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Superfoods
Raw food guru, Kate Wood shares her passion for foods packed with energy
May I start by declaring my bias? I love superfoods! I eat them every day, and have done for nearly two decades. I don't know how I could survive without them – sure, I would still be alive, but I think I can state categorically that I would not be as happy and energetic as I am without them, and I certainly wouldn't be leading such a joyful and abundant life. They provide me with that edge, that get-up and go, which helps me deal with the demands of motherhood, and still have energy for myself. As a breastfeeding mother, I can be sure my high nutritional requirements are being met. And when my children are fussy and push away the green vegetables on their plates, I can rest assured they will get their greens one way or another!
Although most people have heard of superfoods, there is some confusion over what the term actually means. I would classify them as natural plant foods with an exceptional nutritional profile that provides the body with increased energy. Broccoli and blueberries are not superfoods! They may be very healthy food choices, but they don't have the super-charged density and vitality of true superfoods. True superfoods really can transform you into a superbeing! Because all the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, fatty acids and more are so packed in, a little goes a long way. They require a lot less energy to digest, and since they are easy to absorb and assimilate they can provide an instant boost. Superfoods are generally superior to supplements because they are literally a wholefood. Anything that has been synthesised in a laboratory or chemically isolated is not going to send the body as strong and clear a message as a natural plant food which has simply been dried or powdered.
This is one reason why superfoods are gaining popularity so quickly: you definitely notice when you take them, and you can really feel the difference.
Many superfoods grow in poor, isolated, but unspoilt regions like Peru and Tibet. They are well known in their native countries, and have been eaten for centuries by the indigenous populations, but no one has properly looked into their nutritional benefits and properties before. With the demand for healthy food options increasing in the West, and the wholefoods market booming, much research is now being done in the search for innovative new products, and many amazing new foods are being discovered and brought to us here in the UK. Nonetheless, it's quite possible that you've never heard of any of these foods! That's because many of them have only been easily available in the UK for a year or two, sometimes even less. But word is spreading fast about their amazing health benefits and you can bet you'll soon be seeing goji berries next to Maltesers packets on supermarket checkouts!
The most well-known superfoods currently are the algaes (spirulina, Klamath Lake blue-green algae and chlorella), bee pollen and aloe vera. Wheatgrass is also widely recognised for its health benefits, but people are less likely to take it regularly because it is ideally consumed freshly juiced. Some of the newer ones which have been around a couple of years now are cacao, maca and goji berries. And then we have the really new kids on the block like suma, camu camu, purple corn, noni juice, crystal manna and more...
There are a lot of superfood blends on the market too, such as Dr Richard Schulze, Dr Gillian McKeith, and Innerlight, all of varying quality. Basically, I would follow the old adage that "You get what you pay for". If one brand is less expensive than another, it probably contains cheaper ingredients and fillers. Generally, all these blends are quite costly, and not optimum because they have been put through a greater degree of processing to reach you. Many of them contain a large number of different ingredients, and it can be overwhelming for the body to be bombarded with complicated messages in this way. No superfood is a bad superfood, and they can all be helpful, but some more than others!
It is very hard to compare the different qualities of the superfoods that we use; it's a bit like trying to compare a carrot with a parsnip or a cabbage! They each have their own distinctive individual character, so people often have a particular aversion to one but get on really well with another. The correct dosage is also hard to predict. It is always best to start off with a little, say half a teaspoon, at least for the first couple of days. You may notice a reaction straight away and like it – in which case up the dose! If you don't notice anything, you probably need more, so again, gradually up the dose until you start feeling the effects. If you notice a detox reaction such as an old complaint flaring up, spots or tummy troubles, this is just the body rebalancing, so stick with a minimum maintenance dose and after a few days you should have shifted some stuff and be feeling much better.
- Algae is the oldest lifeform on earth, 'primordial food'. When we eat algae we connect with that really ancient energy. It is a very deep healing, but gentle food, and a good one to start with. There are three classes of algae widely available: chlorella, spirulina, and Klamath Lake blue-green algae. Spirulina is the best source of protein, but Klamath Lake is on the whole nutritionally superior. The Klamath Lake is a nutrient trap in Oregon and the algae that grows in it is one of the finest foods available to us. It is nutritionally complete, which means it contains absolutely every known nutrient the body needs. Not only that, they are in the ideal ratios for bioavailability. If you had to sit down and design the perfect food, this would be hard to beat.
- Bee pollen is also a complete food. If you were stranded on a desert island with nothing but bee pollen and water, theoretically you would have everything you need (although I don't think anyone's ever tested it out!). Bee pollen is a bit of a misnomer, because although it is collected on the legs of bees, it actually comes from flowers. It's a great one for kids because it has a naturally sweet taste, like honey; my boys have it on their cereal every morning. It is very energising, good for those days when you have a dozen errands to run before school pick-up, and you need to be buzzing around all day!
- Aloe vera comes from a cactus plant and is usually drunk like a juice. The quality of aloe vera on the market is very variable – if it tastes like water it probably is! Aloe is a truly amazing plant: on top of its strong nutritional profile it has anti-viral and anti-microbial properties, and is a natural painkiller. Much research is being conducted in the UK on aloe at the moment, due to its widely reported benefits both for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, and gut problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and colitis. Because of its immune-boosting properties, it is taken by many people with immune disorders. And if all that wasn't enough, it is also popular with those suffering from joint problems, particularly sportspeople and the elderly.
- Wheatgrass comes tops for detoxifying and cleansing as it is exceptionally high in chlorophyll. Chlorophyll has a very similar composition to human blood: you could call it plant blood, and as such, it is very healing. It is best consumed freshly juiced, for which you need a good quality juicer, or you can find it at many juice bars; the powdered versions don't really compare. It is one of the most potent foods you will ever find, very good for balancing blood sugar, and used to treat serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
- Cacao is known as the food of the gods. Native to South America, it is the bean that cocoa is made from, so is literally raw chocolate. It is one of the highest dietary sources of magnesium and sulphur, and it contains an off the chart level of antioxidants. It is full of natural chemicals which boost the mood and elevate energy levels, so providing an unbeatable natural high. Plus (unlike wheatgrass), it tastes wonderful – a luxurious sweet treat you can pig out on, while still feeling heavenly afterwards. Surely the answer to every woman's dreams...
- Maca is a Peruvian root vegetable most commonly found in powdered form. Maca is also a great source of protein and minerals such as calcium and iron. It is a hormone balancer, so is great for PMT, as a natural form of HRT, and as an osteoporosis treatment. It is also the number one for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, to help boost energy and stamina. It's even a natural aphrodisiac, so is good for making babies too!
- Goji berries are perhaps the most accessible superfood. They come from one of the purest places on earth, the Himalayan mountains, and are the most nutrient-dense fruit on the planet. Goji berries come to us dried, like raisins, but they taste far better. They contain all the essential amino acids, so they're a great source of protein, as well as being one of the best natural sources of beta-carotene and vitamin C. Children love them: we eat them all day long, in our cereal for breakfast, in trail mixes, in smoothies, in puddings, cakes, salads, or just as they are. In China they say the only side effect to eating too many gojis is laughing too much.
I hope this introduction to the world of superfoods has whetted your appetite. There are so many to try, they couldn't be easier to incorporate into your existing diet - I truly believe that there's something wonderful there for everyone to discover.
Written by Kate Wood
www.rawliving.co.uk
01273 542920
www.rawmagic.co.uk
Kate is a mother, writer, MD of Raw Living and has just opened Raw Magic, the raw food shop in Brighton. She is author of Eat Smart, Eat Raw, the UK's most popular raw food recipe book and formerly the assistant editor of Juno magazine. She lives in Brighton with her three young sons, whom she home educates.
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