20 Awesome Superfoods You Should Add To Your Diet

The human body is an amazing and complicated organism that requires a wide variety of nutrition. If we give our bodies what they need, we’ll likely feel more energetic and happier all around. The following list comprises a select few superfoods that are loaded with various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins and healthy fats, and if you add them to your diet, you’ll get concentrated forms of nutrition. What’s more, many of these superfoods are tasty; you’ll likely find that you enjoy eating them simply for their taste.

Goji Berries

These berries are becoming popular because they contain whopping amounts of vitamin C in a bioavailable form. They have a tangy taste sure to add a little spark to any smoothies.

Acai Berries

Move over blueberries – there’s another superberry about to steal the show! These small, purple berries are purported to be weight loss and anti-aging aids. They contain high levels of the antioxidant anthocyanins, which are known to fight cancer and heart disease. Try to buy the whole berry, which retains its fiber, rather than juice forms.

Seaweed

Sea vegetables are often packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, which often have a whole host of benefits, such as protecting against heart attacks or strokes and lowering inflammation. Seaweed, however, has more than just Omega-3’s: they are rich in magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, iodine and zinc. Quite an impressive list, to say the least. Seaweeds can often be bought in snack form, and they usually have a nice salty taste to them.

Mangosteens

Keep your eye out for mangosteens, as they’re receiving a lot of attention as of late, and should become more available in the near future. It’s a fruit with a sweet-tasting, white flesh covered by a purple rind. Mangosteens are loaded in xanthones, a class of phytonutrients, that show promise with preventing cancer, helping gut health, and even joint-pain.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are packed with Omega-3, calcium, and fiber. These seeds are tiny and tasteless, but will add a fun texture to smoothies. Furthermore, if people don’t like the taste of fish, they should consider chia seeds as a great replacement.

Cacao Powder

Cacao powder has the same chocolate taste without the extra calories. What’s more, cacao powder (and to some extent, chocolate) is rich in flavonoids, which help to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow. Avoid brands that say “alkalized” or “Dutch” because such terms signify that the cacao has been overtly processed, resulting in the loss of much nutrition.

Cacao powder will give smoothies a rich, milk-shake texture and taste.

Kefir

Kefir, a fermented milk-product that has a slightly sour taste like unflavored yogurt, is getting more attention every day. This is because it is rich in probiotics (healthy bacteria), which your intestines love and require for optimal digestive health. And when your digestive system is functioning optimally, inflammation is reduced in the rest of your body.

Maca Powder

Maca powder should be considered by people who can’t handle caffeine or often feel excessive fatigue. Maca powder aids the adrenals and is considered to be an “adaptogen”, something that repairs the damage caused by fatigue. It has a nutty taste, and is often a great and easy addition to baked goods and smoothies.

Beets

Beets’ purple color comes from being rich in the antioxidant betalain, which helps to fight cancer. What’s more, beets are rich in vitamins A, B and C. Athletes, however, are becoming interested in beets because they improve blood cells’ management of oxygen. When your body’s blood cells can transport oxygen more easily, increased endurance and strength is sure to follow.

Quinoa

Quinoa are small seeds, and it is an awesome replacement for rice. It’s loaded with certain key minerals like zinc, which is rare in other grain-based foods. What’s more, quinoa has all nine-essential amino acids, so it’s a good thing to eat if you’re not a fan of meat.

Garlic

Unfortunately for Vampires, garlic is actually a superfood. It has a long history of being used to fight heart disease, certain forms of cancer, and even high blood-pressure. Garlic extract is also effective against yeast infections in woman, or even against prostrate issues.

Raw Honey

Consider taking out artificial sweeteners or packets of sugar and replacing them with raw honey! Unpasteurized honey is an alkaline food that has many antioxidants, enzymes and vitamins. It is also an anti-bacterial agent, so it is often used to treat things like sore throats and stomach illnesses.

Organic Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a fat-based food, but its fats are considered very healthy. Lauric acid, the main fatty acid in cocounut oil, turns into monolaurin in the human body, which has potent anti-bacterial properties. Furthermore, coconut oil’s healthy fats do not easily turn into body fat; rather, coconut oil is quickly utilized as energy.

Avocados

Avocados are another source of extremely healthy fats that the human body loves to use for energy and repair. They are also loaded in fiber, vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. So if you have always liked to add avocados to your salads or sandwiches, don’t feel guilty for doing so.

Raw, Grass-Fed Butter

Another source of awesome, healthy fats is butter. But raw, grass-fed butter is even more powerful! It has two unique things in it: vitamin K2 and the “Wulzen Factor”. Vitamin K2 plays key roles in protecting the brain, heart and bones. The Wulzen Factor is a hormone-like substance that helps relieve joint-pain and joint-stiffness.

Unfortunately, the Wulzen Factor is destroyed by heat.

Sardines

Sardines are definitely nutrient rich. A mere three-ounce serving has more than 100 percent of a person’s vitamin D requirement, and they are also rich in Omega-3’s. Try mixing them into sauces if you don’t quite like the flavor.

Wheat Germ

Just a quarter-cup of wheat germ will provide nearly half of your daily requirements of vitamin E, a nutrient that’s hard to find in most foods. Wheat germ is also rich in selenium, which will help to strengthen your immune system.

Shiitake Mushrooms

In general, animal foods are richer in vitamin D, but if you don’t like to eat animal products, think about including some shiitake mushrooms. Four ounces of shiitake mushrooms will provide the same amount of vitamin D that would be in a glass of milk.

Camu Camu

Feeling stressed out lately? Try some Camu Camu. It’s been shown to reduce the stress hormone cortisol, while elevating serotonin. What’s more, Camu Camu is loaded in vitamin C (about 30 times higher than an orange) and has plenty of other antioxidants. It’s a very tart fruit, so just make sure to combine it with sweeter-tasting fruits.

Hemp Seeds

These tiny seeds are a great source of protein if you are not inclined to eat animal products. They are rich in omega-fatty acids, and they have a simple, mellow taste that goes well with cereal or oatmeal.