it?s time to delve deeper into Spain?s natural offerings and adopt a healthier way of eating and of course, living.
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Nutritionists and doctors have been raving about? ?superfoods? for some time now, promoting their benefits and insisting we include them in our daily diets.
However, that?s easier said than done, especially if you haven?t the faintest idea what they are.
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Superfoods can be found anywhere the world and according to Steven Pratt, Californian Ophthalmologist and author of Superfoods RX: Fourteen Food That Will Change Your Life, they hold special ?powers? which go beyond everyday foodstuffs.
?I became obsessed by superfoods and their amazing effects whilst researching the degeneration of the human eye? explains Pratt.???After a few basic changes to my patient?s diets, there were astonishing improvements to their conditions.?
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However, Pratt has taken his theory even further, proving that diets which include superfoods can not only help sufferers of ocular-related problems, but also improve or even prevent many diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer?s and heart disease.
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Since Pratt?s discoveries, a number of superfoods have been identified in Spain and thanks to their usually?brightly-coloured appearance, are much easier to find than you may think.
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?So which superfoods are native to Spain and what can they do for me?? I hear you ask. Well, due to the country?s typical Mediterranean diet, it?s highly likely that you?ll find an abundance of these powerful foods on the menu at your local tapas restaurant, including tomatoes, olives, peppers, spinach, salmon, rice, turkey, olive oil and beans all of which are packed with essential nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants.
Therefore, when eaten regularly, will beat any food supplement hands-down!
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Venture into the nearest town and pay a visit to the supermarket or indeed the almac?n de la fruta y verdura (fruit and veg store) and?you?ll find a vast array of Spanish-grown superfoods, crammed full of cancer-fighting compounds plus a whole variety of metabolism-boosting minerals such as oranges, broccoli, pomegranates, pumpkins, watermelons, blueberries and avocados.
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The health-giving benefits of superfoods vary from one to the next, however, the trick is to look for the most brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, because the more intense they are in colour, the more antioxidants they?ll contain.
Take the deep red pomegranate for instance; it originates from the Middle East but was introduced to southern Spain during the Moorish period, when the city of Granada was named after this mythical fruit.
Nowadays, though, there?s nothing more refreshing than a glass of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice to naturally stimulate the body and mind.
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Once you?ve established how and where to buy your Spanish superfoods, it?s time to start incorporating them into your diet. But it?s not as complex as you?d imagine ? there?s no need to buy fancy recipe books or become obsessed with Keith Floyd?s ?On Spain? cookery shows, it?s simply a case of swapping your bad habits for good ones.
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For example, if you?re into seafood and fish, try swapping calamares fritos (fried squid rings) for fresh wild salmon or, if you?re a meat eater, try opting for turkey instead of chicken. It?s easy once you get the hang of it.
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But of course, like any healthy diet, you?ll only get good results when supporting it with regular exercise and (unfortunately) by cutting down on the cervezas!
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1. Olive oil
This is the most dominant ingredient in Spanish cooking and contains a rich source of the antioxidant polyphenol as well as monounsaturated fats. Research has suggested that olive oil can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
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According to researchers, tomatoes contain lycopene, a strong antioxidant which, not unlike sunscreen, can help to protect your skin from sunburn and stave off wrinkles. They?ve also been proven to reduce the risk of prostrate cancer and lower cholesterol
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3. Peppers
Because they come in vibrant colours such as green, red, orange and yellow, it?s not difficult to see that peppers are extremely high in antioxidants. But, if you like your food with a little more spice, then opt for red chilli peppers, as these contain twice the amount of vitamin c found in citrus fruits!
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4. Oranges
Vitamin c is what gives oranges their super powers and when eaten regularly, they can help to heal wounds, form new blood vessels and boost your metabolism, as well as fighting off cancer and heart disease.
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5. Blueberries
High in potassium and vitamin c, as well as cancer-defying antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, these little berries contain anti-inflammatory properties and are said to preserve a ?young brain? as we mature. They also make a great mid-afternoon snack!