Kale. Avocado. Acai. Chia. Apple Cider Vinegar. Kombucha. Agai. Zinc. Almond Flour. Coconut Oil. What’s the common denominator of these foods? “Alex, I’ll take ‘What are superfoods’ for $1,000.” That’s right! They are all what we’ve come to understand to be superfoods. We’ve learned to live with them. Some have learned to love them. And just as fast as they rose to stardom on the superfood Train, they are quickly being sidelined by a new generation of superfoods.
Move Over Kale- These Superfoods Are In Town:
Let’s take a look at some coming attractions that you will soon be noticing in your local markets, in advertisements, on your favorite cooking shows and grabbing followers on Instagram with their own #hashtags!
Turmeric: Turmeric is on and off the superfood carousel. It has been around for ages so it’s really not new to the nutrition world. What is new is the recognition it is getting catapulting it to one of the newest, biggest and brightest stars on the superfood Taste-of-Fame. Why? Well, It has anti-inflammatory benefits, eases cough and cold symptoms, helps with digestion and reduces belly bloat, and is now even thought to help with depression. Oh, don’t forget helping with joint pain, arthritis, and fighting Alzheimers. With all that, how could it not be a superfood?
Moringa: New line dance, maybe? No! Moringa is a green and it’s gunning for Kale. I think Moringa is counting on how many people absolutely hate kale to achieve its place on the superfood Pedestal. So, hereto is another amazing list of nutritional benefits of this newbie: nine essential amino acids, antioxidants, very high in iron, calcium, protein, Vitamin C and beta-carotene. It reduces blood pressure and helps balance blood sugar levels and hormones, has anti-aging effects, offers improved digestion, brain health and better moods. Believe me, you want this one in your fridge’s salad crisper drawer!
Avocado Oil: Avocado is worth its green in gold. We’ve all come to adore the versatility and nutritional value of avocados, especially after finally figuring out how to take out the pit! What’s new here is the application, that being oil. It has high levels of antioxidants, healthy fats, improves heart health and skin quality. Oh, yeah. It also has a very high burning point which means that cooking on high will not destroy its nutrients. Move over coconut oil. My skillet is going green!
Watermelon Seeds: Buh-bye chia seeds! Hello, watermelon seeds! These are high in both mono and polyunsaturated fats, pack protein, vitamin B and magnesium. Put them in yogurt or eat them simply roasted. How long will it be before we see a cereal promoting watermelon seeds?
Dates: Nothing dated about dates except that now they are coming into their own respected place on your plate. A tiny call out to the sugar content, but honestly, the benefits outway the minimal amount of sugar. How about it having vitamin and minerals, fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus – all very good for your body. Make a date to try ‘em!
Sorghum: Don’t be sore, Acai. Sorghum has earned its ride on the superfood Train! In a syrup form, check all this out – riboflavin, B6, thiamin, niacin, minerals, high dietary fiber which all helps with proper gut functioning, as well as preventing cancer, controlling diabetes, contributing to healthy bone life, increasing energy and fueling cognitive abilities. How are we not already eating this? I’d like to order me up some Cassava Flour pancakes with a side of Sorghum Syrup right now!
Cassava: Bloated? Cassava. Gluten intolerance? Cassava. IBS? Cassava. Wait! You had me at Gluten!! Yup. Expectation here for this carbohydrate loaded vegetable is that it will soon be the go-to flour for mainstream kitchens, as well as any that have a member suffering from a gluten intolerance. Can anyone say Chocolate Chip Cookies!?
Switchel: You’ll soon be switching from Kombucha to Switchel! For you apple cider diehards, this one’s for you. It is made from apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger and maple syrup. It is fermented and is offering gut busting benefits beyond compare including relief of inflammation, helping to break down toxins and provides electrolytes high in potassium. Switch now!
Camu Camu: Nope – you’re not seeing double! This fruit has the most vitamin C in it more than any other fruit known in the nutritional jungle. It comes from the Amazon rainforest and contains phytochemicals that aid in the immune system, as well as mood improvement. Just saying it puts me in a better mood!
Elderflower: Remember when Zinc came to us via the Superfood Train and appeared in everything from sports drinks to lozenges? Elderflower is sucking away Zinc’s popularity and pushing its own market share through the roof. Sore throat? Swollen sinuses? Got a cold? Some elderflower water or a nice hot elderflower tea will make you feel better in no time.
Maqui Berries: New to the superfood Marquee is the Maqui Berry. Short of solving the national debt, these berries rate pretty high with what they can do for you. They are full of fiber and minerals and vitamins and contain anti-inflammatory properties they aid in digestion, help regulate blood sugar and boost your metabolism. Enough said with that one right there. Holy berry, Batman!
Hemp: Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Nope, wrong hemp!! This hemp, although derived from cannabis, is high in almost all nutrients, is loaded with vitamins, has 21 amino acids and contains both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. All this helps to improve digestion, push your metabolism, aids in joint pain and helps to balance hormones. This is not your father’s hemp!
Are you thinking right now of the superfoods stocked in your kitchen cabinets and fridge? Are you wondering when you’ll be able to make some room for the likes above? You should see these products making their way into your local stores within the next year or so.
Some are already very available online. And, some have been available to us for a very long time already! That’s the super cool thing about Optimal Nutrition. It’s ever changing. And, as it does, I will be riding the Superfood Train right along with ya!
What do you think the superest of these new superfoods that I’ve listed are you the most excited to try? If you enjoyed this article, please like and subscribe to always be in the know for everything Optimal Fitness!