The Ultimate Guide to Superfoods

Superfoods are those foods that have amazing nutritional and healing properties. This ultimate guide to superfoods will show you how to use each. 

A lot of the time they’ve been used for centuries by traditional cultures. These are foods that you can include in your daily diet to improve your health, fight disease, and make you feel great in general. Some are detoxing, some give you energy, and some are fantastic antioxidants.

Açaí

Açaí, from the açaí palm in Brazil, is a small dark purple berry. It tastes like a blend of chocolate and berries, and is super high in essential fatty acids and antioxidants. It’s great for anti-aging, beautiful skin, and a strong immune system.

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Apple Cider Vinegar

Raw ACV is made from apples fermented in wood barrels. It’s undistilled and unpasteurized. It is good for helping with digestion problems and is high in probiotic properties.

Aloe Vera

You might only know aloe vera for its healing properties to use on burns, but it works as well inside as out. This succulent plant is naturally anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory, high in Vitamins B12, A, and E, high in magnesium and calcium, and is a great source of essential fatty acids. It can be used to heal the digestive tract or the skin.

Blue Green Algae

Algae offers every vitamin, mineral, and amino acid needs to support life. Sure, you’d need to eat a lot of it, but that’s beside the point. It also has DHA.

Cacao

Not to be confused with cocoa, cacao is the pure form of raw chocolate. It’s high in antioxidants and magnesium, manganese, chromium, and iron. It also has theobromine and ananclamide.

Camu Camu

Camu camu has yellow pulp and a reddish purple skin. This berry grows in the rain forest of Peru and is super high in Vitamin C. It’s good for the immune system, adrenal health, normal bowel function, healthy hormone production, and vein health.

Cayenne

You might think this is just a lowly spice, but it’s very high in Vitamins C, B, and A. It helps with digestion, can stop heart attacks, and can kill prostate cancer.

Chia Seed

Chia is a seed that comes from the plant Salvia hispanica of the mint family. It grows in Mexico and was used by the Mayans and Aztecs for energy. It is really high in Omega-3 fats, magnesium, protein, calcium, fiber, zinc, and antioxidants. You can use them to make pudding, thicken gravies or sauces, or in your shakes.

Chlorella

Chlorella is a specific type of algae that is very high in magnesium and chlorophyll. It’s a natural detoxifier and can help with immune system health, digestion, mental clarity, clear skin, mood stability, and blood sugar balance.

Cinnamon

You can use cinnamon to treat cramps, fluctuating blood sugar levels, indigestion, poor energy levels, and colds.

Ginseng

Ginseng is an ancient remedy used for overall health. It helps increase energy, fights aging, prevents illness, and reduces stress.

Goji Berry

Also called Lycium berry, goji berries grow in Tibet and China. They have 21 trace minerals, have more Vitamin C than an orange, more iron than spinach, and contain complete proteins. They are also full of Vitamins A and E, have some B and contain zeaxanthin. They are good for energy, eye health, hGH production, and are anti-inflammatory.

Green Tea

Green tea isn’t just a great-tasting beverage! It’s been used for thousands of years in China. It helps with weight loss, can protect the thyroid against radiation damage, is a natural antioxidant, and aids in stomach health, blood sugar levels, and healthy tendons.

Hemp Seeds

Hemp is a complete food source and has more Omega-3s than any other food. It’s high in Vitamin E, has fiber, and contains magnesium, iron, calcium, and zinc. It has all 10 essential amino acids so is great for vegetarians as a protein source.

Kombucha

Kombucha is a wonder drink made from a SCOBY, or “symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast.” It’s made from fermented tea and sugar, and is chock-full of probiotic goodness. It helps build the immune system, works as a detoxifier, and is a digestive aid.

Noni

Noni is part of the coffee family and is a flowering tree shrub. All parts of the plant are usable. It’s used to prevent or relieve constipation, support blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and is good for blood pressure. It’s also used to treat depression.

Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast is high in B vitamins and protein. It can be used to spruce up the taste of any cheesy meal. It’s good for gut health, blood sugar control, detoxification, and immune health.

Pomegranate

Persephone was one smart lady! Pomegranate is high in potassium, Vitamin C, and antioxidants. It helps regulate cholesterol, reduces plaque in arteries, and can help fight lung, breast, and prostate cancer.

Rooibos Tea

From South Africa, rooibos is high in polyphenols and antioxidants. It’s low in tannins, caffeine-free, and is a delicious “tea.” It neutralizes free radicals, helps detox the liver, and helps aid digestion. It can be given to young children to help with upset tummies or stomach cramps.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a cyanobacteria. It’s high in Vitamin B and can help lower cholesterol and reduce damage from radiation.

Turmeric

Turmeric has been used for a thousand years in China and India as an anti-inflammatory. It can also treat women with menstrual problems, helps with digestion, can prevent cancer, has been used to treat Alzheimer’s, and can help with the pain from arthritis.

Wheatgrass

Another green superfood, wheatgrass is made from the cotyledons from the wheat plant. It’s used to clean the organs, blood, and lymph system. One ounce of wheatgrass is said to hold the equivalent of over two pounds of green vegetables when it comes to nutritional value. It can help fight obesity, reduces acid in the body, stimulates the thyroid, and has anti-aging properties.

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