A super-food is defined as a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being. While I still believe that organic fruit and veg are the best superfoods you can put into your body, the following “superfoods” are nutrient dense, provide amazing health benefits and are easy to include into your everyday meals. Let me give you a quick rundown…

Cacao

Raw cacao contains an impressive list of vitamins and minerals including magnesium, iron, chromium, manganese, zinc, copper, vitamin C, phosphorus and calcium. In addition, it also provides 14 times more antioxidants than red wine, 21 times more than green tea and helps raise levels of serotonin in the brain- acting as an anti-depressant. Use raw cacao powder anywhere you would normal cocoa powder. Make a hot chocolate, in chocolate baking recipes, raw desserts or make your own chocolate.

Maca

South American root used for libido, fertility, and strength. It’s adaptogenic, meaning it helps the body deal with stress. It also provides an energy boost without overstimulating the body. Maca is especially great for women experiencing fertility issues or irregular menstrual cycles. Add a teaspoon of Maca powder to your morning smoothie.

Chia Seeds

A complete protein, gluten free and super high in dietary fibre, chia seeds are great for digestion and healing digestion issues. Chia seeds contain contain calcium, vitamin C, iron and potassium making them great for skin, hair and nails and for vegetarians. Add a tablespoon of chia to your morning smoothie to thicken it up or make this chia porridge for breakfast. Chia also makes a great egg replacement. Just combine with water to form a gel, and add it to baking recipes that call for an egg.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and powerful antioxidant. Among it’s many health benefits it has been found to inhibit the growth of cancer, is a natural liver detoxifier and helps to reduce the severity of bacterial and viral infections. Add turmeric to any curry, scrambled eggs and omelettes or add ½ a teaspoon to a mango smoothie.

Spirulina

A high quality protein that contains all the essential amino acids and will provide you with a rich source of essential Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B9, D, E and K. Spirulina also contains high concentrations of calcium, chromium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, zinc and bioavalible iron. Spirulina is also extremely high in chlorophyll, which helps remove toxins from the blood and boost the immune system, making it excellent for detoxification. Take spirulina as a tablet or power mixed with water. I recommend Green Nutritionals or Synergy products.

 

 

Article by Kavisha Jega  

Holding a Masters degree in Wellness, Kavisha works to promote optimal health and well-being by teaching people how to move away from processed foods and towards a more nourishing whole foods diet. Her educational seminars and cooking workshops draw on her knowledge of whole food cooking and passion for wellness to show everyday people that healthy eating can be easy and attainable. A lover of all things food and travel, Kavisha also has a wellness travel practice, which focuses on connecting health savvy travellers with good food by showcasing local, organic and whole food experiences all over the world.

 

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Image via @citizencacao