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| Paula Burton, Holistic Health Counselor |
I'm thrilled to be posting wellness advice, health tips and recipes for
Carolina Power Yoga. As a guest blogger, you'll be receiving tons of information from me, and if there's anything you want to learn more about, please don't hesitate
to ask. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and passion with you. To learn more about me, visit my website at www.urbangirlwellness.com
Light and love,
Paula
There are so many wonderful benefits to Superfoods; they're readily
available at your local health food store, they possess amazing nutrients
and they can be easily integrated into your daily diet. Read more
about my 10 Favorite Superfoods.
10 Superfoods that are readily available and easy to integrate into your diet
One website to bookmark is One Green Planet. They have great articles and fabulous recipes! It’s one of my favorite websites that I visit regularly. I’ve been featuring Superfoods in previous posts and I thought it would be good to focus on superfoods that are readily available at your natural grocers, even your local grocery store. I got this list from One Green Planet and I’m featuring 10 of the many Superfoods out there. Visit their website for their complete list on the “Ultimate Superfood Guide.”
What are Superfoods? Superfoods are the most vibrant and nutritionally dense foods on the planet, which have been found to contain profound healing and dietary effects. They have often been used for thousands of years by indigenous people to heal the mind and body, and can be thought of as nature’s medicine. In today’s toxic world, it is essential to include them in your diet for optimal performance, rejuvenation and vitality, so please utilize this accessible guide to determine which foods are right for you.
1) Açaí: Açaí is a small dark purple berry that grows on the açaí palm in the Amazon forest of Brazil. The nutrients come from the pulp and skin of the fruit and tastes like a mix of berries and chocolate. The berry is high in antioxidants and essential fatty acids making it great for supporting the immune system, healthy skin and preventing aging.
2) Agave Nectar: Agave is a natural sweetener produced from the agave cactus native to Mexico. It is produced at low temperatures to protect its natural enzymes. Agave is low on the glycemic index making it a great sweetener for those with blood sugar issues. * Note: you must be careful when purchasing agave because many of the brands on the market are highly refined and highly heated, making it no better than regular fructose sugar.
3) Apple Cider Vinegar (unpasteurized): Natural (undistilled) organic, raw ACV can really be called one of Mother Nature’s most perfect foods. It is made from fresh, crushed apples which are then allowed to mature naturally in wooden barrels, as wood seems to “boost” the natural fermentation. Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural cleansing and healing elixir due to its high probiotic content and its acidity. Its acidic nature helps promote hydrochloric acid production in the stomach therefore greatly improving any digestive ailments. Furthermore, by improving digestion, it promotes healthy skin, inflammatory levels and metabolic function. I love to use Apple Cider Vinegar in Chicken Adobo.
4) Cacao: Cacao is the purest raw form of chocolate known as the “food of the Gods.” This powerhouse of a bean is one of the highest natural sources of magnesium and antioxidants while being rich in manganese, iron and chromium (great for blood sugar control). Containing Theobromine, cacao enhances mood and brain function. It is ideal for muscle contraction, cardiovascular health, PMS symptoms and energy. Cacao also contains PEA a “love” chemical as well as anandamide- a neurotransmitter of bliss.
5) Sea Salt, Unheated and Unrefined: Salt is essential for life and was once the most valued commodity on earth. Unheated sea salt is entirely different than table salt in that it essential to health because it contains essential minerals. Common table salt lacks minerals and trace elements because it is purified and refined, leaving only sodium and chloride. After refining, common table salt is mixed with iodine, bleaching agents and anti-caking chemicals to create a stark white, free flowing product. Unheated sea salt is needed for every function in the body including hydration, kidney, lymph and cardiovascular health, fluid balance, and hydrochloric acid production needed for digestion.
6) Coconut Butter/Oil: The scientific name for coconut is Cocos nucifera. Early Spanish explorers called it coco, which means, “monkey face” because the three indentations (eyes) on the hairy nut resembles the head and face of a monkey. Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in healthy fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a “functional food” because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut contains anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties making it excellent for immune system stimulation and for topical treatment. It also has the ability to stimulate the thyroid therefore increasing metabolism and aiding in weight loss.
7) Goldenberry (Incan berries): Grown in the mineral-rich soils across the Peruvian Andes, sweet and tangy Goldenberries (also known as Incan Berries) help to strengthen your body in times of stress and improve circulation. Packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, niacin and phosphorous, Incan Golden Berries also contain pectin, which helps to regulate the flow of food through the digestive tract as well a lower cholesterol levels and regulate blood sugar levels.
8) Maca: Maca is native to the high Andes of Peru and is a powerful adaptogen that works with the body to stabilize hormones and increase libido, energy, increasing oxygen uptake and endurance. Maca root also posses natural means of improving sexual performance and has been referred to as “Nature’s Viagra.” Excellent for correcting hormonal imbalances (PMS and Menopause).
9) Spirulina: A cyanobacteria once coveted by the Aztec, spirulina is now considered once of the most nutritious food sources known to man. Once called “the best food for the future” by the United Nations World Food Conference, this blue-green algae is a complete protein rich in B vitamins and has been reported to help correct anemia, reduce radioactive damage and lower cholesterol.
10) Yerba Maté: Yerba Maté is made from the naturally caffeinated leaves of the South American holly tree. It is both nutritious and stimulating, possessing the same health chemicals found in chocolate and coffee. Unlike coffee, yerba is not acid forming and does not cause anxiety or a “crash.” Along with boosting energy, yerba increases mental clarity, focus through its rich content of potassium, magnesium, amino acids and antioxidants.
