Superfoods have taken the health world by storm. Trendy, tasty, and usually easy – superfoods boost of nutrients, minerals, and have the potential to reduce risks of serious diseases, including cancer.
Add a little healthy adventure to your grocery list. Here are a few superfoods you might have never heard of but deserve a spot in your diet.
1. Breadfruit
Did you know breadfruit gives you more than 100% of your daily vitamin C requirements? It also provides you half of the daily dietary fiber you need. This ninja fruit is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Because of their impressive antioxidant count and high percentage of potassium, the fruit has the potential to reduce risks of heart disease, cancer, and stroke. It is also great to boost your immune system, and for it’s anti-inflammatory properties.
The fruit can be cooked, boiled, steamed, and even baked.
2. Camu Camu
This Brazilian super fruit has 60 times the vitamin C content in an orange. The camu camu fruit is packed with potassium and amino acids that are useful for bone and muscle health. Since they have anti-inflammatory properties, the fruit can help reduce the risk of heart disease and boost the immune system.
While the fruit is difficult to buy, the powder form is available in the market. You could add the powder into your smoothies and shakes.
3. Moringa
Moringa has been used for its medicinal powers for years by people around the world. Some even call it “the miracle tree.” But it was until recently the plant started getting some attention. They are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, proteins, minerals and antioxidants. This helps with reducing blood sugar levels and maintaining cholesterol levels. Their anti-inflammatory properties are useful to protect the liver from chronic inflammation, and arthritis.
You could add the leaves to your salad or simply blend them into your smoothies.
4. Amaranth
Similar to quinoa, amaranth is a super food that is high in protein and has no gluten! This makes it perfect for people with celiac or are gluten-intolerant. Another interesting fact about amaranth is that one cup meets 82% of the required daily amount for calcium, 14% for vitamin C, and 31% for calcium. It’s also great to lower cholesterol levels.
You could have them cooked as porridge.
5. Aronia Berry
Also known as black chokeberries, the aronia berry’s popularity has picked up momentum. These berries are loaded with vitamins like A, C, R, and B. They are also rich in quinic acid (great to treat UTI), and iron. They are also packed with fiber that is useful to promote better digestive health. But the biggest selling point of an aronia berry is that they are packed with antioxidants. In fact, they contain three times the amount of antioxidants than blackberries, blueberries, and acai berry. They have the potential to fight free radicals and improve immunity.
You could have them in a juice form or make a spread out of the berries.
6. Mung Beans
Mung beans have been part of the ayurvedic diet for centuries now. These tiny green beans are rich in manganese, magnesium, potassium, folate, protein, and dietary fiber. It’s no wonder why the mung beans are great to protect you from heart diseases, diabetes, and tumors. One study claims that these beans are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, properties that are useful to reduce chances of cancer.
You could have them in dahl (a vegetarian Indian curry full of nutrients), or you could eat them after simply boiling them.
7. Nori
You probably know nori as the seaweed wrap that holds the ingredients of sushi together. But it’s a lot more than that. The paper-like green wrapping is rich in protein and dietary fiber. One study claims that nori is helpful to reduce cholesterol levels since they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Another plus would be that nori improves bone health since they are rich in calcium and magnesium.
8. Golden Berries
Low in calories, high in vitamins and minerals, the golden berry is a great addition to your diet. But the most important benefit is that they are full of antioxidants. Carotenoids and polyphenolic (both antioxidants) are useful to tackle the development of cancer cells. Another function of these antioxidants are that they are anti-inflammatory in nature. Inflammation has been the reason for several diseases like arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and heart disorders.
Since golden berries are sweet, the berries have been part of cakes and tarts. You could also have them raw.
9. Celeriac
Celeriac is a root vegetable that pops up during winter. They are closely related to the popular celery. They are low in calories and high in nutrients, vitamins, and dietary fiber. They are a good source of vitamin K, iron, calcium, and phosphorous.
You could add them to soups and stews.
