Superfoods

I thought I would actually try and live up to the title of this blog and raise some awareness about something other than myself. Here it goes:

Superfoods

Superfoods are foods that are typically low in calories and are nutritionally more potent than regular foods. They have disease-fighting properties that reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease; and some are even capable of improving your mood! Blueberries are probably the most well known and popular of superfoods. They are full of cancer preventing antioxidants, are rich in vitamin C, and they fulfill your need for dietary fiber. As a bonus, superfoods require little to no prep time and they are very easy to incorporate into your diet. And did I mention they are quite tasty? The following are some of my favorite uses for superfoods with their health benefits in parenthesis:

• Soak some sliced green apples (loaded with fiber) in water, lemon juice (rich in vitamin C and minerals) and some sea salt.
• Squeeze a lime on a papaya half (great source of vitamin K and E and fiber), fill with non-fat greek yogurt (good source of probiotics), and top with some granola.
• Combine in a blender: almond milk (packed with fiber and protein), peanut butter (good source of natural fat and protein), a spoonful of non-fat yogurt (probiotics), mangos (rich in iron, antioxidants, vitamins A and D), blueberries, raspberries (powerful antioxidant), goji berries (the superfood of superfoods loaded with protein, minerals, vitamin B2 and C, beta-carotene, and they are thought to boost the immune system), banana, and granola. Give the mix a couple of pulses with the blender and enjoy this crunchy and tasty smoothie.
• Combine in a blender: almond milk, half of an avocado (fiber, minerals, vitamin E), banana, barley grass (provides all 9 essential amino acids and is a powerful antioxidant) and wheat grass (powerful antioxidant and lower’s blood pressure), powder barley and wheat grass works well, a bit of raw honey, a bit of cacao powder and ice. Blend it all together for a superfood rich green smoothie.
• Make some whole oats oatmeal (high in fiber, lowers cholesterol) and top with blueberry flax seed (antioxidant, rich in omega-3 fatty acid), coconut shreds, raw honey (antioxidant, natural remedy for cough medicine), cinnamon, and sliced almonds.
• Eat some dark chocolate! (the cacao found in dark chocolate is a powerful antioxidant, rich in minerals, vitamins and beta-carotene, and it gives you a natural kick similar to tea).