5 Indian Superfoods That You Really Should Be Including in Your Diet

Eating healthy can sometimes seem like a chore with a long list of dos and dont's, hidden sugar and calories to watch out and abstaining from all your favourite snacks. Add to that the arrival of a new superfood being heralded online every month, it can get confusing to pick one that can dramatically transform your fitness levels. Simply put, superfoods are extremely nutrient-rich foods that are often low in calories but high in vitamins and antioxidants such as kale, goji berries or avocado. 

Celebrity nutritionist to the stars Rujuta Diwekar has often been an advocate of logical, simple and conscious eating. She says, "Eating right is like a skill, just like swimming and cycling. It may take time for you to learn it, but once you do, it stays with you forever." So, if you are daunted by which superfood to include in your diet to reap instant health benefits, check out some of her pick of superfoods recommended in her latest audiobook titled ‘Eating in the Age of Dieting’ available on Audible. Bonus, these are traditional Indian superfoods that are not only easier on your pockets but are also readily available. 

Banana

From banana chips to banana curry or in its fruit form, bananas are an integral part of an Indian diet. Rujuta deems it as a superfood saying that bananas are a 'potent mood booster, fertility booster, and immunity booster'. They are also excellent keepers of gut integrity and hormone health. If you aren't fond of the fruit, Rujuta recommends using banana flour that helps in fighting acne and overcoming migraine along with regulating insulin sensitivity. She says, “It's the kind of food that’s fit for the goodness within.” 

Jackfruit

Rujuta terms the jackfruit aka kathal as her 'favouritest fruit'. Not only does it make for a great meat substitute for vegans and vegetarians across the world, but it can also be either eaten raw, as a pickle or even as a fried vegetable. This fibre-rich goodie is loaded with magnesium among other nutrients, which is important for the absorption of calcium and helps strengthen the bones.

Sitaphal/Custard Apple

Rich in iron, potassium fibre and B6, Sitaphal assists in providing natural sugar to the body. Rujuta, in her audiobook also busts the most common myth around this humble fruit and states it is low in glycemic index. Custard apples are also filled with carotenoids, which fight against the free radicals that may cause various diseases in our bodies. 

Indian Blackberry/Jamun

A seasonal monsoon fruit, Jamun is another superfood that is rich in protein, fibre, antioxidants, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, vitamin C and B6 among several other nutrients. It is an excellent choice for people who are vulnerable to cold and have low immunity. 

Kosam berry/Ceylon Oak

This indigenous wildberry is well-known for its beauty benefits. It has a sweet-sour taste and is a rich source of Vitamin C, phytochemicals and antioxidants. It also prevents hair loss and acne that is caused by androgens.