Mediterranean cuisine is unique, not only for it’s delicious variety, but also for it’s healthy ingredients. No matter which delicious dish is your favorite, it’s very likely that dish was made with powerful superfoods. Here are the top 5 Mediterranean superfoods and how they help your body.

Olive Oil

From dipping bread to pouring over salad, olive oil is a common ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine. Rich in monounsaturated fats, olive oil is protective against heart disease and may help prevent strokes. It’s also packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants that can help you ward off disease.

 Turmeric

Once thought of as just a seasoning, turmeric has gotten a lot of attention recently for its powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Turmeric also many be helpful in preventing cancer, as well as supporting those with arthritis.

Separate studies have been done on curcumin, the part of turmeric that gives the seasoning its bright yellow coloration, and curcumin itself has even more benefits, such as increasing your body’s capacity for antioxidants.

Chickpeas

When you enjoy a little hummus as an appetizer, you are doing your body a service. Chickpeas are full of fiber, which feed the friendly bacteria in your gut. Although we typically think of bacteria as something to be avoided, gut bacteria serve a very important purpose in the body.

Their function ranges from supporting the immune system and aiding in digestion to stabilizing emotions and reducing depression.

Gut bacteria are incredibly important to our bodies, and chickpeas are a wonderful way to support them.

Garlic

For an ingredient so light in calories, garlic is packed with nutrients. Garlic contains manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium and fiber. It’s not just a bounty of nutrients either. The old wives tale about it having the ability to ward off colds is true. Certain compounds in garlic may also have anti-viral properties, making it a true wonder for illness.

Finally, garlic is good for the heart too. In particular, it can lower your blood pressure.  Garlic has so many beneficial properties, it was even linked to longer lifespans in a 2019 study.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes taste wonderful, but did you know they are also a superfood? Tomatoes are high in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium and folate. These important vitamins and minerals help both with heart health, and with exercise recovery.

A recent study also showed that tomatoes may help protect against dementia. This was shown in two separate studies. One showed that those who ate tomatoes at all had better cognitive function than those who didn’t. The other showed that people who had more lutein and zeaxanthin in their system—components of cooked tomatoes—were less likely to have dementia compared to those with lower amounts.

No matter which Mediterranean dish is your favorite, chances are a super food makes up the dish. The next time you stop by a Mediterranean restaurant to test out a new dish or try one of your favorites, you’re also eating super foods that are helping your body stay healthy.