When you are striving to lead the healthiest life possible, a list of superfoods should be at your fingertips at all times. Filling your fridge and pantry with these delicious superfoods can help you with a variety of dietary goals and needs.
Superfoods and super-fruits are defined by their low-calorie, high-nutrient, high-fiber properties. Not all fruits and vegetables are created equal, and not all which are claimed to be superfoods truly are. When choosing your superfoods, you want to pay close attention to those that are high in antioxidants to help fight free radicals in your system. The other very important components that your super-fruits and superfoods should have are the essential fatty acids, like omega-3, -6, -9, and the extremely critical and difficult-to-obtain omega-7.
The irony of creating a list of newly trending superfoods is that none of the superfoods are actually new. As a matter of fact, this list of superfoods is comprised of ancient root vegetables, fruits, and even a fungus in the form of the chaga mushroom.
Explore the world of superfoods with us! What is a superfood? How can super-fruits benefit me? How can I use superfoods in my daily cooking?
We will answer these questions and more while we provide you with a superfoods list to start you on your journey of experimenting with the exotic.
What are Superfoods and Super-fruits?
TRENDING Superfoods and Superfruits
The sea buckthorn berry is one of the most powerful super-fruits, and its use dates back to the time of Genghis Khan who used this mighty fruit to power his army of men and horses. Below are listed some of the most advantageous superfoods along with recipes and tips on how to use them.
1. Chaga Mushrooms
This fungal addition to the superfoods list is found on birch trees in the colder climates of the Northern Hemisphere including Russia, Canada, and the northern United States. Its use dates back to the indigenous people of Siberia in the 12th century.
The Chaga mushroom is often overlooked as a knot or burn on the bark of the tree. Once harvested, dried, and ground, chaga mushrooms are most often consumed as a tea. Try this recipe for a delicious chocolate chaga smoothie:
Chocolate Chaga Superfood Smoothie:
- 1 cup cold chaga tea
- 1/2 frozen banana, sliced
- 1 cup frozen berries
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- Pinch of cinnamon (optional, but cinnamon also has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties)
2. Tiger Nuts
While the resemblance is uncanny, this superfood is definitely not harvested from tigers. In another odd twist, tiger nuts are not nuts at all. They are a root vegetable that is cultivated in Spain and West Africa, dating back to ancient Egypt. If you suffer from digestive ailments like upset stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, or even excessive gas, eating tiger nuts can help. It is also said to help remedy erectile dysfunction, though there is no medical proof of this. Tiger nuts can be eaten whole, but are usually consumed as a flour. Incorporating another of the superfoods on our list, cassava, the superfood ingredients in these brownies will not give you superpowers, but they may make you feel like a superhero.
Tiger Nut Cassava Brownies
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons organic palm oil shortening
- 1 tablespoon natural vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup tiger nut flour
- 1/2 cup cassava flour
- 4 tablespoons carob powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8 x 8-inch pan with palm shortening.
- Mix together applesauce, maple syrup, palm oil shortening, and vanilla extract.
- Add the tiger nut flour, cassava flour, carob powder, and baking powder; mix well.
- Spread evenly in prepared pan and then bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Let cool slightly on a cooling rack, but slice before completely cooled.
3. Carambola
Carambola is another one of the excellent examples of superfruits. More commonly known as “starfruit,” this juicy pentagonal delight is high in vitamin C and loaded with antioxidants.
The carambola has important enzymes such as the B-vitamins that can help to boost your metabolism. The beauty of the carambola, other than it’s physical star shape, is that a medium-sized (about 3 inches long) delicious pear-pineapple-apple-tasting starfruit is only 30 calories and very low in sugar.
Carambola can be eaten raw right from the tree. They also make an excellent juice, and the pulp can be used to make jam or baked into cakes or muffins. NOTE: Consumption of carambola can create a harmful toxin in those suffering from kidney disease.
4. Cassava
Cassava must be included on the superfoods list. This root vegetable has been a staple for cultures dating back to the Taino Indians of the Caribbean. On islands like Puerto Rico, it is still a mainstay and one of the principal crops grown and consumed on the island.
You may also know cassava as tapioca, yuca, or manioc. It is roasted, boiled, mashed, and used frequently in soups and stews. It is also the principal ingredient in the masa or dough used for alcapurrias, but consumption of these fried delights probably does not fit into a healthy way of eating.
The Taino used cassava flour for bread and as a thickener, and this flour is now available in grocery stores across Puerto Rico. Cassava can be used to reduce inflammation which in turn helps to relieve arthritis. Seemingly contradictory as a starchy root vegetable, cassava has also been used to control diabetes. It is effective in treating digestive issues, and can even improve cardiovascular health.
5. Guanabana
This strange-looking fruit has long been used in the tropical climes of the Caribbean as a superfruit.
Do not let its green spiny skin scare you away. The milky white creamy flesh of the guanabana, also known as soursop, is low in calorie and high in fiber, so it is great for weight loss. It is also used to boost the immune system and reduce fever. It is an anti-inflammatory and its bacteria-fighting properties help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Guanabana is high in tryptophan, an amino acid essential to humans that has calming properties, so enjoying the coconut-kiwi-pineapple flavor of the flesh of this super-fruit can help control anxiety and mellow your mood.
Perhaps the greatest attribute of guanabana, and why it should be included on the super fruits list, is its cancer-fighting bio-elements. Research is still being conducted, so at this time there is no solid medical evidence that the fruit can fight cancer, but many people who have used it for this reason are convinced that the consumption of guanabana kept the cancer at bay.
6. Sea Buckthorn Berry
Probably the “super-est” of superfoods on the superfoods list is the sea buckthorn berry.
This amazing fruit takes the resiliency it uses to grow in the harsh climes of the Himalayan mountains and shares that resiliency with consumers through its over 190 bio-nutrients. The sea buckthorn berry is an amazing super-fruit because nearly every part of the plant can be used: the berry, its seeds, the leaves, and even the bark.
The multitudinous health benefits of the sea buckthorn berry make it the wellness champion of the superfoods list. It aids in digestion, lowers cholesterol, and improves cellular and cardiovascular health.
This berry-like fruit on the super-fruits list is optimal when harvested by hand in the early morning hours before the sun comes up. SIBU employs women from local villages to pick the best sea buckthorn berries at peak ripeness, and then they are processed within 24 hours to create incredible products for healthy skin and supplements for improved health and gorgeous shiny hair.
For a supercharged superfruit smoothie, try this blender recipe...
Sea Buckthorn Berry Blended Breakfast
Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add SIBU Omega-7 Pure and ice as needed to reach desired consistency.
- 1/2 cup sea buckthorn berries, frozen or fresh
- 1 medium carambola, whole or trimmed with seeds removed (though the seeds add nutrients and a nice crunch)
- 1/2 cup guanabana fruit (seeds removed)
- 1 banana
- SIBU Omega-7 Pure, as needed for desired consistency
- Ice, as needed
Where in the World Do I Get These Super Foods?
To quite literally answer this question, chaga mushrooms are found in the northern hemisphere; tiger nuts are from Africa and Spain; carambola, guanabana, and cassava are prevalent in the Caribbean; and the best sea buckthorn berries comes from the heights of the Himalayas.
So how can you obtain them without putting a lot of stamps in your passport?
This is where the power and convenience of superfood supplements comes into play. For example, SIBU now has an amazing source of omega-7 in their new supplement Omega-7 Pure, made from 100% sea buckthorn berries. Absolutely nothing else is added—no other juices and not even any added water. Just one (1-ounce) serving daily at 75 calories a pop will improve your hair and skin health and leave you feeling more energized and healthier overall.
For even more impact, SIBU suggests up to four (1-ounce) servings per day. Visit our website to learn more about the origin, history, and health benefits of the sea buckthorn berry, the emerging research about the importance of omega-7 fatty acids and the health benefits of SIBU Omega-7 Pure, and to check out our tremendous supplements and lovely topical lotions for the very best in skin and hair care.