Superfoods

Superfood is a term used to describe foods and sometimes drinks which have a high density of nutrients and therefore may have some associated health benefits.

Superfoods are usually all natural and plant based, with minimal calories and are packed with vitamins and minerals.

Are superfoods and whole foods the same thing?

Whole foods are plant-based foods which are unprocessed and unrefined or have gone through as little processing or refinement as they possibly can.

Although the definition of the terms whole foods and superfoods isn’t exactly the same, some whole foods can be described as superfoods and vice versa.

Which superfoods should I add to my diet?

There are a number of healthy foods which can be described as superfoods, which you can start adding to your diet straight away. Here are some of our favourites:

Goji berries

Goji berries, also known as wolfberries, are small red berries which come in a dried form, similar to raisins.

They are grown on a plantation on the banks of the Yellow River in China, where the rich soil provides the Lycium plants (or matrimony vines as they are otherwise known) with all the nutrients and water they need to produce the berries.

Good things come in small packages – and these little powerhouses are packed with beneficial nutrients. They are a source of protein, iron, copper, vitamin C and potassium.

Goji berries have a sweet, tangy taste and are organic, gluten free, kosher and suitable for vegans.

They are especially great for vegans because of their protein and iron content. Both protein and iron can sometimes be difficult to get when following a vegan diet. 

There are lots of ways that you can add these versatile berries into your everyday diet. Eat a handful of them for a snack on their own, add them to smoothies and trail mixes or you can even add a sprinkling into homemade curries in place of sultanas!

Cacao nibs

Minvita Cacao Superfood Nibs are grown and processed in the heart of the ‘cacao belt’ using traditional methods. Prime Peruvian cacao pods are cut from the tree by hand, split open and the pulp scooped out to be fermented for a week, developing rich chocolate flavours. The beans are then dried under the sun and broken up into small, crunchy nibs. They are 100% natural and have a rich chocolate flavour.

You can add these to smoothies, juices and yoghurts to provide a more bitter contrast to sweet flavours. Cacao nibs are also a good source offibre and magnesium. 

What are superfood powders?

Superfood powders are simply powdered superfoods with all of the benefits of their whole forms.

Superfood powders are an even easier way to add these nutrient-rich foods into a balanced diet.

These powders can be added to smoothies, juices and yoghurts or even simply added to hot water to help support nutrient levels within your body.

Moringa powder

Minvita Moringa Superfood Powder is made from pure Moringa leaves which are carefully washed, dried and then turned into powder.

Heat isn’t used in the creation of this powder which means the nutritional value is retained.

Moringa leaves are rich in fibre and also in vitamin E which can protect cells from oxidative stress.

Baobab powder

Baobab Superfruit Powder, made from the hard-shelled fruit of the African Baobab tree, is a source of vitamin C, fibre, calcium and potassium.

This powder contains vitamin C which helps contribute to the reduction of fatigue and tiredness.

Spirulina powder

Naturya Organic Spirulina Powder is made from spirulina, a blue-green algae grown on an island in the South China Sea which is protected from agricultural and urban pollution.

Its protein content is 67%, making it an amazing source of vegan protein.

As well as this, spirulina powder is also high in fibre, vitamin A, B-vitamins and manganese.

Vitamin A contributes to normal function of the immune system and thiamine (vitamin B1) contributes to normal function of the heart.

Turmeric powder

Turmeric is a superfood whose reputation proceeds it and has been used widely in Ayurveda.

Naturya Turmeric Blend also contains manganese which helps to support energy yielding metabolism.

This blend is perfect for morning lattes and can easily be added to smoothies or used in baking recipes.

Maca powder

Another superfood powder which can be easily added into your diet is Minvita Maca Powder.

Minvita Maca Superfood Powder is made from the Peruvian root vegetable that’s been cultivated and enjoyed for centuries by the indigenous population of the Andes. Only growing at altitudes of over 3500 metres, maca thrives in inhospitable terrain. Dug out in spring, the root of the maca plant is dried under the sun and milled into a powder. The easiest way is to mix one dessert spoon twice a day into smoothies, juices, yoghurts or be used as a cooking ingredient turning everyday recipes for bread, cakes and cookies into healthy, nutritional treats for the family.