5 desi superfoods that you MUST nosh on, according to Rujuta Diwekar

Superfoods are the all rage these days. Any conversation about healthy eating is incomplete without the mention of these glorious foods that can do it all—from fighting free radical damage to boosting immunity.

However, superfoods aren’t always exotic coming from far away lands. Yes, blueberries and kale are definitely healthy and nutritious—but India boasts a slew of desi superfoods too. And they can very well keep you healthy, wealthy, and wise.

You don’t have to take our word for it—but we do recommend that you take celebrity nutritionist and health advocate Rujuta Diwekar’s advice on the topic.

In her latest audiobook titled ‘Eating in the Age of Dieting’ available on Audible, Rujuta recommends a list of superfoods that everyone “must eat” to boost immunity and secure all necessary nutrients in the body. The best part? They’re all available with your local sabji-wala.

1. Banana

While we all already know that bananas are a good source of energy. Rujuta talks about the additional benefits of this superfood. As per the nutritionist, bananas are a “mood booster, fertility booster, and an immunity booster”. They also help in aiding digestion and are excellent keepers of gut integrity and hormone health. For those who are not so fond of bananas, nutritionist Rujuta recommends banana flour. She says, “It’s the kind of food that’s fit for the goodness within.” The recipe is simple and helps in fighting acne and overcoming migraine along with regulating insulin sensitivity. It is a must in times of the Covid-19 pandemic. In her own words, “nanana zaroor khana!”

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2. Jackfruit

Jackfruit is a versatile fruit and in recent years, it has become global. The bulky and virtuous jackfruit from India’s southern coast is now a favourite meat-substitute for vegans and vegetarians across the world.

Jackfruit is known to entice the cells of our body to absorb and assimilate the many phytonutrients it carries. Also, an “aam aadmi fruit,” jackfruit is rich in vitamins, fibre, and minerals, containing everything that is beneficial for humans. Jackfruit seeds can be boiled or roasted or can be eaten in any form one likes. Thus, proclaiming it “jack of all fruits” won’t be incorrect we believe! PS: Monsoons are a great time for jackfruits.

3. Sitaphal aka 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 body. It is a must eat seasonal food when the world today fights a pandemic.

4. Jamun

While the pandemic has forced us to stay indoors, don’t let it shut the doors on curiosity and cheerfulness. An exclusive fruit of the monsoon, Jamun is a great seasonal fruit and another superfood that is rich in protein, fibre, antioxidants, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, vitamin C and B6 among several other nutrients.

Jamun is also an excellent choice for people who are vulnerable to cold and have low immunity. The various properties of this fruit can help boost the same and keep diabetes in check.

5. Kusum

A forgotten fruit, known for its beauty benefits, Kusum (as the tribals call it in sonave) is a wild, uncultivated fruit that grows in the forests of Maharashtra, all over India and south east Asia. Kusum has a sweet-sour and playful taste. The fruit is known for its therapeutic properties and assists in preventing hair loss and acne that is caused by androgens.