By: Laura Peill – (Check out her blog Chronicles of Passion & Facebook)
From Facebook to Buzzfeed to a tweet that popped up on your feed, there’s constantly health foods being thrown around in the media which are touted as the latest and greatest and offering excellent benefits to your body.
But if you don’t know what they are, or what they can do for you, you probably don’t pay any attention.
Here’s the scoop on five superfoods that are hot right now to get you in the know and help you decide if you should add them to your grocery list:
Chlorophyll
If you’re thinking this is the same stuff that is in plants to make them green, you are 100% correct. And because of that, it is a nutrient powerhouse for your body! It’s like eating all the nutrients, antioxidants and detoxing elements of leafy greens in a concentrated liquid form. You can buy it as tablets as well, but my fave is the liquid, which I add to a tall glass of water every morning and start the day out detoxed and fresh!
Maca
The other day I saw a new brand of 80% dark chocolate at the grocery store and the label read in big letters “WITH MACA.” This little Andean root is showing up in lots of places, and with due reason: it is great for the endocrine system and is packed with lots of different vitamins and minerals. The endocrine system is responsible for regulating our hormones, which regulate several processes in our body including stress response and blood sugar control. Keeping this system in check can go a long way in helping prevent further health issues. Add Maca to your smoothies (here's an awesome recipe), baking, or add into homemade chocolate.
MCT Oil
If you haven’t started incorporating a regular source of healthy fats, or essential fatty acids into your diet, it’s time to make it happen. Research shows that healthy fats help our skin and hair, improve digestion and elimination, not to mention ramp up our energy levels and help us feel full. Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil (MCT) is extremely beneficial to the body because it is composed of fats that the body can use for daily vital tasks, not fat that is stored. Furthermore, it helps your body metabolize nutrients and burn calories. The Bulletproof coffee trend that’s alive and well right now, involves adding MCT Oil to your coffee. Give it a try and see what you think (and how you feel!).
Baobab Powder
The star of the show in this powder is the high magnesium levels. Magnesium is an essential mineral that many people are deficient in without realizing. This important mineral is a muscle relaxant, helps you sleep and plays a role in fighting adrenal fatigue (something very common around stressful times like the holidays!).
This powder helps fight acidity in your body, helps increase your energy, and has a slightly citrusy flavor. Add it to smoothies, or to tropical banana soft serve!
Teff
This grain has been around for a long time, but it’s just now starting to take hold in mainstream media and is increasingly popping up in recipes and on blogs around the web. Used by the Ethiopians for centuries in their famous fermented flatbread, Injera, this gluten free grain is high in iron and calcium and works in everything from breads to cookies to cakes to porridge. Grab some at your local health food store as flour and add it into your baked goods, or buy it in the whole grain form and cook it for breakfast instead of your usual oats!
