It seems like our lives are not becoming any simpler by the day, with an amazing variety of modern-day challenges and pressures continuously testing our sensibility and resilience. Thus, at some point, nourishing our brains and bodies becomes a necessity rather than a healthy lifestyle choice. Especially, when you look into the nutrition profile of various foods. You come to realize that every sip and every bite affect how your brain performs and how your body recovers from stress.
Therefore, we have decided to do a helpful round-up of some of the most densely nutritious superfoods that will undoubtedly add great flavor and zen to your homemade meals and snacks! Whether you want to find out more about the benefits of these fantastic superfoods or looking for inspiration on mouth-watering recipes, our easy superfood intros below will help you craft delicious nutrient-packed meals for yourself and your loved ones. Here we go!
Cacao
When you go to the supermarket, look specifically for cacao. Its cheaper, more widely available and highly processed version, cocoa, is less nutrient-dense and it usually has added sugar. Raw cacao was deeply revered by ancient Mesoamerican civilizations for its powerful antioxidant and aphrodisiac properties. No wonder the ancient Maya society who enjoyed it as a spicy frothy beverage at all occasions considered it ‘food of the gods’. Raw Peruvian cacao is good for the heart, brain and skin. You can add it to a smoothie, craft cacao bites with it, and make your açai bowl more flavorful.
Peanuts
Peanuts, though technically legumes and not nuts, are a tasty protein ideal for adding to savory meals, sweet treats and smoothies. Peanuts are also rich in vitamin E, zinc, calcium, potassium and omega fatty acids, among others. They are a common cancer-fighting food. Plus, they also help regulate blood sugar, reduce the risk of gallstones and Type II diabetes, boost memory, fight inflammation and promote fertility. If you’re eating them raw, just be careful where you source them from due to risks of a carcinogenic fungus called aflatoxin. You can dry roast them with herbs or honey, make your own peanut butter, add a creamy spin on veggie soups, and include them in superfood-packed bars.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are perfect for a ketogenic diet – the high-fat, low-carb diet that help switch the body’s main source of energy from glucose (the circulating blood sugar from carbs) to fat (broken down into the so-called energy-efficient ‘ketone bodies’). They are incredibly rich in potassium, calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin C and anti-oxidants, making them a better alternative to a banana, milk, salmon, spinach, oranges and blueberries, respectively. Soak them beforehand, don’t consume them dry. Also, it’s better to have ground chia seeds in order to take in a greater amount of Omega-3. You can make a chia pudding, add them to a smoothie, or even make pancakes and bake them into a walnut bread, if you wish.
Almonds
Almonds are considered the topmost- with higher content than any other nut – food source of vitamin E which aids in cancer prevention. They are full of antioxidants helpful against oxidative stress. They assist with blood sugar control. And since they are high on magnesium, they also help with stress relief making our brain calm. Also, almonds have a lot of good cholesterol and are great for lowering the amount of bad cholesterol in the body. Rich in manganese, potassium, iron, zinc and copper, they are a powerhouse for the brain, skin and body. Grind them into a smoothie, bake florentines, or roast them with honey and cinnamon for a healthy sweet snack!
Dates
Dates abound with iron, potassium, manganese, copper, magnesium and other minerals. They strengthen the bones, improve bowel health, boost the nervous system, reduce the risk of stroke and abdominal cancer, and help fight allergies. If you have a sweet tooth, they serve as a super satiating snack and are a great energy booster! Not to mention that they also act as an aphrodisiac supporting the sexual stamina. For an easy and addictive snacking experience, stuff dates with honey-sweetened mascarpone and roll them in Turkish coffee and cacao. Or, alternatively, fill them with finely chopped pistachios, edible rose petals, cardamom and a larger walnut piece. You can also make a smooth dates paste and craft no-bake superfood bars, fudge and energy balls.
Monk Fruit
Monk fruit, also known as lo han guo, is a tiny sub-tropical melon originally cultivated and consumed by Buddhist monks in southern China and Thailand. Hence the name. However, most of it finds its way to the American shelves as a healthy sugar alternative. Unless you cultivate it in your garden, you’d rarely find the fresh fruit away from its native lands. An average serving of pure extract from monk fruit has virtually no sugars, calories or carbs, and is up to 250 sweeter than sucrose, or table sugar. This amazing sweetener has fantastic anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and pro-immunity properties. Thus, you can use the superfruit sugar substitute in pastries, smoothies, tea and a variety of Asian dishes.
Mangosteen
Known as the ‘Queen of Fruits’, mangosteen is a fragrant tropical fruit originating from Thailand or Myanmar. These days, you’ll come across it frozen or canned, although it’s sometimes available fresh at Asian markets and food stores. Purple on the outside and white on the inside, this juicy exotic fruit can be eaten raw. It’s particularly famous for its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous and anti-oxidant properties. You’ll further notice, it has notes of peach, vanilla ice cream and strawberry, with a tinge of tartness! Mangosteen juice is a popular anti-aging beverage, and if you wish, you can also use it in ice creams, sorbets, baked goods, smoothies and fruit salads.
Nopal Cactus
Also known as prickly pear, nopal cactus is widely used as an ingredient in Mexican cuisine in both sweet and savory specialties. It’s also a common superfood found in Southwestern dishes. You can use the leaves, flowers, fruit and stem of the cactus. It is mainly praised for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, it’s a superb source of fiber, and thus helps with digestion and satiety. It’s particularly great for treating cholesterol, diabetes and hangovers. It offers a perfect boost to the immune system. Eat it grilled or boiled, in salads or soups. And while it’s commonly made into jams and juices, you can also prepare more authentic Mexican dishes with it, such as grilled nopales huaraches and tortillas with nopales.
All Superfoods in One
For a tasty, nutrient-rich snack bursting with the above superfoods, TruBrain – a leading brand in nootropics – has created the TruBrain bars with a sumptuous triple cacao taste. Rich in minerals and active natural cognitive enhancers, the snacks boast a flavorful core of cacao, dates and sea salt. It’s an easy grab-to-go solution when handling a busy and demanding schedule. The bars are specifically designed to support alertness, cognition, vigilance, mood, stress reduction and synergy.
More: Made with raw mangosteen, monk fruit and nopal cactus, the TruBrain shots are rich in active nootropics and minerals. They are a chic solution for staying sharp, maintaining a swift working memory and giving a natural boost to your mental output.
You can also give a healthy boost to your brain and body with a unique and delicious Ketones mix by TruBrain. This is all natural and bioavailable premium raw Ketone Ester that will help your body stay in ketosis and burn fat instead of glucose. How does it work? Your body produces ketones naturally, but most often in a much more sluggish way. This usually happens through a keto diet, fasting, or the naturally occurring ketones themselves. While sticking to a fat-abundant diet or fasting can be challenging, giving your body a natural nudge with supernutrient-bursting products like these is a highly convenient solution. The results are 70% more efficient brain metabolism and 10 times the ketone levels for steady energy. Now, there is a recipe for maintaining a clear mind.
Whether you’re doing the famously low-carb keto diet or fasting, TruBrain Ketones were designed to be your ideal ‘wingman’ giving your body a natural nudge in ketone production. The products were developed by UCLA-trained neuroscientists led by Alyssa Warth, a published expert on ketone production. They are vegan, tasty, gluten-free and contain no stimulants, carbs and sugars.
This post is a collaboration with TruBrain, a leading brand in nootropics:
‘At TruBrain, we believe that greater creativity and more efficient thinking can be sparked – by giving the brain, the energy and the stimulus it needs. We have developed nootropic compounds, natural nootropics, that literally feed the brain.
And there’s ample proof that these nootropics enhance clarity, stamina and and greater concentration.
That’s an idea worth thinking about.’
