SuperFoods, Super high energy! Super power! Super nutrients! Superhero! Super you!
Why Super Foods?
Superfoods are foods that have a dozen or more properties, they are natural, with many health benefits, such as vitamins, minerals, Omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics and antioxidants, just to name a few. Superfoods are true health foods and they are known to improve the severity and symptoms of nearly every major disease. Many of them have been used for thousands of years by indigenous people to heal the mind and body.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
-Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine and astrologer
Which are the TOP TEN superfoods that should be part of your diet? What are their properties, benefits, how to best buy it, and how to use it?
1. Aloe vera
The secret to Cleopatra’s beauty and youth is Aloe Vera! She used to apply it on her skin everyday.
Properties:
It contains, vitamins A and C, the mineral sulfur, magnesium, zinc, selenium, chromium. It’s an antioxidant, it has fiber, is high in amino acids, enzymes, sterols, lignin, and polysaccharides.
Benefits:
- Aloe Vera is a crucial part of any weight loss and fitness program. Makes you more beautiful because it rejuvenates your skin, makes you flexible and limber.
- It’s excellent for your immune system and nervous system.
- Aloe Vera is excellent for any digestive problem, and aids in recovery from digestive illnesses, such as colitis, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Aloe Vera can be used directly on the skin for any skin condition.
- Aloe Vera activates the liver to produce more glutathione, (production of white blood cells).
- Aloe Vera is an adaptogen, which is responsible for the balance of the body’s system, and the ability to cope with stress and pollution.
- Aloe Vera is a purifier, an antibiotic, antibacterial, antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti fungal and antiviral.
How to buy:
- Buy organic Aloe Vera
- Fresh Aloe Vera leaves are better than the bottled Aloe Vera
- Bottled Aloe Vera gel
- Dried Aloe Vera powder
How to use:
Cut the portion you desire to eat, from the Aloe Vera leaf, remove the thorns on either side and separate the gel from the skin with a knife.
Then add to your smoothies, elixirs, salads, soups or to any other foods.
Or apply directly to your skin, for rejuvenation or relief from minor burns or skin conditions.
Before doing your make up, apply iced Aloe Vera gel direct on skin, it makes it smoother and close the pores.
Aloe Vera shouldn’t be used continually. It’s fine to use it for two weeks, stop for a month and then use it again.
Pregnant women should avoid Aloe Vera, and if you have hemorrhoids or degeneration of the liver or gall bladder, don’t take Aloe Vera either.
Energy: Vital force and regeneration of the skin
pH: Alkaline
Recipe for a colon cleanse and weight loss using Aloe Vera:
In a blender, combine one whole Aloe Vera leaf (cut off the green hard skin and use the clear gel), one chopped cucumber, one chopped green apple and add one chopped pineapple. Add ½ cup water if needed.
Drink a glass first thing in the morning.
2. Bee products {honey, pollen, royal jelly, propolis}
Bee products are one of the highest vibration foods on the planet.
Properties:
- Honey is rich in minerals, antioxidants, probiotics and enzymes.
- Bee pollen has vitamin B-9, twenty two essential amino acids, and is an energy source of complete protein.
- Propolis is a highly medicinal, immune supporting and an antibacterial substance.
- Royal jelly contains B5 and other vitamins, plus amino acids, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron and manganese.
Benefits:
- Honey increases reflexes and mental alertness.
- It’s good for irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal problems, cancer and staphylococcus infections.
- Honey is an antibiotic against infectious diseases and it helps heal wounds.
- It helps increase longevity, it’s a potent aphrodisiac and improves fertility, especially royal jelly.
- Bee pollen increases muscle growth and definition, promotes strength, endurance, energy and speed. It helps the body recover quickly from exercise.
- Bee pollen neutralizes allergies and it has B vitamins (except B12).
- It helps anemia, constipation, colitis, sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis.
- Royal jelly is the most magical superfood in the world.
- It is the fountain of youth and beauty, inhibiting the aging process.
How to buy Honey:
- Buy raw, organic, unfiltered and packaged in glass.
- Bee pollen: Buy it dry or fresh (It can be frozen up to 11 years).
- Royal jelly: Buy it fresh (it can be frozen for months).
- Propolis extract: Buy it liquefied in alcohol or in glycerin.
How to use:
Bee pollen can be mixed with honey in smoothies, elixirs, desserts, juices, puddings, dressings or in any food, up to a tablespoon a day.
Royal jelly: Half teaspoon a day.
Propolis: Use up to 30 drops in water or any juice (use 30 drops three times a day for sore throat, fever, infections or allergy).
Use one teaspoon of honey in your oatmeal, juice or any other food; it is delicious with fruits.
Energy: Vital Force
pH: Alkaline
3. Cacao (chocolate)
‘The divine superfood that supports the heart in a metaphysical and spiritual sense.’
Properties:
- Cacao contains the highest concentration of antioxidant of any food in the world
- Cacao is the number one source of magnesium, and it contain a high percentage or iron, chromium, manganese, zinc, copper, vitamin C, Omega-6 fatty acids, phenylethylamine, anandamide (a cannabinoid endorphin that the human body naturally produces after exercise), the amino acid tryptophan, serotonin and fiber.
Benefits:
- Supports the heart and the cardiovascular system.
- Returns us to our natural state of feeling (instead of excessive thinking).
- Increases blood flow to the brain.
- Help to fight fatigue and sleep deprivation.
- Helps balance blood sugar.
- Helps to lose weight .
- Relieves PMS symptoms.
- Increases alkalinity in the body
How to buy:
- Buy the real cocoa powder versus the refined, cooked and processed chocolate bars or nibs.
- Look for raw, organic cacao products.
- It can come as:
- Cacao beans with the skin
- Cacao beans without the skin
- Cacao nibs
- Cacao with fruits
- Cacao powder
- Cacao butter
- Cacao paste
How to use:
One tablespoon a day if you are below 140 pounds and two tablespoons a day if you are above 140 pounds.
Same with cacao beans or cacao nibs. If below 140 pounds from 8 to 15 beans. If above 140, from 16 to 44 cacao beans or nibs.
You can bake it (CLICK HERE FOR MY GUILT FREE CAKE), you can add it to your oatmeal, pudding, or shake (CLICK FOR THE “I LOVE MY LIFE SHAKE” RECIPE).
As a substitute for sugar. (ALSO SEE RECIPE FOR MY COCONUT PROTEIN BARS WITH CACAO)
Energy: Cooling
pH: Alkaline
4. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are probably one of the healthiest foods we can find around.
Properties:
- Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (8 times more Omega-3 than in salmon)
- Rich in Omega 3 oil
- Great source of antioxidants
- It has fiber, manganese, calcium (6 times more than milk) copper, phosphorus, zinc and iron.
- And it’s gluten free!
Benefits:
- It helps in weight loss, because it reduces cravings plus it blocks calorie absorption.
- It hydrates the body (excellent for athletes).
- Reduces blood pressure.
- Protects against inflammation (one of the causes of arthritis).
- It slows down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugar.
- Cleans your intestinal track.
How to buy:
Buy organic, raw and GMO free Chia seeds.
How to use:
No grinding is necessary. Can be used dry in any food (just sprinkle one tablespoon in your favorite meal, regardless if it’s salty or sweet).
Soak about 5 tablespoons in water, almond milk or coconut milk, (it expands 10 times in size) and leave in the refrigerator for the whole week. The Chia expands in the water and changes into a gel. Use in your oatmeal, pancakes, in your juice, pudding, salads, yogurt and any other foods you desire.
Recommended daily intake: One to four tablespoons
Two tablespoons of Chia seeds daily gives you approximately 7 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, 205 mg of calcium, and 5 grams of Omega 3.
Energy: Strength
pH: Alkaline
5. Coconut and Coconut Products
Coconuts are the greatest gifts nature gave to us. It’s supplies ALL that we need to live healthily on this planet. Coconut is my favorite superfood, I grew up in Brazil, having 3 to 4 coconuts a day, enjoying the water and the meat inside the coconut.
Properties:
- Young coconut water is nearly identical to human blood plasma.
- Coconut oil is the most abundant source of lauric acid, (50 percen) a fat rarely found in nature; it could be called the miracle ingredient, because of its health promoting properties. Our body converts lauric acid into monaural, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties. Only breast milk has more concentration of lauric acid than coconut oil.
- Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, and is high in dietary fiber.
Benefits:
- Besides being a life saver, coconut and coconut products help you burn more calories and increase your energy level. It’s anti fungal, it kills the bacteria Staphylococcus Aurous, yeast candida albicans and many other infections in the body.
- Reduces seizures in epileptic children. Improves blood cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of heart disease.
- It’s a super antioxidant, a super anti aging hormone compound. It can help improve thyroid function.
- It’s a great natural sunscreen (20% protection), protects the skin against dryness, it also improves hair.
- Coconut oil can boost brain function in dementia and Alzheimer patients.
- Coconut fiber slows down the release of glucose, and reduces sweet cravings.
- It’s a gluten free, trans fat free food.
How to buy:
- Coconut and coconut products can be consumed in many forms.
- When you buy the coconut oil, buy the organic, virgin non-hydrogenated and unrefined coconut oil.
- The young green coconut is loaded with water and it has a smooth meat inside.
- Coconut butter: You can use as a butter, it has fewer calories compared to other (nut) butters.
- Coconut flakes: You can use in smoothies or mix with coconut water and make coconut milk.
How to use:
One spoon of coconut oil has 7 grams of lauric acid. Adult and children can benefit from 10 to 20 grams of lauric acid daily.
You can cook with coconut oil, add it to your juice, oatmeal or take 2 or 3 spoons daily.
You can use on your skin for moisturizer, and in your hair.
Bake with coconut oil, see my guilt free cake recipe.
Make protein bars with coconut oil.
If you live in an area where you can buy young coconut, drink the water and eat the meat from inside the coconut; one a day provides excellent benefits.
And best of all coconut water and coconut meat are delicious!
Use as a substitute for milk. Blend the coconut water with the coconut meat to make the milk or buy it ready to use, in the supermarkets. Make sure you buy unsweetened and organic coconut milk.
Energy: Vital Force
pH: Low Alkaline
6. Goji Berries
‘The world’s greatest anti-aging superfood and libido bust’.
Properties:
- The most nutritional berry fruit on the planet
- They are a complete protein source
- They contain nineteen different amino acids
- They have twenty one or more trace minerals (the main being, zinc, iron, copper, calcium, germanium, selenium, phosphorus.
- Vitamin B1, B2, B6, and vitamin E
- They are the highest antioxidant
- They have anti-inflammatory properties
Benefits:
- Increase longevity
- They stimulate the pituitary and pineal glands.
- Goji Berries are the only food known to help stimulate the human body to produce more HGH (Human Growth Hormone)
- Goji Berries harmonize and increase the Jing energy of the adrenals and kidneys.
- Boost immune function
- Increase alkalinity
- Support the body in healing itself
- Enhance libido and sexual functions
- Protect our DNA from free radical and radiation damage
- Improve vision
- Support Brain and Neurological Health
- Support Cardiovascular Health
How to buy:
Purchase organic sun-dried Goji berries only.
It can come as:
- Dried Goji berries
- Goji berry extract powder
- Goji berry juice
- Goji berry liquid extract.
How to use:
Daily intake is about 15-45 grams (a handful) of the dried Goji berry
You can make energy bars with Goji berry, blend with your smoothies, juices, with your granola, yorgut or oat meal or mixed with other dried fruits, Cacao nibs and seeds.
Or just chewed them like raisins. One hand full of Goji Berries is an excellent snack.
Energy: Vital Force, Stamina Enhancer
pH: Alkaline
7. Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds are a gift of nature. They are exceptionally nutritious.
Properties:
- Hemp seeds come from the same species as cannabis (marijuana), however they contain only trace amounts of THC, the compound that causes the ‘high’ effect of marijuana.
- They are rich in healthy fats proteins and various minerals, like phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, sodium, silicon, copper, platinum, nickel, boron, germanium, tin, iodine, chromium, silver and lithium.
- Hemp seed is a great protein source, 25% (comparably, Chia seeds and flax seeds have 16 – 18%).
- It contain Gamma-Linolenic Acid, (GLA) a super anti-inflammatory essential fatty oil.
- It has excellent balance (3:1) of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid. It’s a source of vitamin, A, B1, B2, B3 D and E.
- Hemp seed is packed with chlorophyll.
Benefits:
Hemp seeds clean the colon and reduces sugar cravings. It help people with ADHD, breast pain, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, Multiple Sclerosis, obesity, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) arthritis, join pain, and skin allergies. It helps to balance inflammation and it strengthens the immunity system.
How to buy:
- Buy Hemp seed (shell removed)
- Hemp seed protein
- Hemp milk
- Hemp seed cold-pressed oil
- And Hemp seed body-care products like shampoo, soap and make-up products
How to use:
For children: use 15 to 30 grams a day (one to two tablespoons)
For adults: 50 to 75 grams a day (three to four tablespoons)
For Athletes: up to 140 grams a day (nine tablespoons)
Sprinkle Hemp seed on your salads or in your pancake recipe, make a salad dressing, eat with your oatmeal, yogurt, pudding, or any other dish you crave.
Add to papaya, avocado, or any other fruit.
Or, take a spoon full as a snack.
Energy: Strength
pH: Alkaline
8. Maca
The resistant, intense and extreme root Maca is known as a powerful libido enhancer and the elixir of the warriors.
Properties:
- The protein in dried Maca contains twenty amino acids.
- Maca is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, sodium and iron.
- It’s rich in trace minerals, including, zinc, iodine, copper, selenium, bismuth, manganese, tin, silicon.
- It’s rich in vitamins, B1, B2, C and E
Benefits:
- Increase libido
- Increase fertility
- Muscle resistance, courage and strength
- Help to adapt to stressful circumstances
- It supports the endocrine system, the adrenals, and the thyroid
- Improve homeostasis in the body
- Improve menopausal symptoms and menstrual discomfort
- Improves chronic fatigue
- Improves poor memory
- Increases blood oxygen
- Maca works on the hypothalamus, the sex hormone in the center of the brain.
- It stimulates the adrenal glands and gonads to secrete testosterone, progesterone and DNA in the body.
- Maca balances the body on a cellular level.
How to buy:
- Buy the organic root powder Maca
- Dried powdered Maca root
- Dried powdered Maca root, encapsulated
- Dried powdered Maca extract
How to use:
Suggested used: One tablespoon a day in smoothies, juices, energy bars, in teas, coffee, milk, or just about any beverage you can think of.
Energy: Cooling too much heat
pH: Alkaline
9. Quinoa
‘The super grain of the future’. Quinoa is the world’s healthiest, most protein rich, antioxidant packed, food.
Properties:
- Quinoa is one of the most protein packed foods. It contain all nine essential amino acids. It contains as much fiber as most other grains, and it’s gluten free.
- Quinoa is a grain crop that is grown for its edible seeds. After harvest the seeds must be processed to remove the coating which has a bitter taste called saponins. Quinoa is basically, a super seed.
- One cup of quinoa has 8 grams of protein. It is very high in fiber, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, foliate, copper, iron, zinc, potassium, vitamins, B1, B2, and B6.
- Quinoa is high in antioxidants.
- Quinoa has a low glycemic index.
Benefits:
- Quinoa improves health and helps with weight loss because it increases the metabolism.
- It’s an anti inflammatory, it protects the heart, can reduce the risk of diabetes 2, colon cancer, high blood pressure and obesity.
How to buy:
- You can buy red, white or black quinoa.
- Buy organic quinoa. It’s available in prepackaged containers and well as in bulk.
- You can bake with quinoa flour or find quinoa pasta.
How to use:
Quinoa is still a carbohydrate, so if you are in a ‘love carbs diet,’ use quinoa in moderation. (100 grams of cooked quinoa has 120 calories).
Soak quinoa in water for 30 minutes or more before cooking, it help to degrades most of the phytic acid, which is a substance that can bind some minerals and reduce their absorption.
The cooking time should be only 15 minutes. (Use two cups of water for one cup of quinoa).
Mix with anything your imagination can think of.
I like quinoa with shrimp, cucumber and slivered almonds and I dress it with olive oil, lemon, juice of one orange, toasted sesame seed oil, Himalayan salt, cayenne pepper, and rice vinegar.
Use quinoa in your vegetable soup or as a substitute for the bulgur wheat, to make tabule.
Make pudding and add quinoa.
Click Here for My Delicious Quinoa Recipe
Energy: Strength
pH: Alkaline
10. Spirulina
‘The blue-green hard survivor algae that have been living on the planet since the appearance of life on Earth. We could live on Spirulina ALONE for quite some time.
Properties:
- It contains the highest concentration of protein, by weight of any other food.
- It contains chlorophyll, protein, vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, E and K), major minerals, trace minerals, essential fatty acids, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and antioxidants.
- It contains eighteen amino acids and enzymes.
Benefits:
- The best balancing brain chemistry source. It balances blood sugar, it builds strong bones.
- It induces the production of more stem cells found in bone marrow.
- Spirulina has a cooling effect in the body and it helps with menopause symptoms like hot flashes.
How to buy:
- Spirulina doesn’t have to be organic
- Buy Spirulina powder (dried or with lecithin)
- Spirulina protein powder products
- Spirulina blue pigment extracts
- Raw Spirulina energy bars
How to use:
You can make energy bars with Spirulina; use my protein coconut bar recipe and just add one tablespoon spirulina or add to your smoothies or juices. Goes well with salad or any food you could think of.
Recommended dosage:
Children: 3 to 5 grams a day
Adults: 6 to 10 grams a day
Super athletes: as much as 30 grams a day
Energy: Cooling
pH: Alkaline
