What Are Superfoods

We are experiencing a nutrition renaissance; there has never been a time in human history where we have access to excellent quality food products from all over the planet.

But it's not all rosy.

A plague of progress is spreading like the plague; the lucrative food business has set in motion a fierce advertising activity and price battle to promote food products poor in nutritional properties and rich in carcinogenic components.

Just think of the enormous quantity of pasta, snacks, ice cream and other industrial products found on supermarket shelves to understand the gravity of the situation.

This is not food, but rubbish.

It is well known that most packaged foods and convenience foods are nothing more than empty calories.

If you want to live life to the fullest, with iron health and a super star body it is necessary to consume the majority of essential macronutrients and micronutrients in a natural way so as to give the body and mind the opportunity to function at their best.

You don't always have time to cook extensive menus or sit at the table for hours, This is why we use superfoods that have at least a dozen extraordinary properties, not just one or two.

This way you can have a diet that offers the maximum level of nutrition with minimal effort; a quick way, facile, fresh and fun to experience "the best day ever lived in excellent shape"!

In other words, with their rich supply of nutrients we can get more nutrition by eating less.

Moreover, Consuming superfoods is one way to ensure you get the nutrients you need to be healthy throughout your life.

 

What Are Superfoods

Super foods are that group of foods that enable anyone, in your daily life and ease of use to create a tasty diet, varied and nutritious in order to create an environment in our body conducive to the pursuit and maintenance of health, and hostile to the development of any pathology.

They are the cleanest and most efficient fuel made available by nature, satisfying and exceeding protein needs, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats and micronutrients that the body needs.

If your body doesn't receive what it needs on a daily basis, inevitably you will start to feel tired, get sick and age very quickly.

This happens because the body is no longer able to correctly perform its energy and purification functions.

For example, if a sportsman eats a lot of meat for muscle development, cells have to work hard to transform proteins into energy, creating a lot of waste in the form of free radicals.

As you well know, free radicals cause inflammation, they accelerate aging and degenerate cells, triggering chain reactions that alter enzymes, hormones, membrane lipids resulting in more or less serious pathologies, such as tumors.

In the case of the athlete with a diet rich in meat, you can add green tea to your diet (I will eat) that thanks you have flavonoids combat free radicals, bringing harmony to the body.

Therefore, the constant and varied use of superfoods exponentially increases the strength and vital energy of the organism, and are the perfect choice for improving overall health, strengthening the immune system.

 

What Are Superfoods

On this page I will focus on the ten best super foods, and their Italian variants if available:

• alfalfa (alfalfa)
• acai babies, blueberry or goji berries
• raw cocoa or carob
• maca
• bee products (papa real mood, propolis, bee pollen and honey)
• spirulina
• green tea
• aloe vera
• semi (chia, mustard, hemp, pumpkin, poppy, sesame, lino)
• coconut and olive oil

Alfalfa

Known as alfalfa in Italy, It has a high antioxidant power, which helps both to keep the skin healthy and young and to ensure the optimal functioning of the internal organs.

It has been present in traditional Chinese and Persian medicines for about two thousand years, particularly as a basis for treatments for water retention and intestinal discomfort.

From one point of view “Zen”, this legume is at the top of the list because it is a seed, from life, and every food that gives life offers high vital energy.

Actually, these sprouts offer more benefits than seeds because the germination process brings out many enzymes and are easily absorbable..

Furthermore, alfalfa contains:

• Vitamins C and E; especially useful for the health of the skin and other connective tissues.
• Vitamin K; necessary for the correct functioning of the cardiovascular system.
• Bioflavonoids; anti-inflammatories that help strengthen blood vessels.
• Flavones; they help strengthen the capillaries.

An interesting story is the adoption of alfalfa during the Second World War by the American troops because it was easy to grow in all climatic conditions, matures in 3-7 days, requires no soil or sun, but it offers many nutrients.

Definitely an economical superfood within everyone's reach.

 

Acai Babies, Blueberries or Goji Berries

Acai berries are native to Brazil, they are related to blueberries, with which they share a high content of antioxidants and essential fatty acids.

You can find blueberries throughout Europe and can be grown very well in the garden.

This superfood is useful for preventing heart disease, improve the skin, reduce inflammatory processes, give energy, and promote mental functions.

Moreover, if you have problems driving in the evening, this berry increases the speed of regeneration of retinal purpura (la rhodopsin) of the eyes, essential for viewing in low light conditions.

If you have diabetes or high insulin problems, the leaves are wonderful in lowering glucose in the blood and therefore allow you to reduce the doses of oral medications or those of insulin which have long-term side effects.

In case you want to try something exotic, Goji berries are sweet and very tasty, but pay attention to where it comes from. Many are produced in China, a nation famous for its level of environmental pollution.

Moreover, Goji berries are part of the Solanaceae family (which includes the potato among others, the tomato, the aubergine and chilli pepper) which contain solanine, a toxic substance used by these plants to defend themselves against fungi and insects.

Therefore, use them in moderation.

 

Raw Cocoa or Carob

Cocoa was considered by the ancient populations of Central and South America as “the food of the gods”.

Modern science has proven why; raw cocoa contains 20 times more antioxidants than red wine, e 30 times more than green tea.

If you want to stay young and fit, Raw cocoa is the superfood par excellence.

However, do not confuse raw cocoa with chocolate.

Chocolate is produced by the industrial processing of cocoa beans, typically by roasting, which profoundly modifies the composition and effectiveness of the nutrients contained in cocoa.

Raw cocoa (not roasted) instead it is a very powerful antioxidant that prevents heart problems, regulates blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

The healing benefits of cocoa are evident and only a spoonful a day is enough, but the secret to obtaining them is to obtain cocoa that is as pure as possible and has not been processed by heat or with chemical agents.

For the “Made in Italiy”, less known and almost forgotten, carob is an excellent alternative to chocolate especially for people who live in Southern Italy where it is grown.

Carobs are rich in fiber, they have slimming properties, astringent and anti-haemorrhagic as well as containing many minerals and vitamins of the B-C-E-K-J group

If you have digestive disorders and acidity, colon irritation and high cholesterol, eat two pieces of carob between meals.

 

Maca

Root coming from the Peruvian Andes (3.500 and i 4.500 meters), Maca has been consumed for thousands of years for its fantastic energizing properties, but above all for its aphrodiatic capacity and a way to improve fertility.

Being a root, it also helps the immune system defend itself from aging by increasing glutathione levels in cells where it acts as an antioxidant to neutralize free radicals.

In addition to its excellent properties, maca can be defined not only as a superfood but super healthy because it is grown in a sterile environment 4.000 meters above sea level far from any type of contamination.

It definitely doesn't need a guarantee “bio”, what do you say?

There are three types of maca on the market to choose from and with different benefits:

• Rossa; helps manage stress and is suitable for people who suffer from stress.
• Nera; to energetic and stamina effects.
• Yellow; it is like a natural Viagra because of its instant effect on the body in creating a long-lasting libido.

Regarding the dosage, do not exceed 500 mg per day and remember to take a one-week break every month.

 

Bee Products (royal jelly, propolis, bee pollen e miele)

Royal jelly it is the main element that bees feed on because it is super high in protein and vitamins.

It is therefore not difficult to understand how this food is so precious for the life of the hive, May it be the same for men too.

Very nutritious and stimulating, Royal jelly is suitable for people with busy lives and athletes who need extra energy.

It is also excellent for strengthening the immune system, therefore suitable for children and the elderly.

But one of the most interesting and unexpected benefits is that it helps slow down the absorption of sugars, therefore suitable for people with high blood sugar.

How and how much to take?

One gram per day of royal jelly preferably in the morning on an empty stomach and kept under the tongue so that it can be absorbed by the salivary glands.

Better if taken for 30 days 2 times a year, maybe in April and October.

Propolis it is a resin produced by bees as a sealing material for the hygiene and health of the hive.

Indeed, it is one of the most sterile environments in nature!

The benefits are:

• natural treatment against the flu
• fights viral viruses such as herpes
• against candida albicans
• detoxifies the liver
• stimulates blood circulation.

The most natural and effective way is to take it by taking drops of mother tincture diluted in water or via aerosol.

Bee pollen it is recommended for people who suffer from tiredness, stress, loss of appetite and to stimulate growth in children as well as to increase the body's energy resources.

Bees produce this nutrient exclusively for the nutrition of the larvae, produced only with pollen from specific flowering plants, so as to give the best of protein and energizing nutrition.

It can be defined as a real natural tonic thanks to the various active ingredients it contains.

Moreover, who must be in top intellectual form, for example during periods of study or those who have a particularly intense period of work that requires greater concentration, mental clarity and memory, can take in pollen.

If you're a no-brainer, pollen not only offers immediate energy, but increases strength and endurance.

Surprisingly, pollen recorded the highest value of raw foods on the ORAC scale, a point of reference in understanding the ability of foods to counteract oxidative processes.

But how much and when to take pollen?

Intake is recommended between season changes and more generally in times of great mental and physical tiredness.

Being a stimulating substance, it should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach away from breakfast, Perhaps 30 minutes before for a period of 20 days repeating the cycle 2-3 times a year.

In the end honey, the best known bee product for its sweet flavor and an excellent alternative to refined sugar.

It certainly helps to recover from a cold, fight free radicals and strengthen the immune system, but at the same time it raises blood sugar (blood sugar) leading to tiredness.

Before purchasing it, it is worth repeating that many consider any honey to be a natural and therefore healthy product… But it's not like that.

Unlike 30 Years ago, today the greatest quantity of honey is collected in very polluting environments, undergoes refining processes, even by chemical means, which have reduced its beneficial properties.

Therefore, get it from small artisan beekeepers or from those people who do it out of passion, it will benefit your health.

 

Spirulina

Spirulina is considered the food of the future and it is no coincidence that astronauts use it during space missions.

This algae is excellent for a large number of people such as athletes, who has a busy life, diabetics, those with acne problems, high cholesterol or is aging too quickly.

It is also economical thanks to the fact that it is enough to take 2-5g per day in two-month cycles to benefit from an excellent variety of nutrients.

However, be careful that it comes from areas “virgins”; algae are like pollution catalysts, they absorb like sponges.

If you want to know more, read my article on how to choose the best spirulina.

 

Green tea

Everyone knows the benefits of tea, but few know that green tea is the richest in nutritional substances.

These are the most important benefits of green tea:

• Antioxidant; thanks you have polyphenols and bioflavonoids, it fights free radicals and therefore delays cellular aging.
• Prevents neurodegenerative diseases; such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
• Helps you lose weight; stimulates numerous enzymes that control fat metabolism.
• Fights cholesterol; reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine while relaxing blood vessels and protecting them against blood clots.
• Optimize digestion; stimulates the intestinal microflora.
• Reduces high blood pressure; Researchers analyzed 25 experiments with green tea and noticed that after 12 weeks of continuous intake, patients reported lower blood pressure.

There are many other benefits, but it would take an entire article to describe them.

Indeed, There are few foods with as many properties as green tea, making it in all respects a superfood.

However, not all green teas are created equal, and not all offer the same antioxidant value, that's why I created a green tea guide.

Here you will find the best infusions produced in the world such as the popular Japanese matcha tea…..

 

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera contains numerous compounds, active substances and nutrients. How many?

Approximately 150… For this reason the Egyptians considered it the “plant of immortality”.

Thanks to its properties, the benefits are countless, some of which are:

• Anti-aging; If you drink the juice regularly and use skin cream you can delay the effects of aging for many years.
• Antibiotic and antibacterial effect; antibiotic action, bactericidal and germicidal thanks to the presence of anthraquinone glycosides such as aloein and aloetic acid which create an unfavorable terrain for many microbiological attacks.
• Anti-inflammatory; reduces inflammation especially of muscle tissue and joints, therefore excellent for sporty people.
• Detoxifying; helps cleanse the intestine of toxic substances.
• Healing; very useful for internal lesions of the esophagus tract and of the entire stomatal mucosa, intestinal and excretory. Externally excellent in case of sunburn or even burns.
• Anti-stress; Supports the adrenal glands by responding to stress in a healthy and natural way.

These are some reasons to incorporate it into our daily lives, and actually become a healthy habit.

Better if drunk at least 4 times a week in the morning on an empty stomach for all its benefits, especially the cleansing action of the intestine.

Excellent as a cream to keep the skin soft, elastic and therefore young over time.

 

Semi (chia, mustard, hemp, pumpkin, poppy, sesame, lino)

Seeds give life, for this reason they are very rich in nutrients as well as being practical and delicious to add to various dishes.

For example, Chia seeds can be used to make puddings or simply add them to yogurt while poppy seeds are an essential ingredient in Christmas dishes..

Each seed has specific properties; For example, flax seeds help increase testosterone while hemp seeds help reduce cholesterol levels, However, in general the seeds are rich in fiber and therefore essential for the body.

 

Coconut or Olive Oil

Since it is unthinkable to eat only boiled or steamed foods, the use of oils is resorted to.

As you well know, certain oils are less healthy than others, and it all lies in their chemical composition.

It is precisely the chemical composition that makes olive and coconut oil a superfood offering multiple health benefits, furthermore they lend themselves to various uses both on a food and aesthetic level.

It can be used in the form of creams and ointments or in the kitchen to prepare healthy desserts and fried foods.

The benefits are countless, but the most interesting ones include lowering cholesterol, helps prevent heart attacks, depression and obesity.

These oils are best consumed cold, for example adding coconut oil to a fruit smoothie and oil “extra virgin” olive salad.

Pay attention to the label, Store shelves are lined with low-quality olive and coconut oil options.

If the price is too low to be true, the product is probably not worth the candle.

Moreover, make sure that the products are organic and obtained by cold pressing without the use of refining chemicals so as to preserve the delicate fatty acids and nutrients.

 

They are worth adding to your everyday diet

It's worth changing your habits to welcome superfoods into your diet?

Of course, many of the superfoods come at a cost, but they are an excellent opportunity to create new dishes and change your life for the better.

At first it will seem difficult to say goodbye to dishes “bad” to give the place you have plates “good”, but not for their taste but for a simple fact of habits.

Human beings are animals that love their habits, and is afraid to venture towards new horizons.

However, these superfoods are so good and healthy that everything happens without any kind of forcing, you just need to discover them and enjoy them.

Broke un po’ everyone, find the ones you like best, and prepare new smoothies, herbal teas, delicious desserts and snacks.

If you add superfoods to your diet, not only delays aging by many years, but you will immediately feel stronger and more intrepid to face everyday life.

You will be able to achieve all your goals without straining your body, and therefore avoid sudden interruptions caused by illness.

With the correct nutrition, the body has everything it needs to deal with everyday stress, both psychologically and physically as well as being more resistant to various pathologies.

In other words, superfoods are life insurance, a performance guarantee, a healthy habit without compromise.