How to incorporate them into your daily life this year!
Do you all get as overwhelmed as I do with what to eat and what not to eat...especially this time of year when the market and news are flooded with information because everyone makes it their New Year Resolution to get healthy?
Well last week after watching all of David Wolfe's videos of The Longevity Now Conference I was really inspired with all that he had to share...even more so than when I first saw him in the movie, Food Matters. So off I went to the bookstore to find more information on Raw Foods and I found David's book, Superfoods. It is a goldmine of information and anyone who wants to live longer should have this book as a reference book in their home ;)
But more importantly it really helps you understand WHAT superfoods are; WHY they will improve your health; WHERE you can find them; and finally, WHEN and HOW TO include them in your daily diet. Following you will find the top ten products that David discusses in his book and he also includes some "honorable mentions" but for now I'm only concentrating of the top ten ;)
Starting from the top (reading from left to right ;) I've provided this photo mosaic as a visual aid...cause you all know how much I need a good visual aid! To also help you, I'm providing a brief synopsis of how I am going to purchase and incorporate these Superfoods into my daily routine so that you all can see just how easy it really can be. To learn SO MUCH MORE, and incorporate some of the recipes using these Superfoods, I strongly advise you to purchase David's book ;)
1. Goji Berries: also known as the Wolfeberry, and they grow on bushes as shown here. Considered the Fountain of Youth...and I'd love to plant my own! Go here for information on how to grow your own fruit trees ;)
2. Dried Goji Berries: dried, Organic Goji Berries are the most popular way of purchasing them and incorporating them into your lifestyle. May be consumed daily with a reasonable daily intake of 14-45 grams. A gram is 4-6 dried berries (about a handful ;) and may be used like other dried fruits, as snacks or mixed in with recipes or smoothies. When added to other foods, digestion is improved. Purchase organic berries only and look for reasonable soft and slightly moist berries (like prunes ;)...avoid hard/dry ones.
3. Cacao - Raw Chocolate: shown here in it's raw, nut stage. Purchase Organic Raw Chocolate cacao products (beans nibs, powder, butter) May be consumed daily with a moderate intake of 8-13 beans daily...you can eat the raw cacao beans by themselves (if you a dark chocolate lover ;) Add one tablespoon of powder per quart of liquid to blend in your smoothies. Or sprinkle nibs onto your favorite dessert or treat instead of chocolate chips.
4. Maca: root that serves as an adaptogen and hormonal regulator...Andes Aphrodisiac ;) Purchase Organic Maca root only and no other parts of the plant. There are no "original" or "true" species of the plant so bewared of the dubious claims. Can be used daily and long term with no side effects. Can also be combined w/pregenenolone, DHEA, DIM, black cohos, wild yam, nettle root, passion flower etc. with positive effects. Use a tablespoon of the organic root powder in smoothies, teas, nut milks, coffee or other beverages.
5. Bee Products: Pollen is the most complete superfood found in nature, containing vitamin B-9 and all 22 essential amino acids, it is a complete protein. Purchase fresh pollen or dried to retain nutrients. Appears as granular particles that are the size of sesame or flax-seeds. Bee Pollen products can be purchased at Sunfood.com. Fresh or dried must be stored in the freezer to retain it's nutritional value (for up to 11 years ;) and not in the refrigerator where the humidity spoils it. May be consumed daily as a snack or blended in recipes. Please note that some people may experience minor gastrointentional irritation with a laxative effect. Start with about 1/4 teaspoon and work up from there.
6. Bee Products: Honey is a universal medicine, sweetener, and nutrient resource. Purchase raw, wildcrafted and pesticide-free Honey whenever possible to receive nature's richest source of live healing enzymes. Known to increase reflexes, mental alertness and even IQ! May be taken daily orally by teaspoonful or added as a sweetener to beverages and recipes. BE SURE to purchase your honey in dark, amber glass for the best storage...we replaced all artificial sweeteners last year with honey and we always try to buy organic, but I never knew about the glass containers before now ;)
7. Bee Products: Royal Jelly is synthesized from the combination of pollen and honey and is one of the most magical superfoods in the world and has yet to be fully analyzed or synthesized in a laboratory. Royal Jelly is extremely potent so consuming just half a teaspoon daily is effective to achieve longevity and to receive a solid dosage of B vitamins, especially vitamin B5. Fresh Royal Jelly can be frozen, or at least refrigerated to preserve its healing and nutritive properties. Bee Pollen products can be purchased at Sunfood.com.
8. Spirulina: is a microscopic blue-green alga in the shape of a spiral coil, living both in sea and fresh water. Arthrospira is cultivated around the world, and is used as a human dietary supplement, as well as a whole food, and is available in tablet, flake, and powder form.
9. Spirulina Tablets: should be avoided because avoided because additives are usually added. Certified organics is not always superior so look Spirulina powder, flakes or cakes that have a "fresh" smell...when it starts to go bad it smells sour or rancid. Can be taken daily with recommended dosage of 6-10 grams a day for normal consumption and 11-20 grams a day for a therapeutic application. Can be added into smoothies, fresh juices, cacao concoctions, salad dressings and sprinkled on salads. Personal note: I've been buying the tables from Trader Joe's and will finish what I have on hand so that I can buy this Spirulina
powder ;)
10. AFA Super Blue-Green Algae: (say that ten times fast ;) Form of micro-algae phytoplankton that differs from Spirulina in that it prefers fresh water as opposed to salty water. AFA is a wild food harvested from a wild environment. Spirulina is a wild species grown in a controlled environment. Dried, powdered AFA blue-green algae, E3Live Fresh Liquid Algae and AFA chocolate/energy bars can be purchased at Sunfood.com Recommended dosages are 2-4 grams a day for normal consumption and 3-10 grams for a therapeutic application. Start w/smaller doses for better digestive assimilation. Simply add the AFA algae to your water, smoothies or favorite beverage, stir and drink up.
11. Marine Phytoplankton: too small to be individually seen with the unaided eye, marine phytoplankton is consider the basis of all life. They contain a unique and extraordinary combination of life-sustaining nutrients including omega-e essential fatty acids, nucleotides, DNA, FNA, protein, Chlorophyll, vitamins, major minerals, trace elements, and polysaccharides. David Wolfe highly recommends purchasing Ocean's Alive Liquid marine Phytoplankton available at Sunfood.com. Recommend dosages for this highly concentrated liquid is by dropper, directly into drinks. Once opened, refrigerate and use within 3 months. Appears to be most effective when consumed w/liquids on an empty stomach to be fully absorbed.
12. Aloe Vera: is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant and the gel of raw aloe vera contains vitamins A, C, and E, the minerals sulfur, calcium magnesium, zinc, selenium, and chromium, as well as antioxidants, fiber, amino acids, enzymes, steroids, lignins, and most importantly, polysaccharides. (who knew ;). Purchase organic aloe vera and look for leaves that are thick and fleshy, and for varieties that are FREE of white flecks...in preference to bottled aloe vera. Use the gel of raw, fresh aloe vera (which will have a mile, slightly bitter flavor) by cutting the size of the aloe leaf that you want to use and removing the thorns on either side. Then separate the gel from the skin with a knife. ADD the gel to your smoothies, elixirs, salads or other recipes; like salsas, soups, spreads and dips. DON'T WASTE the inner gel left on the leaf...simply apply it to your skin as a moisturizer. Store your leaves in indirect light at room temperature...not in the refrigerator. Makes me want to grown my own plants...how about you?
13. Hemp: thanks to corporate America you won't find this plant harvested in the United States...don't get me started...it's a conspiracy ;] For a crop, hemp is very environmentally friendly (with the exception of chemical fertilizers used in industrial agriculture) as it requires few pesticides and no herbicides. Modern research data on soil fertility is limited. Currently, results indicate that high yield of hemp may require total nutrient levels (field plus fertilizer nutrients) similar to a high yielding wheat crop. Hemp is one of the earliest domesticated plants known.
14. Hempseed: however you can find this superfood of the future (shell removed ;) legally in the United States. Shelled hempseed is packed with 33 to 37 percent pure digestible protein, raw hempseed, with all their original life-force energy and enzymes intact, are one of nature's richest sources of complete protein. Only algae such as spirulina, AFA blue-green algae, and marine phytoplankton exceed hemp in protein. Hempseed can be eaten daily and is available to purchase as hempseed butter, ice cream, salad dressings, cold-pressed oil, breads and protein. Hemp Protein Powder 16 oz, Nutiva (Raw, Certified Organic) blends well and adds richness and flavor to smoothies and salad dressings. While the shelled, hempseeds can be eaten alone as a snack, sprinkled on salads or added to recipes for raw granola, etc.
15. Coconuts: are one of the greatest gifts on this planet...virtually every part of the coconut palm can be utilized by humans in some manner. The benefits of consuming Coconuts are many...improve digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and amino acids. They are valuable to the immune system; improve the utilization of blood sugar; contain powerful antioxidants; help the body use essential fatty acids; regulate and support healthy hormone production JUST to name a few ;) Look for fresh young coconuts whenever possible. Coconut Oil should be purchased in ambler glass...NOT in plastic containers. It can also be eaten straight or blended into salad dressings or shakes. Replace olive oil with coconut oil for cooking with as well. Coconut water is an excellent delivery system for superfood protein powders and should only be purchased in cardboard containers...NEVER aluminum. Coconut Butter (cream) is made from the stone-ground or coconut flakes but still contains coconut fiber. The cream is thick and has a cream cheese type of taste. Coconut flakes and powders are also available. Coconut Oil/Butter can be consumed daily, an adult can consume 2-4 tablespoons of coconut cream; 1-4 tablespoons daily of oil or butter/cream.
WOW...I know that this is a lot of information for one post...but in writing it I have also benefited because I have summarized and paraphrased alot from all that I read in David's book: Superfoods. I do not take any credit for, or claim of, any of this information as my own...as I do not wish to violate any copywrite laws ;) Go out and buy your own book...there is so much more, valuable information for anyone interested in feeling better and living longer! ALSO, remember this is just a guide to help you and that anyone with any medically supervised health conditions, or using prescriptions medications should check with their doctors with any questions they may have. All photos courtesy of Wikipedia.
Yesterday, after finishing the book over the weekend and making my list...off I went to my local Trader Joe's to see how many of these superfoods I could find. BOY was I disappointed...the only thing I found were the Spirulina tablets that I was already taking and the Hempseed Protein...that was it. I didn't buy either one because I don't want to take the tablets anymore AND I already have a superfood green protein that I'm using in my spinach shakes and want to finish it up before purchasing more. They didn't have any coconut or cocao products, let alone honey in a jar...that was a shocker ;} SO now I'm off to purchase all of my superfoods at Sunfood.com.
How about the rest of you...did I inspire ANYONE else to try at least ONE superfood this month? Leave me a comment and let me know...remember, we are what we eat! In the near future I will share a few recipes with you all to show you how I'm incorporating these superfoods and rawfoods into my daily diet. Also linking this post today with Mary's Mosaic Monday meme on her blog, Litte Red House and with this month's (in)couragement carnival: Do Something New!
Fondly, Roberta
Honey is actually my favorite of all the ones included here! Aside from being a healthy sweetener, do you know that it also helps get rid of skin acne, especially on the face? Just pour a reasonable amount of it on your skin or face (where acne is) and let it stay for 5-10 minutes. It will give you better and fairer skin if you'll use it more often.
Posted by: internists | 08/06/2012 at 04:25 AM