What are Superfoods?
Superfoods are exceptional functional foods that offer important nutrients in sufficient quantities that have a positive benefit on health and reduce risk of many health conditions stemming from unbalanced nutrition.
The US 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines recommend healthy eating patterns at each stage of life and making shifts in your food and beverage choices to achieve better health. It cannot be stressed enough about the importance of having plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.
In a recent large meta-analysis by scientists from Harvard Health, it was concluded that higher intakes of fruits and vegetables were associated with lower mortality rate. However, it’s important to ensure these foods are not starchy vegetables like corn or bread, nor fruit juices or potatoes.
Superfoods include fruits and vegetables loaded with anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins and proteins. Superfoods’ health benefits include reduction of risk in metabolic syndrome, improved heart health and they also help fight cancers as they are rich in anti-oxidants.
Let us now have a look at some of the best Superfoods to help you support a healthy sustainable lifestyle.
Here is a list of my favorite Superfoods
Local Raw Honey & Bee Pollen
Raw honey is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and a natural antibiotic. Bee Pollen contains 59 trace minerals, and is a rich source of vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids. Taking local bee pollen may alleviate seasonal allergies.
Goji Berries
Goji berries contain at least 18 amino acids (including the 8 essentials), and vitamins B1,B2, B6, E, and C. Packed with antioxidants, gojis help to strengthen your immune system, enhance your memory, calm the nerves, and have anti fungal and anti bacterial compounds.
Chia
Packed with nutrients that promote long-lasting energy, increase mental function, support your cardiovascular health and immune system, contains lots o’ fiber, and can absorb 9 times it weight in water which means as it expands in your belly it makes you feel full. Plus, it’s supercharged with Omega 3s, those brain boosting fats.
Maca
Maca boosts libido and increases immunity, energy, vitality, and fertility. Maca is an adaptagenic root. Adaptogens are natural plant products that increase your body’s ability to deal with internal and external stresses and normalize imbalances in the body.
Spirulina
A great plant based source of iron and B vitamins. Spirulina is a natural detoxifier. Known to help boost energy levels,
Spinach
Rich in fiber, iron, beta carotene, and protein/amino acids. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, and has brain boosting and anti-cancer properties.
Hempseeds
Hempseeds are the only food with the ideal ratio of Essential Fatty Acids (omega 3 & omega 6). They contain 21 amino acids including the 8 essential aminos in a very easily digestible form. So they are an excellent source of plant-based protein.
Coconut (oil, butter, water)
Unlike other saturated fats, as a plant derived source of saturated fat coconut has medium chain fatty acids that actually help to increase metabolism. Coconut has been shown to lower your LDL (lousy) cholesterol and boost your HDL cholesterol.
Sprouts
These are full of vitality, living enzymatic quality. They have an incredible nutrient profile – just multiply the seed’s nutritional benefit anywhere from 300 to 1200%.
Cacao
Of course we all love chocolate but did you know the source of chocolate in its natural state of Cacao is really good for you?!! Rich in magnesium, chromium, and iron cacao has an incredible amount of antioxidants (the things that help you not get sick)
Cinnamon
Cinnamon helps to lower LDL cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar levels. Because of it’s anti-bacterial quality, it also acts as a natural food preservative and helps to reduce cellular inflammation
Flaxseeds
Contain ALA (alpha linolenic acid) which the body converts to omega 3?s, your brain boosting fats. It’s actually the richest plant based source of omega 3?s. Flax can help to correct constipation. The seeds can easily be ground in a coffee grinder for better bio-availability.
Berries (blueberries & strawberries)
A great source of vitamins and antioxidants and low in sugars. Blueberries are an excellent source of manganese, essential for keeping your blood sugar levels and thyroid function normal.
Raw nuts (brazil nuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews)
Brazil nuts are best known for being the number one plant source of the mineral selenium, exhibiting approximately 2,500 times as much of this vital trace mineral as any other nut. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant which has been proven to protect the body against infection.
Walnuts are good for your brain and help with healthy brain and memory function! They contain omega 3.
Almonds (we prefer them raw & sprouted) are revered for their Vitamin E content and are rich in healthy monounsaturated fats.
Cashews are naturally high in beautifying oleic acid and also contain magnesium, manganese, selenium and zinc. organic cashews a very valuable food and great for making nut milks and salad dressings.
