Hey fellow health nuts - and health nuts in the making :) - ever feel like you
have an idea of what foods are good for you, but then get fuzzy as to WHY
they’re so awesome?
I had a moment in the produce section the other day. I just had to have this chocolate & acai berry drink. Then the “superfood” label
caught my eye. Huh! I paused to ponder as acai fiends
elbowed around me – Excuse me! –
grasping at the bottles.
Paired with cocoa, the fruit juice is a smooth and delicious alternative to chocolate covered nougat… but I wondered why acai
was so great as to be called a superfood. Was
I just buying into some pervasive food marketing? Should I have just waited for
the Bourne Legacy to come out on Netflix instead?
 |
| "Coulda had a V8..." |
I had questions…. Questions that would have to wait until I
was home, and not standing in the middle of a crowded grocery aisle.
In finding the most-balanced, healthy lifestyle for me, I’ve
discovered that while I have better idea of what foods are good for me, I could
do with a bit more research. I’d like to share with you as I learn more about super foods, and hope you will
chime in with your insights too.
Superfoods are…
Natural foods that are dense in nutrients and low on
calories.
High sources of disease-fighting anti-oxidants and essential
nutrients
*(for more background on anti-oxidants and how they work,
click here)
Five types of superfoods
Green superfoods
Fruit and nut superfoods
Bee superfoods
Seaweed superfoods
Herb superfoods
GREEN SUPERFOODS
These luscious greens have the highest concentrations of
easily digestible nutrients, so they’re easy on the eye as well as on the body.
They’re also most rich in fat-burning compounds, vitamins,
and minerals that protect and heal.
Plus, green superfoods contain proteins, and healthy bacteria that help
us build healthier muscles and tissues; improve digestive function and fight off disease.
Their coloring comes from chlorophyll, which (you’ll
remember from biology class) is what makes plants green. Studies show that chlorophyll is similar
in structure to human blood and that when we eat more of it, we get increased oxygen flow in the bloodstream.
Examples of green superfoods:
Wheat grass: the
spouted grass of a wheat seed
 |
| Since it’s already sprouted, wheat grass does not contain gluten or other allergens found in whole grain. This superfood lowers acidity and promotes healthy blood. High in enzymes that promote cleansing and weight loss. |
Barley Grass
Looks can be deceiving: Barley had 11 x more calcium than
cows milk and 5 x more iron than spinach.
Wild blue-green algae
Old school: Algae was the first form of life on Earth! And
wild blue-green algae contains almost every nutrient, including a 60% protein
content. The phyto-plankton has been shown to rev– up brain function, and
bolster the immune system against viruses.
Spirulina
This algae is one
of the highest known protein sources on Earth. With 70% complete protein,
spirulina dwarfs steak, which is only 25% protein once cooked. Spirulina has also been shown to help control blood sugar levels and food
cravings which helps with diabetes and weight loss.
Chlorella
Chorella is high in all
the B vitamins, vitamin C and E and many minerals. The algae helps reduce
cholesterol and the hardening of arteries that can lead to heart attack and
stroke.
Green leafy vegetables
These are easier
to come by than the other green superfoods: Kale, watercress, parsley, lettuce
are as close as the neighborhood food market.
Leafy greens supply proteins, enzymes, vitamins and minerals that improve
bodily functions across the board!
A wheatgrass shot to your continued health!
- C.
