Health

The 6 Newest Super Foods to Add to Your Diet

Sure, they may be trendy, but there's a reason these foods are being hailed as "super"

4 of 8

Spirulina This blue-green algae has been around for billions of years and may be the original super food. "It's one of the oldest living organisms still around on earth and contains all the amino acids of a complete protein. It also contains nutrients, including B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium, and gamma linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid)," says Diaz. Spirulina's high protein percentage helps the body build bones, skin, and muscle, and repair damaged tissues. It also reportedly helps allergy sufferers by blocking histamine release.

Spirulina can be purchased in powder form and easily added to smoothies or drinks.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Chia Seeds

EDITORS' BEST OF

12 Best Acne Products for Your Clearest Skin Yet

11 Best Tinted Moisturizers for Easy, On-the-Go Coverage

leave a comment

Older comments

Love this

by Mollysunshine Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 02:11AM Report as inappropriate

interesting...

by 92jess11 Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 11:07PM Report as inappropriate

Cacao by itself is very bitter, so I suggest sticking with dark chocolate that has a high cacao content. Bee pollen, can't try that since I am allergic to pollen period. Spirunia tastes like and smells like fish food. But more realistically, eat your fruits and veggies because these are the "original" superfoods that are actually palatable and safe to eat. If anything these are "fad" ingredients that will need more research to show an effect worth purchasing (let alone trying to eat!).

by hiddenexpose Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 01:23PM Report as inappropriate

I've seen most of these on Dr Oz and will be trying them soon. Nice information, thanks!

by EricaC123 Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 12:35PM Report as inappropriate

I've never heard of any of these but I appreciate the information. Its seems worth looking into.

by msbrown822 Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 05:50AM Report as inappropriate

Cool info! I have never heard of Spirulina.

by yestfl Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 09:56PM Report as inappropriate

Bee Pollen???!!!!!

by Chris213 Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 04:20PM Report as inappropriate

This intrigues me enough to look into these foods further, but doesn't provide enough data on things such as how much to consume to see benefits -- or whether any of them are harmful in large doses (as is vitamin A).

by purple9a Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 03:56PM Report as inappropriate

What breakdown of the actual benefits of these super foods! So often we are told that xyz is a great "superfood" but not necessarily why or how it works. I use spirulina and eat hemp seeds but this makes me want to venture out and get some chia seeds as well!

by HeathRene Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 01:40PM Report as inappropriate

A great article but realistically, dark chocolate. But if I see these in the everyday supermarket, I will try them since I now know about their benefits from this article..

by cmarie Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 01:04PM Report as inappropriate