Chocoholics rejoice! No need to rationalize your chocolate cravings, this crowd-pleaser is being heralded as a super food ... but just in it's most natural form: cacao.
"Cacao -- or raw chocolate -- is the highest antioxidant food on the planet, the number one source of magnesium, iron, chromium, and is also extremely high in anandamide, the 'bliss chemical,'" says Diaz. "Raw chocolate balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, is a natural aphrodisiac, elevates your mood, and gives you way more energy than coffee ever will."
You'll also begin to start seeing the effects of this super food on the outside. "Raw cacao is unprocessed chocolate, which contains sulfur," says Marissa Vicario, CHHC, AADP. "This detoxifies the liver for smooth, clear skin and promotes strong hair and nails." Cacao is also dairy free and sugar free, so feel free to indulge in this healthy treat!
To get your chocolate fix, add raw cacao nibs to homemade trail mix, sprinkle them over Greek yogurt, or mix ground cacao beans into smoothies or a protein shake.
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Hemp Seeds
Even though it is a plant-based protein, hemp seeds deliver a more digestible form of protein than milk and eggs, and then some. "Hemp is a high-protein powerhouse with protein content of 11 grams per 3 tablespoons, and over 20 amino acids, including the 10 essential amino acids that your body must acquire through nutrition," says Kulakovska. She describes hemp as a "nutritional over-achiever," due to its high chlorophyll content, balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids, not to mention the fact that it's full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and anti-inflammatory properties. The cherry on top? Hemp is an eco-friendly and highly sustainable crop.
Eat hemp seeds raw, sprinkle them on salads, or grind them to add to baked foods and cereals.
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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.
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Chia Seeds
Legend has it the Aztecs ate these little seeds before going into battle. And after reading the host of benefits from chia seeds, it's not too hard to believe. "This tiny seed can absorb 10 times its weight in water when added to drinks and food," says Diaz. "This makes you feel fuller, increases muscle hydration, and controls your blood sugar by slowing down how fast you burn carbohydrates, giving you longer lasting energy." Fiber-filled chia seeds also contain more omega-3s in one serving then a serving of salmon. The powers of this super food translate into big beauty benefits. "Chia seeds are more than 60 percent essential fatty acids, which strengthen skin, hair, and nails," says Vicario. "And the high protein content is essential for growth."
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Bee Pollen
Turns out, Pooh Bear was on to something: bee products. "The pollen that collects on bees' bodies is 40 percent protein and contains all of the essential amino acids, trace minerals, enzymes, and folic acid," says Vicario. This makes bee products an ideal supplement for vegetarians, who can't get such benefits from meat. Bee pollen also contains nearly all B vitamins, making this super food a great energy booster come the midday slump.
Fellow bee product honey is rich in antioxidants and minerals when in its organic, raw and unfiltered state, but bee pollen outshines it as a super food. Add bee pollen to your diet by stirring it into your morning smoothie or juice.
Ah, super foods. You know the deal: Trendy foods with hard to pronounce names (see, "acai") from far off places, that always seem to be especially far from your local grocery store. The coming and going food fads seem like an episode of "Project Runway": One day goji berries are in, the next day, they're out. It's enough to make you pine for simpler times, when all you really needed was an apple a day. A plain, easily spelled, highly accessible, apple.
But before you roll your eyes at the latest foods that are en vogue, bear with us! Super foods are more than just trendy and exotic; they're actually deserving of that luxe label. "Super foods are quality, polynutrient foods that deliver nutritional value far beyond what you'd get from average foods," says Elena Kulakovska, AADP. We're talking foods that are jam-packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, all of which help the body return to a state of balance. So, sorry apples, you may be good for us, but these "it" ingredients are great for us.
Super foods are also known to boost the immune system, lower inflammation and cholesterol, and reduce the risk of cancer. If that laundry list of benefits isn't enough to convince you to believe the hype, then maybe good old fashioned curiosity will get you to expand what goes in your shopping cart.
To give you a nudge in the right direction, we talked to health experts to get the inside scoop on the newest super foods you should be eating. So go ahead, keep sipping on that acai and popping pomegranate seeds, but make room in your daily diet for these new super foods in town.
