Top Superfoods for Outstanding Health
Superfoods are a class of the most potent, super-concentrated, and nutrient-rich foods on the planet. Extremely tasty and satisfying, superfoods have the ability to tremendously increase the vital force and energy of one's body, and are the optimum choice for improving over-all health, boosting the immune system, elevating serotonin production, enhancing sexuality, cleansing, and alkalizing the body. Specifically, the superfoods and superherbs not only immediately help nourish the brain, bones, muscles, skin, hair, nails, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, reproductive system, pancreas, and immune system, they can also, over the long-term, correct imbalances and help to guide us towards a more natural and original diet. That means that by consuming the superfoods and superherbs it makes it dramatically easier to achieve your ideal weight, diet, food habits, as well as assisting in easing detoxification and the transition to more living, raw plant foods...all without will power.
Superfoods are potent, and will get right to work! It is advised to begin all superfoods with a fraction of the serving size, and work one’s way up to serving size.
Top 10 Superfoods
#1 - Cacao (Raw Chocolate)
The seed of a fruit of an Amazonian tree, cacao is the highest antioxidant food on the planet, the #1 source of magnesium (natural muscle relaxer), iron, chromium, and is also extremely high in PEA, theobromine (cardiovascular support), and anandamide ("bliss chemical").
Chocolate balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, is a natural aphrodisiac, and elevates mood and energy.
Chocolate is healthy if it is dark with no added dairy products/milk or refined sugar. Even better are raw cacao beans, the "food of the gods" which possess all the magical properties of chocolate without any adulteration or processing. All chocolate comes from cacao beans - the seeds of the cacao fruit - which grows on a jungle tree. Botanically, cacao is truly a nut. They may be referred to as cacao beans, cacao seeds, cacao nuts, chocolate seeds, chocolate beans, or cacao nibs - all essentially mean the same thing.
Cacao is also a great source of serotonin, dopamine, and phenylethylamine, three well-studied neurotransmitters, which help alleviate depression and are associated with feelings of well being.
Cacao contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO Inhibitors) that improve our mood because they allow serotonin and dopamine to remain in the bloodstream longer without being broken down. Cacao contains anandamide which delivers blissful feelings. Cacao also contains B vitamins, which are associated with brain health. All this makes cacao a natural prozac!
Cacao has a 10% Antioxidant Concentration Level, making it the HIGHEST antioxidant
food on the planet. However, when dairy products/milk is added, the super antioxidants are cancelled right out. Studies indicate that dairy products specifically block the absorption of all the great antioxidants in chocolate.
Serving size: 2.5 tbsp
#2 - Goji Berries (Wolfberries)
Used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years, goji berries are regarded as a longevity, strength-building, and potency food of the highest order. This superfood contains 18 kinds of amino acids, all 8 essential amino acids, up to 21 trace minerals, high amounts of antioxidants, iron, polysaccharides, B & E vitamins, and many other nutrients.
Beware of “Wildcrafted” goji berries, as they are domestically grown and often fertilized and sprayed with chemicals.
Serving size: 1 handful or 1/4 cup
#3 - Maca (Regular Maca, Red Maca, Maca Extreme)
A staple in the Peruvian Andes for thousands of years, maca increases energy, endurance, strength, and libido. Dried maca powder contains more than 10% protein, nearly 20 amino acids, and 7 essential amino acids. As a root crop, maca contains five times more protein than a potato and four times more fiber. Although maca is not a complete protein, it is such a great source of hormone precursors and amino acids, that it provides many of the same effects created by a high-protein diet.
Serving size: 1 tsp (*maca is most effective when you give your body a break from it - one week off/month or one day off/week)
#4 - Coconut Oil
This oil assists in helping to displace toxic hydrogenated trans fatty acids (e.g. partiallyhydrogenated soybean oil). Coconut oil restores natural saturated fat levels to the skin, subcutaneous fat layers, as well as to the individual cell membranes. Coconut oil speeds up metabolism allowing the body to drop excess weight and toxins accumulated by an underactive thyroid. Coconut oil is also valuable for the immune system as it contains healthy anti-viral saturated fatty acids such as lauric acid.
Serving size: 1 tbsp
#5 - Hemp Seeds, Powder, and Oil
Hemp Products eaten their RAW form are packed with 33 % pure digestible protein, rich in iron, amino acids, and vitamin E as well as omega-3s and GLA. A perfect food.
HEMP SEEDS:
Hemp seeds are considered by leading researchers and medical doctors to be one of the most nutritious food sources on the planet. Shelled hemp seed is packed with 33 percent pure digestible protein and is rich in iron and vitamin E as well as omega-3 ALAand omega 6 GLA. Hemp also contains three times the vitamin E contained in flax.
HEMP PROTEIN POWDER:
Hemp protein powder is made from raw, hemp seeds (cold-processed at less than 85 degrees). It is super finely milled to contain 37% protein, with much of the oil removed. Hemp Protein is a balanced, "whole" protein, rich in essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Hemp's superior 66% edestin and 33% albumin protein structure is the highest in the plant kingdom, making it the Gold Standard of Plant Protein.
Serving size: 3 tbsp
HEMP OIL::
Hemp is one of very few plants that contains both of Omega 6 (GLA) and Omega 3 (ALA) an even rarer fatty acid. Hemp oil normally contains about 80% polyunsaturated fatty acids, with Omega 6 and 3 in a ratio of 3:1.
#6 - Spirulina, Chlorella, and Blue-Green Algae
The world's highest source of complete protein (65%), spirulina provides a vast array of minerals, trace elements, phytonutrients and enzymes. Chlorella is a complete protein with 40x the chlorophyll of wheatgrass. It is a known chelator of heavy metals. Blue-green algae is a wild-grown superfood with a 60% protein percentage, but is equally or exceedingly higher in other components. All three are vital superfoods.
See product for serving size
#7 - Bee Products (honey, pollen, royal jelly, propolis)
Very few foods even compare to bee pollen in overall nutrition. Bee pollen is the most complete food found in nature containing vitamin B-9 and all 21 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. It is also very nigh in healing polysaccharides (complex, long-chain sugars). Honey, in its organic/wild, raw, unfiltered states is rich in minerals, antioxidants, probiotics and enzymes.
Serving size: 1 tsp
#8 - Sea Vegetables & Seaweeds (kelp, dulse, nori, hijiki, bladderwrack, etc.)
Rich in life-giving nutrients drawn in from the ocean and sun, sea vegetables help remove heavy metals, detoxify the body, provide numerous trace minerals, regulate cholesterol, and decrease the risk of cancer. Seaweeds benefit the entire body, and are especially excellent for the thyroid (high iodine), immune system, adrenals, and hormone function. Ground kelp granules are a convenient way to get your sea minerals and polysaccharides on a daily basis. They are "salty" yet low in sodium, thanks to their rich complement of other mineral salts. Kelp granules are an especially rich source of fructose (polysaccharide), potassium, iron, iodine, vitamin B6, riboflavin, and dietaryfiber, and also contain a natural substance, glutamic acid, that enhances flavor and tenderizes fibrous foods. Phytochemicals in kelp have been shown to absorb and eliminate radioactive elements and heavy metal contaminants from our bodies. Kelp (like cacao) is extraordinarily rich in minerals including alkaline minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Sufficient mineralization (from proper nutrition) has been known to normalize and calm behavior. A lack of proper mineral nutrition has been implicated in practically every symptom of poor health and emotionally extreme behavior. The iodine in kelp helps restore thyroid function allowing one to lose weight swiftly. The iodine and other minerals in kelp help to increase the mineral content of all the organs allowing them to function more effectively. The better our organs function the more readily they are able to throw off toxins and rejuvenate. Also, kelp helps displace toxic minerals with healthy minerals (e.g. radioactive iodine with healthy iodine). This is called “chelation by replacement.”
#9 - MSM
MSM is a naturally occurring form of dietary sulfur found in fresh raw foods that are involved in the cycle of rain. MSM is deficient in foods grown in greenhouses or in foods grown through irrigation. MSM is volatile and destroyed by cooking. In the body, MSM softens leathery internal tissues by rebuilding connective tissue with elastic sulfur bonds. This is how MSM lives up to its reputation of building collagen and maintaining healthy joints. This is also why MSM increases flexibility (good for yogis), hastens recovery time from sore muscles, and is excellent for recovery from athletic injuries. Because of its collagen-building properties, MSM creates smooth skin, thick lustrous hair, and strong nails. MSM makes the tissues more permeable so that they may move nutrients in and toxins out with greater ease. MSM has a remarkable effect at neutralizing foreign proteins (i.e. allergens, toxins, undigested food) making it anti- inflammatory. MSM works particularly well in conjunction with vitamin-C rich foods. Perhaps most importantly, MSM helps to remove bad estrogens in the body that are the result of intake of plastics.
#10 - Camu Camu Berry
Native to the South American rainforest, the camu camu berry is the highest Vitamin C source on planet.
Traditionally, camu-camu has been used to support the immune system, maintain excellent eyesight, create beautiful skin, defend against viral infections, aid healthy liverfunction, support strong collagen, tendons and ligaments, decrease inflammation, improve respiratory (lung) health, and help maintain optimal clarity of mind in times of stress and anxiety. The camu-camu berry is also an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and amino acids and has a tremendous research history suggesting its effectiveness in healing connective tissue, improving the immune system as well as detoxifying the liver, brain, and kidneys.
adapted from: The Top 3 Proven SuperFood Diet Success Strategies by David Wolfe