Add these 5 superfoods to your diet and say goodbye to colds, flus and other “dis-eases.”
Just in case you’re confused, I’m not a doctor and I’m not telling you what you should do or how you should look after yourself.
These are foods I use myself and there’s plenty of research available on the internet and elsewhere to back what I’m saying.
But, ultimately, you’re responsible for yourself and it’s up to you to do your own homework.
Give them a try and decide for yourself what you think and how you feel.
Goji Berries
These tasty little morsels are usually sold dried and are readily available in healthfood stores and in most supermarkets these days. Add them to your smoothies or yogurt for a healthy dose of free radical destroying antioxidants.
They’re red, about the size of raisins and can be used anywhere you might use raisins. High in vitamin C and fibre and low in sugar content, they’ll give you a nice sustained boost of energy when added to cereal or trail mix.
Goji berries have been valued as both medicine and food for centuries in China and are still used there to treat eye, liver and kidney ailments.
There’s been reports of goji’s being protective against macular degeneration and some evidence to indicate they may be effective against flu.
High levels of zeaxanthin give Goji’s their bright red color. Zeaxanthin’s a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from inflammation and breakdown due to toxins and pollutants in our environment.
This anti-inflammatory action may even offer relief of joint pain for arthritis sufferers.
Whatever. I like how they taste.
I’ll grab a handful of them and eat them like raisins. Chewy and an acquired taste for some.
I love ‘em.
Chaga
I’ve written about Chaga before [insert link here], but this superstar of the superfoods deserves mention as often as possible.
Found on birch trees in most of the northern hemisphere, Chaga is the king of mushrooms.
The Mushroom of Immortality. And a host of other names that speak to its powers.
Hailed as a cure for cancer and a fountain of youth, chaga is my latest discovery and one I have embraced enthusiastically.
It’s an adaptogen, which means it brings the body back into balance and helps fight stress, cold, flus and depression.
Throw a tablespoon of the dried fungus in a gallon of water, boil it up, let it simmer and chug away.
I find it quite tasteless, other claim it tastes like dirt. Whatever.
The beauty of it is, you can keep adding water to your original brew. So a little goes a long way.
Drink it every day and be prepared to live a long, happy, healthy life.
Swiss Chard
Perhaps the healthiest green known to humankind, swiss chard is so chock-full of goodness, a list of superfoods is not complete without it. Oh really, you say? Yes, really.
Here’s why…
Swiss chard contains 13 different polyphenol antioxidants. 13 what now? I’ve no idea really, I just know antioxidants are what our body needs to stay healthy.
They protect our heart and brains from wear and tear. One of the polyphenol antioxidants found in chard might also help regulate our blood sugar, preventing things like diabetes, for example.
It seems to regulate blood sugar by way of blocking the enzyme (alpha-glucosidase) that breaks carbohydrates down to simple sugars.
And swiss chard is high in betalains. These are the compounds found in beets (that give them their red color) and provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and detoxification support.
I told you this stuff was awesome.
Saute the leaves in some coconut oil or butter, add freshly ground himalayan rock salt and cracked black pepper. And start shovelling.
Serve it as a side to your favorite cut of meat. Add it to soups or stews. Steam it. Doesn’t matter really, just eat lots of it.
Prunes
Turns out gramma was right about prunes – they ARE good for you. And they’re good for a lot more than keeping you regular, if you know what I mean.
Prunes have a high ORAC rating, somewhere around 5770 on the ORAC scale. ORAC is Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, and is a measure of a foods ability to absorb (eliminate) free radical oxygen molecules.
Free radicals are the cause of much of the damage to your cells and blood vessels (ie. inflammation). Absorb or neutralize free radicals and you help prevent disease. Simple really.
Anyhow, prunes, at a rating of 5770, are at twice the value of raisins (2880) and more than 3 times the rating of kale (1770).
So, eat your prunes. Start off with a couple to get your body used to the extra fiber. Work your way up to half a dozen per day and you’ll never have another sick day. Or be constipated.
Maca
Maca, aka Peruvian ginseng, is a root belonging to the radish family.
It’s loaded with vitamins B, C and E and minerals such as calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium. Contains more than 20 amino acids, including the 8 essential to humans.
It’s an adaptogen (like Chaga), so it gives your body what it needs for balance and health.
But perhaps its biggest claim to fame is as a libido booster.
And it does this for both men and women:
- Maca boosts men’s testosterone levels and sperm production
- Maca balances women’s hormonal systems and increases fertility
It’ll also improve your mood, increase your energy levels and help your memory.
I generally add a teaspoon or so to my smoothie. Or, I’ll add a teaspoon to my coffee. Or, I’ll add it to my yogurt.
Maca does taste a bit like dirt to me, but its benefits outweigh its earthiness.
Give it a try and let me know what you think.
So there you go, 5 superfoods to boost your immunity, boost your energy and boost your mood.
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