Super Foods: Green Edition

Taylor
   

You have food and then you have Superfoods. By definition superfoods are a special category of foods that are all natural. These foods are low in calories but high in nutrients which means they pack a lot of health into a small package.

There are two elements that separates superfoods from others... they are high in antioxidants and other essential elements. Essential elements are nutrients that we need in our bodies but we're unable to produce. We rely on the food we eat to get them.

There are tons of superfoods out there, ranging from green veggies, fruits, nuts, to even bee superfoods which would make this article extremely long if I were to cover ALL of them. I plan on going over most of these foods, but divide them up into different articles for easy reading. Today it's all about the greens!

Super Greens To The Rescue:

• Wheat Grass: wheat grass is a wheat plant sprout. But unlike whole grains, wheat grass doesn't contain gluten. What else makes it super? It's very alkalizing and it's believed that the grass can promote healthy blood, as well as helping to regular the thyroid gland. This then helps metabolism and digestion.
• Barley Grass: this grass has 11x more calcium than milk, 5x more iron than spinach, and 7x more Vitamin C than orange juice. It is also an amazing source of Vitamin B-12.
• Spirulina: I won't lie this stuff taste not so great, and it's a micro-algae. But it has been popular in the diet for hundreds of years in Mexico and Africa. It is a great protein source, with 70% being complete protein. Research has shown that spirulina can help control blood sugar as well as cravings which is a plus for trying to eat clean.
• Chlorella: Another algae, and it also contains complete protein, a great source of Vitamin B, C and E. It's thought to be good for reducing cholesterol and helping to prevent hardening of the arteries... heart healthy all the way!
• Leafy Greens:Here's one that isn't a surprise. Fresh, leafy greens are super high in antioxidants and are very easy to come by. You won't have to make special trips to health food stores to grab spinach. Research shows that diets high in leafy greens have a lower incident in heart disease and cancer. Great options include: kale, parsley, spinach, endive (I love these) and sprouts.