BodySpirtitual | Top 20 Superfoods for Mind and Body

11. Hemp Seeds

These seeds are actually a nutritious superfruit that look like teeny tiny sunflower seeds. Round in shape with a slightly nutty flavour similar to that of pine nuts, they’re soft in texture and loaded with nutrients.

Hemp seeds will deliver to you a pretty large dose of those omegas 3 and 6, and also hold potent anti-inflammatory properties, making hemp seeds a good food to pack into your diet if you suffer with asthma, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, and even seasonal allergies such as hayfever! As well as holding lots of nutrition, hemp seeds also behold a mighty protein punch with just three tablespoons of hemp seeds holding 11g or protein! And with the protein inside of hemp being easy to digest, you can say goodbye to bloating, constipation, and embarrassing flatulence! You’ll find hemp seeds are incredibly rich in those essential amino acids, and they’re especially rich in zinc, iron, and magnesium.

So, you may be wondering how to get these little seeds of goodness into your diet? Its pretty easy actually. You can add hemp seeds to practically everything!

12. Incaberry or Golden Berry

You may have seen these colourful berries decorating fancy cakes, but despite their appearance on the dessert trolley, these are actually super healthy. And super bitter! Remember the taste of sour sweets when you were a kid, the ones that would electrify your taste buds before the sweetness came through? Well that is the taste sensation you’ll experience upon eating an incaberry but in reverse. You may pop in an incaberry and think they’re deliciously sweet, but just you wait for that sour ending to change your mind. The taste is so unique, you really have to experience them for yourself to truly understand the sweet-sour combo they naturally have. Just maybe don’t go overboard and pop a whole handful in at once!

Like most superfoods, Incaberries are high in antioxidants, even more so than apples, broccoli, pomegranate juice, and even goji berries. These antioxidants are held in the tiny seeds that can be found inside of the fruit. As you probably know, antioxidants are a natural plant chemical which our bodies need to be able to fight against the damaging effects of free radicals, which occur in our body and are left behind by things like pollution, cigarette smoke and even sun radiation. Dried Incaberries also contain an extremely high amount of fiber, having the highest of all dried fruits.

If you’re interested in adding these berries into your diet, there are plenty of options: if you love baking, add them to breads, cakes, muffins and biscuits in the place of other dried fruits. You can also turn them into tasty jams, pastes and chutneys, and their sweet and sour edge will really give an explosion of flavours when adding them to meals.

Not quite brave enough to dive in and try the Incaberry fresh? Why not try and soften the flavour explosion by having them with a delicious cacao covering?

Incaberry fruit and dried berries. Photo source: fmpmarketing.com.au

13. Lemon

Like beetroot, you probably weren’t expecting lemon to be on this list. But the humble lemon is one of thehealthiest foods on the planet.

As you probably know, this citrus fruit is packed full of vitamin C, but did you know they’re also extremely high in potassium, which aids a healthy heart, alongside brain and nerve functioning.

Because they are perceived as highly acidic, people aren’t aware that eating lemons can actually help to relieve the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn, as well as bloating. Had a lunch and eaten something with a strong flavour that you just can’t get rid of? Then drinking lemon is a great way to freshen your breath, but remember to hold off from brushing your teeth after drinking lemon due to the citric acid which is known to erode teeth.

Perhaps most importantly, lemon’s a wonderful way to flush the body of toxins, and to balance pH levels in the body. This balancing action is so strong that some nutritional oncologists actually claim that a dietary regimen including much lemon juice can even rid the body of certain types of tumors.

The easiest and tastiest way to consume lemon on a regular basis is to simply drink them. Make a large cup full of room temperature water, and add the juice of one lemon and sip it throughout the morning. Or if you’re on the go, grab a water infuser bottle, slice up your lemon, add some stevia, and voila! Lemonade. Still not convinced to drink your lemons? That’s okay–you can still get a dose of lemon by squeezing it over salads, fish, or drizzle some over mashed avocado on crackers for a light yet incredibly flavorsome lunch.

Lemons are available worldwide, and are super healthy. (Photo source: harvesttotable.com)

14. Lucuma

Lucuma may look like a mango, but this fruit that originates in Peru is said to have the texture of a hard boiled egg, whilst tasting similar to that of a sweet potato. Being referred to as Gold of the Incas, this fruit is fairly new on the market, and is still relatively unknown of by many. Lucuma generally comes in powdered form outside of Peru, and the fruit is considered too precious in South America to be exported out of the country whole.

Why is lucuma so revered? Not only is it valued for its nutritional contents, the Peruvian fruit is high in carotene which is an antioxidant that reduces the effects of aging. And if your eyesight isn’t quite what it used to be, lucuma is known to help those with vision problems. Lucuma is high in iron, fiber, niacin, and–bonus! It tastes delicious.

But guess what? Lucuma is so naturally sweet, it’s actually a sugar substitute! With its natural carmelly taste,it’s generally easiest to add them into smoothies or juices, but thanks to its (low GI) sweetness, lucuma can be used in baking, sprinkled over yogurt and desserts for a touch of sweetness, or even added to tea and coffee.

(Photo source: tropicalbonsainursery.net)

Three brands selling lucuma. L-R: The Raw Chocolate Co, Of The Earth Superfoods, and Naturya.

15. Maca

Maca is a root that you may be surprised to learn actually belongs to the radish family, and is most commonly used in its powdered form. Rich in vitamins B, C and E it provides a healthy source of calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, and amino acids. Even without considering all of the added bonuses you’ll experience from taking maca, it’s good for your health in general in a number of different ways: it supplies iron to your body, and helps to restore red blood cells, which aids anemia, and cardiovascular diseases. Maca also keeps both your bones and teeth healthy, whilst also allowing your wounds to heal at a much quicker pace. And if you’ve been unfortunate to suffer from skin conditions such as acne, taking maca will help to eliminate acne and blemish scars.

Another benefit of taking maca that you’ll be surprised to learn is its ability to control climate within the skin. Maca decreases the skin sensitivity, so whether you’re living in a hot or cold climate, maca will help your skin withstand any dramatic change in temperature. When used in conjunction with a good workout regime, maca will also help to increase muscle mass, so it’s perfect for those trying to bulk up at the gym.

Now we thought we’d finish with a fact both sexes can enjoy: Maca is widely used to promote sexual function for both men and women. It boosts libido, increases endurance, balances hormones for those going through PMS or menopause, and increases fertility too! For more information about Maca, just click here.

The best way to get maca into your daily diet is of course, like most superfoods, by adding the powder directly into juices, smoothies or breakfast porridge. The taste will barely be detectable, and yet you’ll reap the goodness of this superfood. Some great brands that sell maca powder are Naturya and Organic Burst.