The term ‘superfood’ is defined as a nutrient-dense food that also provides medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Packed with vital vitamins, minerals, and plant chemicals, these foods can also help ward-off chronic disease while supporting overall physical and mental wellbeing. When superfoods are rendered into a powdered extract, they become incredibly easy to incorporate into your daily food and drink.
1.Spirulina Used as a food source by the Aztecs until the 16th century, spirulina is assuredly a superfood. It’s high in protein, B-vitamins, copper, and iron with good amounts of magnesium, potassium, and manganese. Spirulina is so nutrient-dense that it very well might be the most nutritious food the world over, gram for gram. Supplementing with spirulina is incredibly heart-healthy: it can help lower blood-pressure and decrease LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Spirulina has also been shown to enhance endurance, prevent oral cancers from forming, and is capable of removing heavy-metals, like arsenic, from the body. To incorporate spirulina into your diet, stir one tablespoon into a glass or water or juice. It is also a wonderful smoothie addition.
2.Collagen Collagen is a major structural protein that helps increase muscle-mass, promotes skin elasticity, and supports tendons, cartilage, and bones. Although our bodies naturally make collagen, as we age the amount of collagen produced is less and less. Wrinkles, sagging-skin, and decreased cartilage between joints are some of the signs that your body isn’t generating enough collagen. You can boost your collagen intake by drinking bone-broth, or by supplementing your diet with collagen peptides.
3.Matcha Like white tea, green-tea, and oolong, matcha is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. It provides a unique set of nutrients because it is grown and processed differently than other tea varieties. Matcha is a rich source of antioxidants. Compared with green tea, matcha contains 137-times more epigallocatechin gallate – a type of catechin that may help prevent cancer. Drinking teas high in catechins has also been shown to reduce body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and subcutaneous fat. Consuming matcha may even help boost cognitive performance in the areas of attention, reaction time, and memory.
4.Maca Root Maca root is highly nutritious, containing plenty of protein, Vitamin-C and B6, riboflavin, niacin, potassium, iron, copper, calcium, and manganese. Maca has been used medicinally for more than 2,000 years to increase libido and boost fertility. Its traditional uses have been backed by science; consuming maca-root increased sex-drive and boosted fertility in men by increasing sperm-count and sperm-mobility.
5.Moringa Leaf Moringa oleifera, commonly called the drumstick tree, is a fast growing plant native to northern India. Dried and crushed into a fine powder, moringa leaf is rife with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino-acids, and phytochemicals. Studies have found that it possesses anti-inflammatory properties, may help lower blood-sugar and cholesterol-levels, and provides gastro-protective benefits against ulcer formation. You can supplement with moringa-powder by adding one teaspoon to smoothies, juices, and yogurt. For cooked fare, sprinkle moringa into soups, stews, and teas just before serving to keep all of its excellent benefits intact.