There’s a lot of hype about superfoods on the internet. Most health conscious people SWEAR by them! But why? What are superfoods, and why should we eat them?
What Are Superfoods?
Superfoods are foods that are nutritionally dense with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These can include berries, mushrooms, algae, roots, pollen, fruit, nuts, etc. You can find them in their natural form (such as berries, seeds, and nuts), or some can be purchased in powdered form that can be easily mixed with smoothies, food, salad dressing, milk, teas, coffee, and more. Superfoods aren’t always rare, exotic fruit that comes from the depths of the Amazon, superfoods come from all over the world, from the depths of the rainforest, to right in your back yard!
Why Should We Eat Them?
These foods are super dense in nutrients and eating them can be extremely beneficial to our overall health and wellness. The Standard American Diet (SAD) looks something like this: Bagel or pastry and a sugary coffee drink for breakfast. Lunch is usually takeout from a nearby fast food place, or restaurant, and consists of a burger/sandwich, french fries/potato chips, and soda. Dinner is one of the only meals eaten at home, but just because a meal is eaten at home, doesn’t mean that it is healthy. The SAD dinner is a large portion of meat, heavy sides such as mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, rice, etc; and sugary dessert. According to Joel Fuhrman, MD the SAD diet is 62% processed food with little to no nutritional value, 27%-30% is from animal products, 10% is from white potato products (french fries, potato chips, mashed potatoes, etc), and the 5% that is left is from healthy food. Needless to say, most people don’t get their share of fresh vegetables and fruit, healthy fats, healthy carbohydrates, and healthy proteins.
Incorporating superfoods into your diet can be a great first move to start a healthier lifestyle. Just note that this is only one step in the process. Steering away from the SAD and towards a diet rich in nutrients is the best way to maintain long term health.
Common Superfoods
Here is a list of some common superfoods, and some of their benefits-
1.) Blueberries- Most people don’t know, but something as common as blueberries is considered a superfood! Blueberries are super high in antioxidants. Wild blueberries (not the conventional kind that’s found in grocery stores) are even better! Blueberries have also been shown to improve eyesight.
2.) Chlorella- The benefits of chlorella are amazing! Chlorella is a blue-green algae that is PACKED with chlorophyll, magnesium, potassium, and beta-carotines, among others. It also offers 16 grams of protein per serving! It helps your body rid itself of heavy metals, detoxifies the liver, helps balances hormones, helps improve cardiovascular health, boosts the immune system, and it helps in weight loss! Even with all these amazing benefits though, it does also have side effects. Chlorella should not be taken if you are on an anticoagulant, or are prone to blood clots.
3.) Chaga- Chaga is a fungi that grows on trees in colder climates such as Siberia. It is loaded with amino acids, potassium, magnesium, vitamin D, and fiber, just to name a few. It is also considered a super powerful antioxidant. It helps slow the aging process, and helps repair the skin. It also helps lower the blood pressure and cholesterol, and boosts the immune system. It is often referred to as the “king healer mushroom”.
4.) Cordyceps- Cordyceps boosts brain function, and improves athletic performance. It also improves concentration, helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, helps respiratory function, detoxifies the liver, and has anti-aging properties.
5.) Astragalus- Astragalus comes from the root of a bean/legume plant known as the milk vetch. It is said that it protects DNA, and also is used in Chinese Medicine for longevity. It also helps anemia, and is used to treat the common cold and respiratory infections. It also has powerful antioxidant properties.
6.) Ashwagandha- Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that comes from a plant also known as “Indian Ginseng”. An adaptogen is a substance that helps the body cope with stress and anxiety. It has been commonly used in the Ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years. It helps lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol levels, and is also said to help increase testosterone and fertility in men.
7.) Matcha- Matcha is a green tea powder from Japan. Super high in antioxidants, it slows the aging process and is excellent for weight loss. It also has vitamin C, magnesium, and fiber. It detoxifies the body and boosts metabolism.
8.) Turmeric- Turmeric is the main spice used in curry. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. It is said to improve cardiovascular health, and it slows the process of blood clot formation. Remember- in order for your body to absorb turmeric and reap its anti-inflammatory benefits, you MUST combine it with black pepper!
9.) Watermelon Seeds- When I was little, my grandmother would always tell me if I swallowed a watermelon seed a watermelon plant would grow in my stomach! Obviously that’s not true, but because of that I’ve always been hesitant about eating them. Turns out, sprouted watermelon seeds are a superfood that’s packed with protein, b-vitamins, potassium, zinc, magnesium, etc. They shouldn’t be eaten in their raw form straight from the fruit, and are usually sold sprouted.
There are, of course, many other superfoods out there. The ones listed above also have a lot more benefits than I could list. They have so many benefits I could write a whole blog post for each of them! The best way to decide which ones are best for you is to do more research and experiment! Also, it should go without saying that you should consult your doctor before you start taking any new supplements, as these superfoods are very powerful and do have side effects if you have certain conditions such as diabetes, are prone to blood clotting, or are on numerous medications, as they can interact with them.
Where to Buy
Sun Potion is one of my favorite brands. Their products are high quality, powered form that can easily be mixed with smoothies, yogurt, and salad dressings. They also offer a blog which has some recipes you can use to start incorporating them into your diet.
Four Sigmatic is also one of my favorite brands. They make a lot of coffee and teas which have medicinal mushrooms in them. They are as easy and convenient to take as drinking your morning coffee! They also have Mushroom Academy. This is a FREE, 3 hour course on medicinal mushrooms and their benefits. They also have a really awesome facebook group where you can share recipes and experiences. I HIGHLY recommend checking out both!
Moon Juice is also one of my favorite brand that offers high quality superfoods and adaptogens in easy to use powered form. They also offer other pantry staples such as Himalayan salt, almond butter, and cardamom.
I hope that you found this information to be useful, and good luck on incorporating superfoods into your diet in order to take the first steps to a healthier you!
