A lot of fruits and vegetables will most likely enter the mind any time the word superfood is mentioned. The name has regularly been connected to the blueberry as a prime example. Additionally, there’s the almond, the sweet potato, the alligator pear, kale, spirulina, chlorella, and broccoli. While these are definitely nutritious, several lesser-recognized foods additionally are just as good, if not better in some cases, in the wellness department. Below are five outstanding examples.
1) Moringa Oleifera
Grown in the foothills of the Himalayas, Moringa oleifera (also known as “The Miracle Tree”) is a tree whose leaves contain more than 90 minerals. Just a single portion of cooked moringa leaves will offer you 272% of your suggested daily intake of vitamin A, 125% of calcium, 71% of iron, 61% of magnesium, 41% of potassium, and 22% of vitamin C. Also, consuming moringa capsules on a regular basis has been linked to appetite suppression, weight loss, improved mood and digestion, regulation of blood sugar, and defense of the gut lining.
2) Natto
Popular in Japan, this fermented soybean food is abundant in the compound pyrazine, an all-natural blood thinner that can stop blood clots. Natto is also abundant in vitamin K (which aids to preserve bone mineral density, preventing osteoporosis), polyamine (which aids to suppress extreme immune reactions), and selenium (an antioxidant that aids in preventing cancer). As a result of its disagreeable flavor and cheese like scent, some people choose to have their natto strictly in gel cap form.
3) Aronia Berries
Aronia berries are thickly filled with antioxidants, so much so that for most people, it isn’t possible to consume them uncooked because of their extreme sharpness. Rather, typically you’ll see them sweetened and consumed as jams and juices.
4) Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa monnieri (known as brahmi by some), is an herb that’s native to the wetlands of Asia, Australia, along with America. Revered in Ayurvedic medicine, bacopa might be the most important food for fostering mental health since it’s full of bacosides (chemical substances that will mend damaged neurons, thereby enhancing nerve impulse transmission). Ingestion of bacopa powder over the long term has been associated with improved memory, disposition, interest spans, verbal info processing, and also enhanced protection against age-associated cognitive states like Alzheimer disease. Additionally, it has been proven to foster respiratory and digestive wellness.
5) Maitake
While mushrooms are perhaps not typically considered superfoods, specific species of them do deserve the title – particularly the exceptionally nutritious maitake, also known as the dancing mushroom, hen of the woods, or sheep’s head. This crispy, earthy-brown fungus is a staple in Chinese medication, and has been for countless decades. Rich in amino acids, soluble fiber, calcium, potassium, and several B vitamins like niacin, the dancing mushroom is a nutritional power-house comparable to the very best green vegetables. Moreover, studies have proven that it includes cancer fighting properties.