Hey there! Today I'm with the list of 5 superfoods of India. Just including them in your regular diet can boost your fitness goals and overall health. Here I'm not talking about very expensive or exotic food but here I'm talking about our local foods which are easily available and also pocket friendly. These foods provide many benefits like glowing skin, lustrous hairs, strong immunity and a robust digestive system. Here I will also mention when and how to consume these foods to get their optimum benefit.

5 Indian Superfoods That You Must Know -

The superfoods I'm going to mention today have been a part of our culture for long and also described in the Ayurveda for their plethora of benefits.

1. Jackfruit

Thorns on the outside and sweetness on the inside, nature has done well to protect it so that we can reach the benefits of this superfood.
Jackfruit is the best fertility promoter, effective anti ageing agent as well as an immunity booster. It is interesting that the jackfruit curries are often used as the substitute for the meat curries.
Due to its texture, which is comparable to the shaded meat, it is added into the rice biryani to mimic its look as meat biryani.
Jackfruit can be a great addition to your regular diet if your goal is to put on some healthy weight.
Eating the jackfruit raw has many benefits as it is sweet in taste, rich in antioxidants, maintains gut friendly bacteria and even kills the cancer cells.
Jackfruit's seeds are extremely rich in iron, work as a natural antidepressant, nourish skin and hair.
The leaves of the jackfruit are also known to enhance the taste of the food and this is the reason why rice puddings get wrapped into the jackfruit leaves. The phytonutrients present in the leaves of jackfruits enhances the taste of food as well as boosts immunity.
Jackfruit being a nutrient dense food, Indians have found various ways to consume it so that its benefits can be reached in every season. It includes ice-cream, pickles, chips, cake, pudding, idli etc.

2. Green gram (moong dal)

If there is something best among all the lentils, it's the humble moong daal. It is probably the only lentil which suits all the body types.
It is rich with many nutrients like iron, potassium, folate, fibre, vitamin B6. It is easy to digest, strengthens the body and keeps the body cool.
It is ideal for both weight loss and muscle gain.
Moong daal is consumed in various ways in Indian culture i.e. soup, dosa, pakoda, halwa, ladoo or namkeen. Moong dal sprouts are favourite among all the athletes for the nutrient dense food that it is.
Our ancient scriptures mention the moong dal water which is prepared by boiling the moong daal and staining it , equivalent to the milk in terms of nutritional value. It is very nourishing for the body tissues and the intestine.
If you are suffering from weak eyesight or any other eye disorder, moong dal must be a part of your regular diet.
Moong daal is a super nourisher for the skin and keeps great exfoliating properties of the moong daal. All you have to do is to soak some green gram seeds in some raw milk and leave it overnight. Next day, grind the mixture and apply the paste on your face for 15 minutes. Now just rub it gently over your skin and wash it with normal water. It will give you brighter and lighter skin.

3. Lemon

Lemons are rich in vitamin c and antioxidants. It helps to boost the immunity, aids digestion, freshens breath and also works as inflammatory.
Now let us know one step deeper about its benefits which are lesser known. Our ancient Ayurvedic explains it very beautifully. No matter what, lemons should be always available in our kitchen as its aroma keeps bacteria and germs away.
Do you know the lemon peels that we throw away uncaringly is the most nutritious part of the lemon? It has more vitamin C than that in the juice. So how do we use it? simply peel the lemon and add it to your ginger tea.
In uric acid problems where sour foods are strictly curtailed off, lemon peel can still be used to extract the flavour and benefits of lemon.
Lemon pickle is also a wise idea to consume its benefits. It improves digestion and increases the appetite. If you are having a sudden stomach ache, just go for lemon pickle and see the pain disappearing soon.
Lemon also helps in weight loss. Just add one lemon , half tablespoon of honey and ginger juice into 200 ml warm water and drink it before breakfast . After squeezing the lemon juice, you can scrub the remaining on your hair scalps and you will get dandruff free hairs.
Lemon is also a great cleansing agent. You can just scrub it all over your skin and it will clean your skin and provide brighter texture. Moreover, it will keep the minor skin problems away.
If you are feeling tired or stressed, just smell a lemon and instantly it will lift up your mood.
Lemon peels or lemon leaves are also used in various food recipes to add its zest. Lemon has so many miraculous benefits as it can help to cure arthritis if taken with warm water and ginger, it can strengthen the liver if taken with warm water and also helps to cure cold and cough if taken with warm water along with its peels.

4. Moringa

Moringa has been proclaimed as one of the most recent superfoods by the weight loss industry.
The drumsticks are naturally a blood purifier as well as rich in calcium.
The most interesting thing about the moringa tree is that each part of the tree, the leaves, the flowers, the stem, and the roots have its medicinal uses. This is the reason it is also known as the miracle tree.
Moringa powder which is thankfully now marketed at large scale by the fitness industry is an old age process of extracting the powder from the moringa leaves after dried them in the sunlight.
You will be surprised to know that moringa leaves have 3 times more iron than the spinach leaves.
Our ancient scriptures describe moringa as a deep cleanser for the tissues. Just take 1 teaspoon of moringa powder and mix it into 100 ml of warm water. Take it just for 30 days to reach the benefits. Do not forget to add drumsticks into curries and mix veg.

Dishonourable mentions -

The dishonourable mention includes all the exotic foods and fast foods. The foods such as coloured capsicum, avocado or kiwi are not our local foods and thus they are not beneficial for us. The foods that travel seven seas to reach our market are not only costly but also not superfood for us. Keep remember that the food which is local and has more health benefits is always a better option.

5. Mango

Mango, with a lot of health benefits, is also known as the king of all fruits.
This royal fruit is not only among the most delicious foods but also its extremely versatile and healthy.
Mango tree is considered as a sacred tree in Indian culture for the variety of uses and benefits it offers.
Almost every part of the mango tree has its own medicinal uses.
Benefits of versatile mango-

1. Mango bark - Relieves diarrhoea .
2. Mango gum - Heals cracked feet.
3. Mango sap - Applied on the bee stings.
4. Mango seed - soothes sunburns.
5. Mango leaves - controls blood sugar.

Ayurveda suggested that a fully ripped, juicy and sweet mango nourishes all the seven dhatus and provides instant energy.
Mango is useful to maintain the haemoglobin level in the body so if you're the one who is suffering from low haemoglobin, don't miss out on this delicious fruit.
Mango is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fibre and it is also gut friendly.
Is it fattening? It is not fattening at all if you do not overdo it. The other fruits like this should be consumed in their season only but the mango is a unique fruit which can be consumed anytime except with the empty stomach in the morning.
The nutrients in the mango can be assimilated better if it is soaked in the water before a few hours of eating.
Mango followed by 50ml cold milk along with 200ml water is an intentional way to beat the heating effect of mango.
Where the mango is hot in potency but the aam panna keeps cooling properties and beats the heat.
Mangos are used in different ways in Indian cooking such as using amchur powder, mango pickle and mango papad or chutney.
Mango leaves have been worshipped in Indian culture and tied to the entrance gates. They're considered as the source of positive vibrations. In scientific terms, mango leaves are anti microbial, releases a lot of oxygen and thus it promotes health and hygiene.

Just include these superfoods into your regular diet and enhance your health routine. Just eating local food has many more benefits than exotic foods. So just try to keep your diet towards local and healthy foods.

5 Indian Superfood That You Must Know