My Top 5 Superfoods

It’s important to incorporate a variety of superfoods into your daily diet; and when I say variety, I mean variety in terms of everything from colour to type! If you’d like to find out more about this check out my ‘Superfood 101’ blog here.

At the moment, my top 5 superfoods that I couldn’t live without are:

1) Avocados

AVACADO

Avocados are an amazing food and I personally can not imagine life without them! They are what I’d call a ‘complete food’ incorporating a good source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals which provide an endless list of benefits including aiding digestion, the heart, skin, brain, metabolism and weight.

A lot of people like to add avocados to smoothies, but to be honest, I prefer not to ‘dilute them’ and love adding them to salads with a sprinkle of Himalayan rock salt and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Outside of the body, they make a mean face mask, or so I’m told – I’ve always eaten them way before they get a chance to be on my face!

If you’d like to find out more about how you can use Avocados including how to ripen and keep them take a look here.

2) Spinach

SPINACH

Popeye started the craze! Some people might say kale has the nutritional edge on spinach but I personally prefer the taste of spinach, whether it’s cooked or raw in salads – I love the variety of things you can do with it! Green leafy vegetables are a power pack of nutrients and spinach is up there with the best of them! With lots of calcium for the bones and an abundance of other essential minerals, incorporating spinach into your diet couldn’t be more beneficial!

To find out more about the different types of spinach and how best to use them, take a look here.

3) Blueberries, Blackcurrants, Brambles, Blackberries, Bilberries…

blackberrys, blueberries

Vividly blue/purple in colour, these little beauties don’t just look good – these little power packs are bursting with goodness! Full of powerful antioxidants to protect our bodies from the ravages of ageing, and across the full spectrum of life-threatening diseases they help with brain function, memory, insulin sensitivity, immune function, skin, the heart and circulation – to name just a few things. They’re also high in fibre, which is important for our digestive track and maintaining a healthy gut. I love picking berries from the hedgerow in summer (these can be as good if not better than those imported), and eating them raw, although the slightly tart blackcurrants can be cooked with a little stevia or honey to sweeten! To me, berries feel like a treat whilst providing an abundance of benefits. To find out more about their benefits and differences; take a look here.

4) Pomegranates

POMEGRANATE

Bright red in colour. again, like blueberries pomegranates are full of wonderfully protective nutrients for the heart and blood vessels, as well as being ‘anti-cancer’ and mood enhancing.

These little fibre grenades can sometimes be a little tricky (and messy) to prepare, but once the seeds are removed they will keep well in the fridge for a good few days. I like to use them on top of porridge or salads, but they’re also amazing in hot Middle Eastern dishes! To find out more about preparing pomegranates and their uses, take a look here.

5) Coconut Oil

Coconut oil

Coconut oil has so many health benefits and amazing properties. Like many other superfoods, it’s as good for your outsides as it is for your insides! Use as a moisturiser or add it to your porridge and reap the rewards! Coconut oil is a good source of healthy fats and is good for the nervous system, digestive system, heart, skin, brain function and metabolism. As well as in food and on my skin, I use coconut oil for ‘oil-pulling’ which involves you swishing it around your mouth, teeth and gums for detox and healing benefits. To find out more about the nutritional benefits of coconut oil; take a look here.

To find out more about superfoods, why not check out my ‘superfoods 101’ post here.

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