Savvy entrepreneurs slap the label “superfood” on almost each merchandise you could find within the grocery store, hoping the declare will compel customers so as to add it to their cart. Superfood potato chips? Yup. That’s a factor.
However what’s a authentic superfood?
On this article, we’ll discover the next:
- The definition of a superfood
- Classes of superfoods
- Examples of frequent superfoods
- Examples of uncommon, unique superfoods
- How are superfood powders created?
- Superfood and inexperienced powders: the great, the unhealthy and the ugly
- The simplest strategy to devour a number of natural superfoods in a single sitting
What Is A Superfood?
When most individuals consider superfoods, vegatables and fruits come to thoughts. And for good purpose. Vegetables and fruit are full of vitamins (nutritional vitamins and minerals) and micronutrients (hint minerals). However the world of superfoods encompasses excess of the produce you will get out of your native farmer’s market.
Some think about sure animal-derived meals to be superfoods like wild salmon, however at Boku, we focus solely on plant-based sources. We’ll check out different superfood classes within the subsequent part. For now, although, let’s get again to answering the query, “What makes a superfood a Tremendous Meals?”
Sure, it’s the nutritional vitamins and minerals. However there’s much more to the story than what the vitamin label reveals.
For example, all people is aware of that broccoli is a superfood. In response to the vitamin information label for chopped broccoli, one cup supplies 135% vitamin C and 11% vitamin A.
These two vitamins are alone value it to take heed to your mother and end your broccoli. There’s additionally somewhat little bit of protein, calcium and iron.
However the factor that makes superfoods tremendous that’s not listed on the vitamin information label (or the elements label of a product that features broccoli) is what’s referred to as phytochemicals.
There are literally thousands of phyto- (phyto is Greek for plant) chemical compounds—also called phytonutrients—in a single plant. These pure compounds, typically talking, assist defend crops from fungi, micro organism, viruses and hungry bugs.
These identical pure chemical compounds that defend crops assist defend us, too.
They help our immune system, hormonal stability, temper, and play a major function in sustaining homeostasis.
When your physique is in a state of homeostasis, you don’t simply really feel okay, you are feeling nice: your power is rock-steady all day, you are feeling calm but laser-focused, you might have ample power and also you’re in good spirits.
That’s why consuming crops rocks! However if you wish to appear and feel your finest, you shouldn’t merely be content material with consuming a plant-based weight loss program.
To repeat: plant-based diets might not enhance your well being!
In spite of everything, wheat is a plant. So is corn. Rice additionally comes from a plant. (Technically, the rice plant is a grass, however let’s not cut up hairs.)
Consuming a number of heavily-processed and genetically-modified grains, which come from crops and sadly kind the premise of a lot of the meals provide within the west, can contribute to well being issues.
As an alternative, you could eat a superfood-based weight loss program to really feel superb daily!
Briefly, superfoods ship essentially the most spectacular quantity of vitamins and phytochemicals that you simply received’t see on the vitamin information label—within the fewest quantity of energy doable.
Sorts of Superfoods: Extra Than Fruits and Veggies
Lastly, for the thousandth time, the recommendation to eat a number of leafy, inexperienced veggies has sunken in. However you don’t notably like spinach or kale to not point out that you don’t have any time to prepare dinner wholesome recipes. So that you analysis tremendous greens powder and think about shopping for one on-line.
Earlier than you make that buy, nevertheless, think about that there’s far more to superfoods than leafy inexperienced veggies.
One of the best superfood powders include not simply tremendous greens however a number of different superfood classes that provide most dietary density with comparatively few energy.
Along with fruits and veggies, superfoods additionally come from:
- Grasses
- Seeds
- Sprouts
- Mushrooms
- Algae
- Pods (ex: Mesquite, Vanilla Bean, Cacao)
- Enzymes
It is best to attempt to incorporate as many whole-food sources of superfoods in your weight loss program each single day for optimum well being.
That’s as a result of the extra various your superfood consumption is, the extra you might be supporting your well-being. Bear in mind: the vitamin label doesn’t let you know all of the various kinds of antioxidants that crops possess.
It’s possible you’ll be conversant in the time period “polyphenols.” Polyphenols are a particular subset of antioxidants. Flavonoid compounds equivalent to quercetin, catechins, anthocyanin are examples of polyphenols.
Every polyphenol and different kind of antioxidant serves a distinct perform. Because of this it’s so essential to devour all kinds of superfoods and never only one or two leafy greens.
So should you’re in search of the perfect superfood powder to make it simpler to devour all kinds of antioxidants, search for one that features not simply tremendous greens but additionally the classes listed above.
Listing Of Finest Superfoods (That You’ve Already Heard Of)
Let’s scratch broccoli off the listing. We’ve already coated that one 🙂
Different examples of inexperienced, leafy veggies or cruciferous veggies that you need to be together with in your weight loss program embody: spinach, kale, cabbage, parsley, and cauliflower.
Sprouts had been included as a class of superfood above. Technically, sprouts are crops, child crops to be extra exact.
However the purpose sprouts need to be in a class all their very own is as a result of they’re usually occasions extra nutrient wealthy than their grown-up counterparts. Sprouts are additionally richer in fiber, which can help your digestion and elimination.
Sprouts from flax, pumpkin, and pink clover, together with leafy and cruciferous greens, are a few of the most nutrient-dense on this planet.
But when there’s one superfood that’s arguably the preferred it’s spirulina. Spirulina is a blue-green algae with an unbelievable phytonutrient profile. It’s a wonderful supply of the red-blood-cell builder and oxygen-booster, chlorophyll. Spirulina additionally accommodates important fatty acids.
Spirulina helps regular irritation ranges and is a wonderful supply of antioxidants. Many individuals are shocked to be taught that spirulina powder is a wonderful supply of protein.
Some individuals think about spirulina to be, ounce for ounce, essentially the most nutrient-dense meals on the planet. Is it the perfect superfood on Earth? It’s undoubtedly within the operating. Chlorella and kelp are additionally examples of tremendous algae.
One other superfood you’ve heard of is uncooked cacao. The uncooked ingredient in chocolate, cacao powder comes from the seed of a pod.
Containing the pure compound phenethylamine, cacao triggers the discharge of endorphins and mood-supporting neurochemicals within the mind.
No marvel we really feel so comfortable consuming chocolate! Cacao can help libido and general power.
Beets, avocados, blueberries, cranberry, tart cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, swiss chard, dandelion greens, onions, garlic, turmeric, ginger, walnuts and inexperienced tea are different examples of superfoods you already are conversant in.
Finest Unique Superfoods (Good Luck Discovering These In The Grocery store)
However what about all of the unusual sounding elements that make the world of superfoods so thrilling?
Talking of libido, maca root is a superfood that has develop into wildly common in recent times. Native to the excessive Andes in Peru, maca root is an adaptogen, or adaptogenic herb.
Maca root has obtained loads of consideration these days as a result of of its energy-supporting properties.
Adaptogenic herbs are crops that many pure well being specialists imagine are the very cream of the crop of medicinal crops. Adaptogens assist regulate the physique’s response to emphasize.
For those who’re wired, you possible received’t be within the temper or have the power to get between the sheets. Adaptogens normalize the manufacturing of stress hormones within the physique.
Edible adaptogenic herbs needs to be on the prime of all people’s superfood listing. Different adaptogenic superfoods embody: acai berries, goji berries and edible mushrooms, together with reishi, cordyceps, chaga, turkey tail and Lion’s mane.
We’re bombarded by bodily, psychological, and environmental stress daily. For those who’re contemplating shopping for a superfood powder, be sure that it’s jam full of adaptogens!
And in the case of fruit, there’s much more to superfoods than berries. Acai and goji berries are examples of unique superfruits.
Each acai and goji berries have been used for hundreds of years within the Far East to help well being in some ways.
Acai berries are thought-about the last word anti-aging fruit. Goji berries, in the meantime, helps imaginative and prescient and eye well being, temper and regular immune response.
One other instance that deserves a spot on the prime of finest superfoods listing is lucuma fruit.
Lucuma fruit was revered as “Incan Gold,” due to its life-sustaining properties. Extensively utilized in South America for pores and skin and sweetness, lucuma accommodates potent free-radicals, which might forestall untimely growing older.
Like all different tremendous fruits, lucuma received’t spike your blood sugar ranges; it has a low rating on the glycemic index.
Subsequent on the prime of the unique superfoods listing is barley grass. Truly, barley grass isn’t unique. You will discover it at many well being meals shops. However barley grass, should you’re new to the superfood weight loss program, isn’t as frequent as different tremendous greens.
Like spirulina, there’s far too many well being advantages of barley grass to call right here. However right here’s only one: it’s a wonderful supply of the enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD). SOD protects your well being by stopping free radicals from turning into poisonous substances.
A pair different unusual inexperienced superfoods are nettle leaf and nopal cactus.
When you don’t need to step barefoot on the previous (nettle leaf is also called stinging nettle and sure, it stings), the edible a part of the plant is among the finest superfoods for supporting the respiratory system.
In the meantime, indigenous individuals within the American Southwest and Mexico have been consuming nopal cactus for hundreds of years.
Analysis exhibits that nopal cactus helps the physique’s first line of immune protection; might assist normalize blood sugar ranges and even helps to get better from hangovers.
(Hopefully that’s not why you’re eager about shopping for superfoods!)
Superfood Powders: The Good, The Dangerous & The Ugly
Who has the time or the cash to buy dozens of superfoods? No one, that’s who. That’s why superfood powders or tremendous inexperienced powders as they’re additionally referred to as have develop into very fashionable through the years.
In a world of extraordinarily busy schedules, superfood powders provide the last word straightforward and handy strategy to acquire an on a regular basis dose of the world’s most nutrient-dense meals.
Superfood powders additionally take away the massive drawback of meals spoilage, inflated pricing and fossil gas losing.
With a shelf life that’s just about infinite, superfood powders include elements which can be harvested at their most nutrient worth.
The elements are then dried at a low temperature to protect the well being advantages. And all you must do is add water or a non-dairy beverage to the powder, stir or shake and drink it up.
Chopping out the center salespeople, the perfect superfood powders are sourced straight from the farm and the corporate that sells the powder shakes the palms that farm the lands.
And you will get the well being advantages of a inexperienced superfood powder (or superfood protein powder) for lower than the value of a every day cup of espresso.
However some superfood powders are costly and don’t embody that many elements. You’d be higher off procuring in your personal superfood elements and mixing them at house.
One other drawback with some so-called superfood corporations is that you simply don’t know the place the elements come from. Is each single ingredient natural, sourced from an environmentally-sustainable farm with mineral-rich soil?
If not, you’re not getting the highest quality—and you possibly can be jeopardizing your well being.
That’s as a result of poisonous herbicides and pesticides are closely sprayed on conventionally-grown produce.
A fruit or vegetable actually shouldn’t be referred to as a superfood if it accommodates potentially-harmful chemical compounds, together with heavy metals.
(That’s but another excuse to ensure the superfood powder you buy accommodates a number of adaptogens. Adaptogens assist neutralize all stressors, together with environmental stressors.)
This brings us again full circle to the introduction of this text. The advertising hype round superfoods and superfood powders make it tough for shoppers to know what model to belief.
Keep away from superfood powders if the elements aren’t natural and the corporate promoting it’s a faceless large company. If that’s the case, likelihood is the corporate doesn’t care about your well being and sources low cost, diluted elements.
As an alternative, select a superfood powder that accommodates all kinds of natural elements and cares deeply about environmental sustainability, soil regeneration, honest wages for farmworkers and love for Mom Earth.
BōKU Superfood Powder: 55 Of The World’s Finest Superfood Elements
BōKU is a real family-run enterprise. It’s not a model backed by huge enterprise capital bucks. We haven’t nor will we ever promote out and compromise our high quality and values. We attempt for perfection and supreme high quality. Our superfood powders are GMO-free, vegan-certified, USDA Natural and micro-batched in-house.
For those who’re researching the perfect superfood or tremendous greens powder, look no additional and provides our core product a attempt: ORGANIC SUPERFOOD Powder.
BōKU Superfood powder accommodates 55 superfoods, together with 14 adaptogenic mushrooms (we name them Tremendous ‘Shrooms) which you received’t discover in every other superfood powder.
Only one scoop supplies a few of the most potent, natural superfoods ever recognized to humanity. Flood your cells with antioxidants, prebiotic fiber, probiotics, nutritional vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
When you’ve skilled how vibrant you’ll really feel incorporating Superfood into your every day ritual, you’ll need to try our different line of superfood powders together with our 4-source vegan chocolate protein powder, and high-octane/no jitters pure power mix: SUPER FUEL.
Welcome to the thrilling world of superfoods! Right here’s to feeling tremendous!
Get your every day dose of the world’s best superfood elements in only one scoop!
