No single food holds the key to good health or disease prevention, but these superfoods can help you live a longer, healthier life when combined with a healthy diet. Read on to find a list of deliciously versatile nutritional powerhouses that can be easily incorporated into your diet.
Part of living a healthy lifestyle is eating a balanced, healthy diet. We’ve rounded up a list of nutrient-dense superfoods that not only taste great but will make you feel great as well.
East Meets West: Goji berries
Long revered in traditional Chinese medicine herbal books for its revitalising tonic benefits, goji berries (or ‘Gou Qi Zi’) have since been widely adopted by the West as a ‘miracle fruit’ containing a myriad of beneficial properties for health. Known to boost immunity and prevent illnesses, this fruit contains large amounts of vitamins A and C. Goji berries are also believed to improve eyesight, protect the liver and prevent cancer.
How to eat it: Goji berries can be mixed into your morning cereal or yoghurt. To create a refreshing cup of goji berry-infused water, place the berries in a glass of hot or cold water and let it steep.
Satisfy Your Chocolate Cravings: Raw Cacao
Hailed by the Mayans as the ‘food of the gods’, this raw form of dark chocolate is one of the richest naturally occurring sources of antioxidants. As one of the highest magnesium-rich foods, raw cacao is linked to cancer prevention and the lowering of blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
How to eat it: Add it to your oatmeal or smoothies! Raw cacao can also be used as a substitute for recipes that call for chocolate. For a delicious cup of hot chocolate, simply add cacao powder to hot milk and add sweeteners of your choice to taste.
Beyond Sushi: Nori
A staple of the Japanese diet, this red algae is so much more than a sushi wrapper. In particular, nori is loaded with iodine, which helps to regulate thyroid function; potassium, which helps to lower your blood pressure; and vitamin B12, which helps to form red blood cells and support the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system.
How to eat it: Dried nori sheets can be eaten as a healthy snack in between meals. It can also be shredded and added as a topping for rice dishes.
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Superfood from the Sea: Spirulina
Packed to the brim with nutrients, spirulina is a blue-green algae that is as good for you as it is for the environment. Not only does it boast 60% of protein content, but spirulina also contains a host of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and selenium, which are antioxidants that help to protect our cells and tissues from damage.
How to eat it: Spirulina can be dried into a powder and added to your recipes or pressed into capsules to take as it is. A popular use of spirulina is to mix it into a smoothie for a refreshing and nutritious protein kick.
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