Like a new hit single making it on to the top 40s chart, it seems like every health food and spice is begging for the acknowledgment of superfood or super spice status.
If you’ve checked out any health food blog or magazine, you’ve heard mention of these amazing foods (including Tuja, and may we say: good choice).
The trouble is, sometimes the superfood and super spice lists can feel a little out of touch.
These few tips will not only take you to “super” status, but also offer quick and easy ways to make these foods feel a little more practical in your daily life. We’ll focus on four of the more common foods and spices and see how we can use these to pump up the volume on our health.
Cinnamon
This common household spice has an exceptional resume of amazing health benefits. From a sweet kick of anti-oxidants to amazing blood sugar moderating abilities, cinnamon is an easy sell for your entry into the superfood world.
Add some to your coffee beans before grinding to amp up your morning brew, sprinkle some on yogurt or fresh fruit, or even throw some into your chilli to enjoy a nice smoky flavour. With cinnamon, the only limits are your own imagination!
Bee Pollen
Maybe this one is a bit more unique… but hey, we’ve all done the honey thing, why not branch out a bit? Bee products make a lot of top ten lists for awesome superfoods and for good reason. Bee pollen is a complete food and offers amazing energy benefits, as well as immunity, digestion, and skin.
Did you know that bee pollen has more protein than any animal source? Bee Pollen is best eaten at breakfast alongside fruit, as the raw fruit fibres help reinforce the activity of the pollen. It adds a sweet kick to your oatmeal, yogurt or even salad. Start by tossing a spoonful into your smoothie.
Turmeric
Confession time: I tried to jump on the turmeric bandwagon too wholeheartedly by juicing a whole pound of these ginger-like gems only to end up with orange hands for a few days. This is not to knock this amazing spice (and please, learn from my mistake!).
Turmeric has amazing anti-inflammatory benefits, is a powerful anti-oxidant and has been linked to improved brain function.
Check out this delish Tuja-approved recipe for one simple start of how to integrate turmeric into your life. Or try a chai-turmeric smoothie: simply toss some ice, a frozen banana, a carrot, a scoop of coconut oil (which just so happens to be another superfood hero), a splash of vanilla, some cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, a bit of pepper, almond milk, and of course turmeric into your blender, whirl it up et voila!
There are also some great recipes for golden milk on the web, which are sure to mellow you out and ease you into a beautiful night’s sleep.
Chia Seeds
No longer just for growing a sweet little pottery pet, these seeds are stacked with awesomeness. Yet another great anti-oxidant, chia seeds are also a good source of quality protein, fibre, and omega-3 fatty acids.
It’s easy to add some to your salads or smoothies as a start, but an absolute must-try is a yummy chia pudding. If you’ve gotten used to the texture, give chia Fresca a whirl. Fill up your water bottle with some filtered or spring water, add a couple of teaspoons of chia seeds (swirl right away so they don’t clump), add a splash of lemon juice, a handful of your favourite berries, and a touch of your favourite sweetener. Refreshing.
This is just a quick shortlist to get you started, but there are many great superfoods and spices to discover, as you get more and more comfortable.
Honourable mentions include:
Coconut Oil: This is so versatile and should be a staple for your everyday use. Try a tablespoon in your smoothie, or as a substitute for olive oil for all your high temperature cooking items.
Spirulina: This little blue-green algae packs a real protein punch and is a great choice to help promote natural detoxification. This is another great smoothie booster!
Ginger: A natural anti-inflammatory agent as well as a super immunity booster, ginger is a great little spice to add a little bit of zing to your life. Try throwing a few shavings in some water and boiling it for a few minutes for a soothing tea.
Nigella Seeds: New to the mainstream health scene, these seeds are helpful in treating some digestive issues (amongst a whole list of other benefits). To easily integrate these gems, try sprinkling a few on your salad.
Goji Berries: These berries are little nuggets of anti-oxidants and bursts of vitamin C. Enjoy some in a hot cup of green tea. They sweeten up the tea and give a little treat to indulge in for the last few sips.
Look up in the sky. It’s a bird, it’s a plane. It’s super you, fuelled by superfoods and spices.
Keen to give your body a squeaky clean this year, but don’t want to give up your tasty meals? Us too. The 21-Day Eat Clean Challenge is designed for health-conscious foodies like you.
