Is seaweed the new kale? Social Media now has a growing army of influencers promoting various diet options, and inclusivity of a diet rich culture and an anti-ageing alternative have superfoods right in the centre of it all. The pandemic has had both aspects negative and positive influencing the current lifestyle; with everything digitized, there is an apparent rise in overconsumption, but with this, the attention to health has also taken over a significant shift with people. This adoption has also grabbed the attention towards the consumption of superfoods. Now for those unaware, Mr S.N. Rao, Managing Director, Supreem Super Foods, explain – It consists of food that you can add to your diet that potentially adds exceptional amounts of nutrients beneficial for your health.
Optimal body nutrition
According to a study by BetterIndia, nutrition intervention programmes diversifying and including millet-based meals in the health programmes for different age groups and replacing them with rice would lead to increased growth. Optimal body nutrition is crucial, especially for the ageing class above 60, as immunity declines with rising age.
The attention with health is also very much shifting from chemical-based processed foods to more natural alternatives. Now, although these have existed for a very long time, the consumption levels can be seen to have increased within the last half a decade. Of course, a generation Z or a boomer might not be completely aware of different ways of consuming something in particular of the superfoods, but the varied formats of consumption such as cold-pressed juices, bars, cookies, gummy bears, spreads, etc. have provided a new avenue for such consumers to prefer this alternative. And these formats are also options for working individuals who might not have time to dedicate to healthy eating.
Eating right
Apart from the high nutritional value, it also helps elevate mental health. According to nutritionists, the saying goes, 'You are what you eat is entirely accurate as proper meals provide structure and thus reduce the number of mental fluctuations'. In addition, the pandemic, isolation and travel restrictions have also surfaced the depression in individuals. Although the study between depression and eating right is still not very precise, ingesting specific leafy vegetables benefits the body by supplying sufficient folate as some researches prove that its deficit leads to a higher risk of depression.
