These are some of the superfoods and supplements that you might want to take for a healthier lifestyle 

Last year it was all about plant protein, sprouted food, and healthy fats thanks to a hype around eating healthy based on the need of nourishing our bodies in the best way possible.

There’s no doubt 2018 will bring new trends and alternatives to keep our mind, body, and soul healthy. Some have been around for a while, others take the new year as an opportunity to establish themselves as power foods.   

Probiotics

According to Health Line, more and more studies show that the balance or imbalance of bacteria in your digestive system is linked to overall health. Probiotics promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria and have been linked to a wide range of health benefits. This New Year is a time to boost immunity with probiotics.

They have been proven to help boost the body’s immune responses and reduce inflammation in the digestive tract. Also, with plant based eating becoming increasingly popular, people are looking for probiotics sources beyond yogurt and kefir.

Cutting sugar

A recent study conducted at Columbia University found that a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates is linked with increased depressive symptoms, fatigue, and mood fluctuations. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee cited sugar as one of our biggest health concerns and recommended that sugar make up 10 percent or fewer of our daily calorie intake. Since over-consumption of sugar triggers the production of ghrelin, the hormone that signals to your body that it’s hungry, focus on whole, unprocessed foods, sans sweetener, to minimize that annoying “hangry” feeling and feel full for longer.

Full-fat dairy

According to the best health magazine of Canada, products like whole milk, cheese, and yogurt are linked to a host of health improvements from preventing obesity, mitigating type 2 diabetes to preventing cancer-causing cell formation. Whole milk and yogurt could also reduce belly bloat as full-fat dairy is lower in lactose, making it easier for individuals with lactose IGNORE INTOlerance to digest compared to low-fat or no-fat dairy.

Omega-9s

Healthy fats are welcome for 2018 and this means it will be a year to include omega-9s, also known as monounsaturated fats for their potential to regulate blood sugar levels and promote a healthy weight. These fatty acids can often be found in canola oil, safflower oil, olive oil, mustard oil, nut oils, and nuts such as almonds.

Detox juicing

Detox juicing are coming back with a little spunk. The plan is to keep a daily dose of antioxidant-loaded fruits and veggies as a supplement to a healthy diet with a blast of phytonutrients along with protein-rich smoothies. Juicing doesn’t really shrink the stomach, it just eliminates the habit of comfort eating and makes you feel satiated with less food than usual. This provides a big psychological boost to help get over the hurdle of changing habits.

Collagen

It is the most plentiful protein in the human body and it is also what makes skin look smooth and supple. Collagen has moved over from the cosmetic aisle and has become the trendiest new superfood. Find it in capsules to take as vitamins or powders to add to smoothies, coffee, oatmeal, soup, or whatever else you can think of.

Black seed oil

Black seed oil comes from Nigella Sativa seed. It has a very strong flavor and it is already considered as a miracle food supplement. It is credited with helping reduce inflammation, helping bone health, and even preventing cancer.

Keto

Low-carb diets have been controversial for decades. People believed that these diets c could raise cholesterol and cause heart disease because of the high fat content. However, according to Health Line, Keto continues to trend and is gathering force since there is evidence that it not only helps with weight loss but also clears the mind.

Latin American Post | Diana Ramos

Copy edited by Susana Cicchetto