‘Superfoods’ really is the word of the
moment. It has become trendy to fill the cupboards with superfood supplements
and products such as spirulina, acai and noni juice have become household
items. While I don’t think that these superfoods are the be all and end all of
health, they can be a great addition to your daily diet. They provide a range
of nutrients and health benefits (as long as they don’t replace a balanced meal) and can be thought of a simple way of boosting your daily nutrition.
Here are my favourite superfoods that I use at home on a
regular basis:
Raw cacao
Cacao is chocolate in its raw form, and comes
in the form of cacao beans, nibs or powder. It has a bitter taste, but adds a
lovely chocolate flavour (without the fats, dairy and sugar) when added to
foods like smoothies or desserts. Cacao contains high levels of antioxidants. In
fact, it has many more types of antioxidents than green tea, red wine or
blueberries. Its high levels of
vitamin C, magnesium and chromium make it a nutrient rich snack and it can help
blood sugar regulation. This makes it the perfect choice when you feel like
something sweet and want to avoid the naughty alternatives.
Coconut oil
Coconuts provide many amazing health
benefits and come in many different forms. Coconut water, coconut oil, coconut
milk and coconut cream are all available, but coconut oil out-shines the
others. The oil is made from the meat of mature coconuts and contains a type of
fat called ‘medium chained fatty acids’. This is a unique form of fat that can
be absorbed straight into a cell and used as energy (therefore not stored as
fat). The oil has been shown to have anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. It
is a great oil to cook with, as it stays stable at high temps and will not
oxidize. Adding a spoonful of coconut oil into your smoothie will help you to
stay fuller between meals.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds are
originally found in South America and have been used as early as 3500BC by the
Aztecs. Interestingly, Chia grows best at 15 degrees from the equator and are
today grown on this latitude in Australia and South America. Chia seeds contain
a high amount of beneficial oils. Up to 64% are Omega 3 fatty acids. They
contain 23% protein and are an excellent source of protein for vegetarians or
people with a low animal product diets. They contain 6 times more calcium per
weight volume than milk. They are also high in B vitamins, iron, magnesium,
phosphorus, potassium, zinc, boron and copper. They are almost tasteless and
can be added to a variety of different meals. Ground or whole chia seeds can be
sprinkled into yoghurt, cereals, muesli, smoothies or even into salads.
Açaí is a South
American berry. It has one of the
highest antioxidant values of all fruits and berries, therefore protecting us
against free radical damage, inflammation, toxicity and cancers. These come
from its bright purple pigment. On top of this, it is a good source of plant
sterols (that can balance cholesterol levels), good fats and fibre. It has high
vitamin C, E and beta-carotene. There are many
Açaí based
pre-made food supplements available. All contain high levels of sugar; in fact
some even contain high fructose corn syrup- the worse kind. Avoid these at all
costs! Healthy
Açaí forms can be
purchased as a berry puree, or freeze dried powder.
Chlorella
Chlorella
is another type of algae that comes with a high nutritional profile. It is rich
in many vitamins such as A, B’s, C and E. Like other dark greens, it is high in
magnesium and contains chloryphyll which promotes alkalinity. It is often used
as part of a detoxification regime as it can bind to toxins and heavy metals
and pull them out of the body. It gives a great energy boost and the powder can
be added into green smoothies or juices to bump up your daily nutrition.
