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Superfoods
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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.
FAQs
What makes a superfood?
You have probably heard a lot about superfoods in recent years, but it can be difficult to pin down exactly what makes a food super.
Genuine superfoods have high levels of nutrients that can offer healthy benefits.
So I should eat plenty of superfoods?
Definitely! Adding superfoods into your daily diet is a delicious and natural way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need for a healthy mind and body.
Knowing which ones contain what can help you to blend the right superfoods for the best benefits.
Or you can make it easy on yourself and choose a superfood, or green, powder.
What do you mean by ‘green powder’?
Green powders blend all the natural nutrients from certain superfoods into one, creating an easy to use powder that aids wellbeing.
Some of these powders are created with certain outcomes in mind – supporting energy yielding metabolism, healthy skin and much more – while others are based around the potential benefits of a single superfood such as turmeric or spirulina powder.
What are the best superfood powders out there?
With so many superfood and blends to choose from it can be tough to choose.
Extremely popular, spirulina benefits bodies with its plentiful vitamin B12 and antioxidants, helping to fight free radical damage
As delicious as it is beneficial, cacao powder is a natural source of protein, magnesium and copper. This blend of nutrients is a must for energy, psychological function and iron distribution.
One of the most nutrient-rich foods out there, moringa powder contains plentiful calcium, vitamin A and iron while maca, a Peruvian root vegetable, offers high levels of iron and potassium, aiding energy levels to keep exhaustion at bay.
How do I use superfood powders?
These powders can be blended into your smoothie, latte or porridge for easy intake and many people choose to use them in baking, substituting a small amount of flour or cocoa powder for their powder of choice.
Those powders with a more savoury flavour may be better sprinkled over a soup or whisked into a salad dressing.
Their ability to easily blend into your favourite meals and treats makes these powders highly palatable and more enjoyable than taking pills.
Are there alternatives to green powders?
Enjoying foods in their raw state is sometimes the ideal way to get the best from them. Some are genuinely delicious too.
Many superfoods, such as acai berry, goji berry, chia seeds and linseeds are easy to use and highly palatable.
These powerful foodstuffs are just as high in nutrients as their powdered counterparts and just as adaptable too.
Try mixing with other nuts and dried fruits for a delicious, vitamin rich trail mix or granola or work them into your favourite bakes.
Added to yoghurt or ice cream for an extra hit of nutrients with a sweet flavour, superfoods like cacao nibs or hemp seeds can turn getting your daily vitamins into a treat.
