The Power Of Superfoods

Have you heard of the term superfoods? Superfoods are often talked about these days and here’s why! Superfoods are a class of the most potent, super-concentrated, and nutrient rich foods on earth. Superfoods have the ability to increase the vital force and energy of one’s body and are the optimum choice for improving overall health. Superfoods boost the immune system, elevate serotonin production, enhance sexuality, cleanse, lower inflammation and alkalize the body. They are believed to provide these significant health benefits because of their high levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds.

These nutrient rich foods are crucial to our health, especially if we are trying to heal ourselves. Many superfoods are abundant in antioxidants, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Antioxidants can reduce inflammation, protect against chronic diseases, and support healthy aging. Certain super foods like berries, fatty fish (salmon), nuts and seeds, are known to promote heart health. They may help lower cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure, decrease inflammation, and improve overall cardiovascular function. Superfoods often have a low calorie density and high fiber content, making them beneficial for weight management. They can help you feel full and satisfied while providing essential nutrients, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Superfoods such as blueberries, walnuts, and fatty fish are believed to support brain health. They may enhance cognitive function, improve memory, and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Superfoods like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables contain probiotics or prebiotics that support a healthy gut microbiome. These foods can promote digestion, improve nutrient absorption, boost immune function and reduced gastrointestinal issues. Chronic inflammation is associated with various diseases. Many superfoods including turmeric, ginger, leafy greens, and fatty fish possess anti-inflammatory properties that can help mitigate inflammation and its negative effects. Super foods rich in vitamins C, E, A, and D, as well as zinc and selenium can strengthen the immune system. They support the production of immune cells, enhance their function and protect against infections. Also several superfoods such as berries, nuts, seeds, avocados, and green tea contain compounds that promote healthy skin. They can protect against sun damage reduce signs of aging and contribute to a radiant complexion.

It's important to note that while superfoods can be a valuable addition to a healthy diet, they should not be considered a magical solution or a replacement for a well-balanced diet. Incorporating a wide range of nutrient rich foods is key to obtaining optimal health. In addition, every individual needs any dietary restrictions should be taken into account when selecting and consuming superfoods. Always consult with your doctor if you are considering making any dietary changes to enhance your health. Even though these are whole rich foods, it’s always a good idea to ask your doctor when adding new foods to your diet. You don’t want anything to interact with any medications you may be taking.

Have I tempted you yet to try out some superfoods? If not from the benefits alone, maybe I can convince you once you hear which superfoods I am referring to. And, just maybe you are already eating them in your diet. My personal favorite, cacao. Cacao, the seed/nut of a fruit of an Amazonian tree, is one of the highest antioxidant foods on earth. It’s even higher than green tea and red wine. Unlike cocoa, the cacao is a raw food and retains its enzymic and vitamin content. Cacao is a great source of antioxidants (particularly flavonoids) magnesium, iron, manganese, and even fiber. Raw chocolate improves cardiovascular health, supports strong bones, elevates your mood, and help to increase longevity because of its strong antioxidants. There are many ways you can use cacao such as, sprinkling it on top of peanut butter on toast, add it to a smoothie, and add it to yogurt. You can even add it to a pot of chili for a deeper flavor. Used in traditional Chinese Medicine for over 5,000 years, goji berries are highly regarded for their anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. Goji berries may also be useful for supporting both neurological and reproductive health. Just 1 ounce of goji berries offers 3 g of protein and is high in selenium, iron, riboflavin, and vitamin C. A few ways you can add goji berries into your diet are to eat them raw, juice them, put them in smoothies and add them raw to your seeds and nuts to make a trail mix. Another superfood is maca. Maca is a root vegetable that has been grown in the mountains of Peru. Maca root grows in a type of soil that is found at high altitudes in the Peruvian Andes of South America. A staple in the Peruvian Andes for thousands of years, this adaptogenic superfood increases energy, fertility, and libido. Dried maca powder may support cognitive function, protect from osteoporosis, and help reduce blood pressure. Here are some ways to use maca powder. Its distinct taste, having a hint of caramel, nutty and tasting of butterscotch can be blended into a smoothie, made into energy balls or bars for a snack, sprinkled into fresh juice, such as carrot juice, sprinkled into hot cereals, such as oatmeal or steel cut oats, soups, puddings and yogurts. Hemp seeds, eaten in raw form, are another superfood packed with protein with each amino acid represented. They are also rich in iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, and omega-3s. Hemp is a great food for growing children and adults looking to increase protein intake. My favorite way to use hemp seeds are to sprinkle on my salad for extra protein, add it to oatmeal, cereal, or yogurt, add to a smoothie, and sprinkle on roasted vegetables. Spirulina and AFA blue-green algae has become a popular superfood among vegans. Spirulina is the worlds highest vegetarian sauce of complete protein. Spirulina provides a vast array of minerals, trace elements, and phytonutrients. This superfood can help to improve blood sugar control, reduce blood pressure, and support a healthy cholesterol profile. AFA blue-green algae is a wild grown superfood that contains blue pigment phycocyanin, a powerful antioxidant. AFA blue-green algae may help to improve mood, reduce symptoms of depression, reduce cholesterol and be cardio-protective. I always put spirulina in my smoothies. If you have a juicer at home, experiment with 1 teaspoon of spirulina next time you make your favorite fruity blend. You can also make a almond latte with it. There is a recipe on my website for “nice cream”. Add spirulina to the nice cream for a delicious and naturally hydrating way to enjoy this powder. Another superfood is bee pollen which is an excellent source of vitamin E, B vitamins, folic acid, and polyphenols. Bee pollen is thought to support immunity through improving the immune response, reducing inflammation, and acting as an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal compound. Honey, in its organic, wild, raw, unfiltered state, is rich in minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes. As a prebiotic, honey may also help to support gut health. If you are looking for a nutritious sweetener, honey is a great choice. Great ways to use raw honey is to add it to your teas, smoothies, yogurt and salad dressings. Camu Camu berry, native to the Amazon rainforest but has gained popularity worldwide due to its many health benefits, is one of the highest sources of vitamin C on the planet. This berry, tart in flavor, helps to reduce inflammation and decrease oxidative stress. Camu camu is typically found in supplements, pills, purees, and juices rather than eaten raw. Another powerful superfood is sea vegetables such as, dulse, kelp, and nori. Rich in nutrients drawn in from the ocean and sun, sea vegetables offer iodine, magnesium, calcium, and potassium and are a good source of fiber, which helps promote digestive health. Sea vegetables may also support immunity, reduce cholesterol, and decrease the risk of cancer. They are especially beneficial for the thyroid and hormone function. You can add dulse to your smoothies or soups. Nori is most famous for being wrapped around sushi rolls, but it’s also used whole as a topping for ramen, or cut up into small pieces to be put on rice. You can also enjoy it as a salty snack. High in polysaccharides and immune-enhancing components, medicinal mushrooms such as, reishi, shiitake, and chaga are a highly adaptogenic superfood. They may also help to halt the formation of cancer cells and reduce symptoms inflammatory diseases. You can incorporate medicinal mushrooms into your cooking. You can try using mushroom powders in cold drinks, hot water or hot teas, smoothies or smoothie bowls. If you are using them in whole form, make sure to cook them really well, at high temperatures to break down any toxic compounds. I like to put chaga powder in my hot water first thing in the morning. Some additional superfoods and supplements are MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) used to reduce joint pain, digestive and metabolic enzymes essential for cellular function and overall health, marine phytoplankton to promote good health and wellness, MegaHydrate to reduce pain and inflammation and increase cell hydration and ATP production, and krill oil which helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes by lowering blood pressure and triglyceride levels. These are powerful and very nutritious foods, but if you are on medication like blood thinners or are pregnant or breast-feeding, talk to your doctor before adding these foods into your diet.

Are there any superfoods you are willing to try to reap the benefits? I have slowly added in many of these over the years and now it’s just a part of my daily routine. You too can make this a routine, one superfood at a time!