Superfoods

Concentrated and packed with nutrition, consuming superfoods regularly can make a world of difference in your health! I know it has for our family. 

I love the section in my 'Nourishing Traditions' cookbook on superfoods and felt inspired to share some of our favorites with you. There are many, these are just a few of the ones we love.
(Since I will be quoting from 'Nourishing Traditions' cookbook, I will put NT after each quote.)

"Superfoods- as opposed to vitamins or supplements- are foods that naturally concentrate important nutrients. Unlike dietary supplements or vitamins taken in isolation, superfoods provide many nutrients that support each other and prevent the kind of imbalances that often occur when vitamins are taken singly."- Sally Fallon in 'Nourishing Traditions'

OUR FAVORITE SUPERFOODS

Nutritional Yeast

Rich in B Vitamins. Gives you lots of energy. And did I mention Yum?! I absolutely love the taste of nutritional yeast and my body constantly craves it. I just can't seem to get enough of that stuff! And I feel noticeably more energetic after I eat it. I sprinkle it lightly over lots of our meals. And Jeff and I can't imagine popcorn without it. (We like Frontier brand: Frontier Nutritional Yeast )

"Dried nutritional yeast is an excellent natural source of B complex vitamins (except for B12) plus a variety of minerals, particularly chromium, so important for the diabetic. Yeast does not contribute to candida as has been claimed—candida feeds on refined carbohydrates, not yeast. The late eminent physician Dr. Henry Bieler treated many cases of chronic fatigue with nutritional yeast supplements. Unfortunately, most commercial brands of nutritional yeast contain high levels of MSG- formed during high-temperature and chemical processing from the glutamic acid naturally present in yeast. (Actually, high levels of natural glutamic acid in yeast make it an excellent superfood for alcoholism and sugar cravings.) Look for yeast that has been processed at low temperatures. It should be a light yellow color and dissolve easily." -NT

Azomite Mineral Powder

A-Z of all the minerals! Wow! We put azomite powder in our drinking water (which is so important when you purify your water and it takes so much out.) I can feel it nourishing my bones and entire body with vital minerals. It makes me feel strong, grounded, and clear. We also put it in our garden and feed it to our animals (the goats love it and consume it as needed.) We buy it at our local garden store in 18 lb. bags (the powdered form and as you can imagine- it lasts a long time.)

"This powdery mineral supplement, containing montmorillonite clay and many other compounds, comes from an ancient seabed. It is an excellent source of silica, calcium, magnesium and the gamut of trace minerals. Clay also has detoxifying effects as the negatively charged clay particles attract positively charged pathogens and take them out of the body." -NT 

 "Take a heaping teaspoon mixed with water daily as an insurance of adequate macro- and trace mineral ingestion in these days of soil depletion through intensive farming.(It's also great as a soil amendment for the garden and compost pile." -NT

"The proper way to take in minerals is through mineral-rich water; through nutrient-dense foods and beverages; through mineral-rich bone broths in which all of the macrominerals--sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur--are available in ready-to-use ionized form as a true electrolyte solution; through the use of unrefined sea salt; and by adding small amounts of fine clay or mud as a supplement to water or food, a practice found in many traditional societies throughout the world. Analysis of clays from Africa, Sardinia and California reveals that clay can provide a variety of macro- and trace minerals including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc. Clay also contains aluminum, but silicon, present in large amounts in all clays, prevents absorption of this toxic metal and actually helps the body eliminate aluminum that is bound in the tissues.
When mixed with water, clay forms a temporary colloidal system in which fine particles are dispersed throughout the water. Eventually the particles settle to the bottom of the container, but a variety of mineral ions will remain in the water. These mineral ions are available for absorption, while other minerals that form an integral part of the clay particles may, in some circumstances, be available for absorption through ionic exchange at the point of contact with the intestinal villi.
Clay particles, defined as having a size less than 1-2 microns, have a very large surface area relative to their size. They carry a negative electric charge and can attract positively charged pathogenic organisms along with their toxins and carry them out of the body, Thus, clay compounds not only provide minerals but also can be used as detoxifying agents. As such, they facilitate assimilation and can help prevent intestinal complaints, such as food poisoning and diarrhea. They also will bind with antinutrients found in plant foods, such as bitter tannins, and prevent their absorption." -NT

Cod Liver Oil

I cannot begin to say enough good things about Cod Liver Oil! One of the richest food sources of Vitamins A and D. It's at the very top of my list for important superfoods. Most people nowadays are deficient in Vitamin D. (Did you know that sunscreen blocks the absorption of Vitamin D? Or that bathing after sun exposure can remove it? You can read my favorite article about the use of sunscreen: Should you use sunscreen?       I'll go more into this in a future blog post.)
You can take Cod Liver Oil in liquid form (and wash it down with some juice) or it is also available in tablet form. We found a fairly inexpensive kind that comes in dark, glass bottles by Garden of Life.

"Once a standard supplement in traditional European societies, cod liver oil provides fat-soluble vitamins A and D, which Dr. Price found present in the diet of primitives in amounts ten times higher than the typical American diet of his day. Cod liver oil supplements are a must for women and their male partners, to be taken for several months before conception, and for women during pregnancy and lactation. Growing children will also benefit greatly from a small daily dose. Cod liver oil is also rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The body makes this fatty acid from omega-3 linolenic acid as an important link in the chain of fatty acids that ultimately results in prostaglandins, localized tissue hormones. It is very important for the proper function of the brain and nervous system." -NT

For proper amounts (most listed are not adequate) check out
 Weston A. Price Foundation

If you would like to know more about the health benefits (and importance!) of Vitamins D and A, you can read these in-depth articles:
The Miracle of Vitamin D
Vitamin A Saga

Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is an incredible superfood. The amount of live enzymes it contains is mind-boggling. It's great in smoothies, on yogurt, sprinkled on top of hot cereal, or on top of berries.
Our favorite source for it is Mountain Rose Herbs , which have raw bee pollen wild harvested in the state of Oregon.

"Bee pollen has been popularized by famous athletes who take it regularly for strength and endurance. It has been used successfully to treat a variety of ailments including allergies, asthma, menstrual irregularities, constipation, diarrhea, anemia, low energy, cancer, rheumatism, arthritis and toxic conditions. A Russian study of the inhabitants of the province of Georgia, where many live to 100 years and a few to age 150, revealed that many of these centenarians were beekeepers who often ate raw, unprocessed honey with all its "impurities," that is, with the pollen. Bee pollen contains 22 amino acids including the eight essential ones, 27 minerals and the full gamut of vitamins, hormones and fatty acids. Most importantly, bee pollen contains more than 5,000 enzymes and coenzymes. It is the presence of enzymes, many of which have immediate detoxifying effects, that sometimes provokes allergic reactions in those taking bee pollen for the first time. If this happens, start with very small amounts and slowly build up to a tablespoon or so per day. Some brands are more easily tolerated than others. Avoid pollen that has been dried at temperatures higher than 130 degrees. Bee pollen can be taken in powder, capsule or tablet form—or in raw unprocessed honey mixed with cereal or spread on toast." -NT

Chorella

Chorella can take heavy metals out of the body! Wow! That will do wonders for health. Our favorite source is, again, Mountain Rose Herbs . Jeff sprinkles it on his popcorn, but not everyone loves the taste and is so brave. It can be put in smoothies (the berries help cover the taste.)

"Blue-green micro algae, and its cousins spirulina and chlorella, grow on inland waters throughout the world—visible as greenish scum on still lakes and ponds. The Aztecs ate it as a staple food, dried and spread on tortillas. Africans of the Sahara region also use dried spirulina with grains and vegetables. These algae are high in protein, carotenoids and minerals. Beware, however, of claims that they can provide vitamin B12 in vegetarian diets. Nevertheless, the high mineral and protein content of the various algae make them an excellent superfood, a good supplement to the diet and a useful product for the treatment of a variety of health problems. Of the three main types of algae, spirulina is said to be the easiest to digest and absorb, because its cell walls are composed of mucopolysaccharides rather than indigestible cellulose. Chlorella needs special processing to improve digestibility of a tough outer cell wall but is valued for its ability to bind with heavy metals and carry them out of the body. Wild blue-green algae is said to have remarkable healing properties but can transform into an exceptionally toxic plant under certain conditions. Freeze drying is said to denature these toxins." -NT

So, there are a few of our favorites! Maybe you'll find some you'll love too. There are so many more I would like to try out- always learning, growing, expanding, and experimenting.

For more inspiration, here is a blog post I love by Food Renegade on superfoods:

What are Superfoods?

I would love to hear from all of you. 

What are some of your favorite superfoods?