It seems like more and more lately we keep hearing about superfoods. The question is, do you know what a superfood is and what qualifies it as a superfood?
What are superfoods?
Superfoods are a category of foods found in nature; they are superior sources of essential, super-power nutrients -- nutrients we can't make ourselves. They are the most powerful foods on the planet, and are powerhouses for the transformation to a slender, healthier you. If you are what you eat, why not be super?
Where Can I Find Them?
Superfoods can be found everywhere. You are likely using many of them already everyday. Not all superfoods come from exotic places like Costa Rica and Thailand. Many are right here in North America and can be found at your local health food store, grocery store or farmer's market.
Everyday foods such as kale, quinoa, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and raw honey are amazing superfoods and if you want to get exotic, try nori seaweed, cacao, goji berries, maca, Maqui and mesquite.
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13 Of The Healthiest Superfoods
Superfoods also include:
•Raw foods -- (food not heated above 48 degrees Celsius or 120 degrees Fahrenheit)
•High enzyme foods -- (foods that easily break themselves down are easier on our digestive system, such as mangoes, pineapple, papaya and avocados)
•Organic foods -- (foods grown without pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals)
•Fresh, local foods -- (visit local farmers markets and taste the difference that local foods make!)
When choosing your superfoods:
Look for foods with a variety of colour, texture, flavour and shapes. This makes your meals and snacks exciting! No one wants a boring meal that doesn't taste good.
Focus on high nutrient-dense foods over low calories. Calories don't determine how many vitamins, minerals, enzymes or overall nutrients are in a food item. Superfoods have concentrated nutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fats) and provide an abundance of nutrition in every bite. It's also important to get away from focusing on calories all the time. It can become obsessive and you may lose sight of actually consuming good quality food!
Why superfoods?
They make you happy! They help you to actually lose weight because you will be eating foods that satisfy and satiate, rather than make you crave other foods. Your cells become saturated with nutrition. Plus:
•They give you energy
•They help your body to detoxify
•They give you mental clarity
•They promote activity and weight loss
•They improve immunity
•They clear and brighten your skin
Get started today and make some super recipes! Or, if you need some help and you're serious about getting more superfoods in your diet, let me help you in my Superfoods for Super Health workshop.
Superfood Power Balls
What's in it?
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
2 tbsp hemp seeds
1 cup chopped dates
1/4 cup goji berries
2 tbsp cacao nibs or cocoa powder
1 tbsp raw honey or coconut nectar
1/2 tsp vanilla powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp Sun Warrior Protein Powder
Here's how to find some of these ingredients easily: Upaya Naturals & Navitas Naturals
How it's made!
Place all the ingredients into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until you get a thick "doughy" consistency. Roll into bite sized balls for quick power bites -- perfect for your purse or a midday snack or after a workout.