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Eating a rainbow of healthy fruit and veg, whole grains and lean protein will generally do the trick- however, you can take it a step further by adding ‘superfoods’ to your diet. These come under the radar every now and again and are hailed by health buffs- generally, they’re ingredients which have been used across the globe for both food and medicine for centuries.
Now that health food shops and even supermarkets give us access to all kinds of weird and wonderful ingredients, it’s worth getting on board and giving some a try! Here are some unusual yet very healthy foods to add to your diet.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds, the seeds from a flowering plant in the mint family, have become one of the most popular superfoods in the health food industry. Thought to have been eaten by Aztec warriors in ancient Mexico to give them strength, energy, and endurance. Eating chia seeds has a number of incredible benefits. They can improve digestion, promote healthy skin (and reduce the signs of aging), help to build healthy bones and muscles and in some cases even heal diabetes. They’re full of fibre, are a good source of non-animal protein, omega 3 and 6, and calcium. There are tonnes of antioxidants and micronutrients which all help to support the body’s functions.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds, the seeds from a flowering plant in the mint family, have become one of the most popular superfoods in the health food industry. Thought to have been eaten by Aztec warriors in ancient Mexico to give them strength, energy, and endurance. Eating chia seeds has a number of incredible benefits. They can improve digestion, promote healthy skin (and reduce the signs of aging), help to build healthy bones and muscles and in some cases even heal diabetes. They’re full of fibre, are a good source of non-animal protein, omega 3 and 6, and calcium. There are tonnes of antioxidants and micronutrients which all help to support the body’s functions.
You can add chia seeds to smoothies, cereal or yoghurt, if you’re not keen on the slight crunch then grind them in a pestle and mortar first. They have a non-offensive taste a little like poppy seeds, but you only need a small amount and added to other breakfast foods you won’t even notice they’re there. An easy way to add a huge boost of nutrition to your diet.
Wheatgrass
Ever wondered what the healthiest fruit, vegetable or herb you could possibly eat is? According to scientists and nutritionists, it’s wheatgrass. This is the young grass of the wheat plant, and contains every vitamin and mineral you could possibly imagine. It can heal your body and is said to be one of the greatest food healers known to man. Due to being an excellent source of living chlorophyll, it can clean and build the blood and reduce unfriendly bacteria in the body.
Wheatgrass
Ever wondered what the healthiest fruit, vegetable or herb you could possibly eat is? According to scientists and nutritionists, it’s wheatgrass. This is the young grass of the wheat plant, and contains every vitamin and mineral you could possibly imagine. It can heal your body and is said to be one of the greatest food healers known to man. Due to being an excellent source of living chlorophyll, it can clean and build the blood and reduce unfriendly bacteria in the body.
You can get wheatgrass in tablet or powder form where it’s been dried and rehydrated. This is useful as it can be added easily to smoothies and other dishes. You can also buy the living grass which can be juiced and drank daily as a shot. If you’re looking to try just one superfood, wheatgrass is an excellent contender!
Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil is pretty gruesome, it's exactly what it sounds like. The oil pressed from the liver of a cod. However, if you can get your head around it, it will provide you with some awesome health benefits. It’s high in vitamins A and D, plus omega 3 fatty acids. These can help to reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart disease, dementia, depression, and arthritis.
Green Tea
Green tea is the healthiest beverage on earth- as well as gulping plenty of water during the day making up a big pot of green tea will do you wonders. It’s packed full of antioxidants which fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals come from things like chemicals in our diet and pollution, and cause damage from aging skin to cancers. So neutralising them is a smart move.
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Kelp
You heard that right- kelp is a superfood! Not just for fish to nibble on, it’s extremely good for us too. While brown algae isn’t the most appetising looking food, it can be bought in powder or tablet form. You can even buy things like pre-made kelp noodles made with it making it easy to consume. It contains a wide variety of unique minerals from Iodine and underwater antioxidants, iron, folate, and vitamin K.
Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil is pretty gruesome, it's exactly what it sounds like. The oil pressed from the liver of a cod. However, if you can get your head around it, it will provide you with some awesome health benefits. It’s high in vitamins A and D, plus omega 3 fatty acids. These can help to reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart disease, dementia, depression, and arthritis.
Green Tea
Green tea is the healthiest beverage on earth- as well as gulping plenty of water during the day making up a big pot of green tea will do you wonders. It’s packed full of antioxidants which fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals come from things like chemicals in our diet and pollution, and cause damage from aging skin to cancers. So neutralising them is a smart move.
Green tea can also help to decrease body fat, especially in the abdominal area which is a particularly dangerous area to carry weight. It can boost metabolism, with numerous studies showing excellent results. Nutritional cleanses such as Isagenix are also useful if you’re looking to reduce body fat, and you can drink green tea while you’re on them to help boost your results.
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Kelp
You heard that right- kelp is a superfood! Not just for fish to nibble on, it’s extremely good for us too. While brown algae isn’t the most appetising looking food, it can be bought in powder or tablet form. You can even buy things like pre-made kelp noodles made with it making it easy to consume. It contains a wide variety of unique minerals from Iodine and underwater antioxidants, iron, folate, and vitamin K.
Another thing to note is that it also contains the highest natural concentration of calcium of any food. Great if you don’t consume dairy as it’s a fantastic form of calcium that’s 100% vegan.
