Explore Coverage

Living Maxwell

Archive

The Four Superfoods That I Consume on a Regular Basis

I am of the belief that food is medicine, and the best food we can put into our bodies is organic.

That being said, there are some organic foods that have higher nutritional value than others – often referred to as superfoods – and I try to incorporate them into my diet on a regular basis.

While the following superfoods are by no means the only ones you’ll find in my kitchen, I have been consuming these four quite frequently as of late.

WHEATGRASS

Throughout the years, I have gone in many different directions looking for the best thing to put into my body but I always seem to end up in the same place – wheatgrass.

Wheatgrass may very well be the most nutritious food in the world, largely because of its high chlorophyll content.

The primary health benefits include:

– Phenomenal for the blood: purifies it, cleanses it of debris, increases red blood cell count, lowers blood pressure, and restores alkalinity to the blood.

– The enzymes and amino acids in wheatgrass protect us from carcinogens, strengthens our cells, and detoxes our liver.

– Stimulates the thyroid gland.

I will normally drink four ounces (two double shots) of wheatgrass per day several times a week, and my body just doesn’t feel the same when I don’t have it.

Here is a picture of me making it at home with my Green Star juicer.

MAQUI BERRY

While other berries are more well known, such as acai, maqui berry is arguably the best of them all. Key highlights include:

– Has an ORAC score (which measures antioxidant activity) of 616. This is 3x the amount of acai (which scores 185) and almost 20x the amount of blueberries (which scores 32).

– Tremendous anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is highly correlated with many chronic illnesses such as cancer, fibromyalgia and heart disease.

– High in iron, calcium and vitamin C

Putting a tablespoon of maqui berry powder in my smoothies is something that I love to do, and it tastes fantastic.

KELP

Sea vegetables might be the most important food that so few people incorporate into their diet.

I’ve been trying to change that by eating kelp several days per week. Kelp is loaded with:

– Iodine, which is essential for the proper functioning of the thyroid. Also, eating natural sources of iodine helps to fight off radiation.

– B vitamins

– Minerals such as magnesium, boron and calcium, which are good for muscle function and strong bones.

The only kelp that I have been buying is from Maine Sea Vegetables and their kelp is harvested in the Atlantic Ocean, far away from the problems in Japan with the radiation spill at Fukushima.

ROYAL JELLY

Royal jelly is the thick milky substance – consisting of honey, bee pollen and enzymes – produced by the worker bees to feed the queen bee.

Since queen bees have incredible stamina and longevity, it is widely believed that what they eat is indeed a true superfood.

The benefits of royal jelly include:

– Strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

– Excellent source of B vitamins, particularly pantothenic acid, niacin and riboflavin.

– Beneficial for the immune system.

I will take a quarter-teaspoon of royal jelly in the morning when I wake up several times per week.

As I have written about before, there are no federal guidelines when it comes to USDA certified organic honey.

Therefore, you have to find a brand of royal jelly that you believe to be the most “clean”.

—-

The key thing that I do with these four superfoods and the others that I buy is not to overdo them.

Moderation is paramount, and I rotate them into my diet on a regular basis, so my body is getting a full range of minerals, nutrients, and amino acids.

(Before taking any of the superfoods listed here, particularly the royal jelly, one should consult a medical doctor or nutritional professional because they may cause allergic or other negative reactions. The post provided here is for informational purposes only.)

A message from Tradin Organic

How Tradin Organic is Helping Coconut Farmers in The Philippines

For more than a decade, Tradin Organic has been working with local partners in The Philippines to bring a diversified range of organic products to the market, such as coconut oil, tropical fruits and even cocoa.

The company is helping to support local farmers by assisting them with technical support and organic certification, in addition to paying Fairtrade premium on top of the organic premium.

Learn more.

livingmaxwell: a guide to organic food & drink