Superfoods have been the rage for several years - the things that, if we eat them, are said to protect us from a variety of health issues.
Many a food item has had its 15 minutes as 'the' superfood, buta new list looking to define what exactly 'powerhouse' fruit and vegetables (PFV) are put watercress at the top of the list.
The research, from the United States of America's William Paterson University,rated 47 different fruits and vegetables on their compilation of fibre, calcium, protein, potassium, and vitamins, among other things.
Researchers developed and validated a classification scheme defining PFV as foods providing, on average, 10 per cent or more daily value per 100 kcal of 17 qualifying nutrients.
Of the 47 foods studied, 41 satisfied the powerhouse criterion and were more nutrient-dense than were non-PFV, providing preliminary evidence of the validity of the classification scheme.
The researchers' top 30 is as follows:
1. Watercress // 2. Chinese cabbage // 3. Chard // 4. Beet greens // 5. Spinach // 6. Chicory // 7. Leaf lettuce // 8. Parsley // 9. Romaine lettuce // 10. Collard greens // 11. Turnip greens // 12. Mustard greens // 13. Endives // 14. Chives // 15. Kale // 16. Dandelion greens // 17. Red peppers // 18. Rocket // 19. Broccoli // 20. Pumpkin // 21. Brussels sprouts // 22. Spring onions // 23. Kohlrabi // 24. Cauliflower // 25. Cabbage // 26. Carrots // 27. Tomatoes // 28. Lemons // 29. Iceberg lettuce // 30. Strawberries
The six that didn't make the cut wereraspberries, tangerines, cranberries, garlic, onions, and blueberries.
