If you’re an avid fan of superfoods and have reaped the benefits of blueberries, spirulina and goji berries over the last few years, you’re in for a treat. There are some new heroes in town, and they’ve come to transform everything from your digestive health to the appearance of your skin. Here are six of the hottest new superfoods, what they do, and how you use them.
Chlorella
Chlorella is a single-celled, freshwater green algae, so it's not surprising that there have been many chlorella vs spirulina comparisons. While both are algae superfoods, chlorella is superior because of its make-up. Chlorella has a true nucleus, which contains a unique DNA and RNA complex. This makes it more abundant in nucleic acids making it better at supporting your body’s cellular health. In short, it supports a healthy digestive system and helps cells to rebuild, rejuvenate and repair. It comes in powder, granule and tablet format, which makes it easy to introduce into your diet.
Moringa
If you’ve been adding supergreens into your morning smoothie, make way for Moringa. This very fine powder mixes easily with no clumps and helps you cut down the number of different supplements you take by delivering a powerful combination of vitamin C, calcium, potassium and amino acids. It has a strong flavor, however. Some people liken it to matcha or green tea, and many users comment on its bitterness and how “green” it tastes. You might find that blending it with a flavored yogurt or fruit takes the edge off it.
Kombucha
Known for its extremely distinctive love-it-or-hate-it taste, kombucha has taken the world by storm. This fermented drink has broken away from being a supplement that only hardcore health food aficionados are familiar with, and you can now buy kombucha drinks in stores, restaurants, and even food trucks – some people even brew their own. As with any probiotic, it helps promote a healthy gut and digestive system, enabling you to absorb essential nutrients and minerals from your food better. Kombucha appears to be so popular because of its convenience; you don’t have to mix it or add it to anything. You simply open a bottle and drink.
Maqui Berries
Like goji and acai berries before it, maqui berries tend to come in freeze-dried powder format and are most commonly consumed in bowls and smoothies. Less bitter than the other two and with a milder taste, they’re easy to incorporate into other dishes without being too overpowering. Just two tablespoons contain an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which boosts metabolism, regulates blood sugar levels, supports the digestive system, and helps with inflammation.
Cassava Flour
Those who need a gluten-free flour alternative have seen a surge of options arrive over the last few years, but cassava flour may be the most wheat-like non-wheat option around. While not a superfood in the traditional sense in that it’s not packed full of nutritional goodness, it does still contain vitamin C, magnesium, copper and folate, and many afford it superfood status because it’s vegan-friendly, nut-free and paleo-friendly, making it suitable for a multitude of diets. And, whereas some flours are best for certain types of baking, cassava flour is a good, all-round variant, and you can use it for everything from flour tortillas to chicken pot pies.
Nut Oils
As people become more conscious of what they’re putting in their bodies, the same applies to what they’re putting on their food. Following closely on the heels of nut butters, nut oils have taken over the shelves of food stores. From cold-pressed almond to walnut oil, they’re an excellent alternative for anyone exploring an animal-free oil option, and their distinctive flavors mean you can have some fun and change them up in your cooking to get different results each time. Although still a fat, they don’t contain as much harmful trans fats as other oils, such as sunflower or vegetable. Allergic to nuts? Avocado oil is a great substitute. Its ingredients include omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids and vitamin E, so it’s packed full of antioxidants.
Will you be trying any of these? It’s always fun to explore new superfood supplements and discover something that works for you. Be adventurous, and you might find that truly changes your life.
About the Creator
Make Your Own Pasta
I recently bought a pasta attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer and I have never enjoyed cooking so much. It might seem simple and silly--dried pasta in the store is fairly inexpensive and its a labor of love to mix up the dough and cut it into whatever type of pasta you're craving, but it truly has been so much fun. When I first began making my own pasta I mixed the dough by hand as most of the websites recommend (and rather, insist upon) but I've recently turned toward mixing the dough in my mixer and man-oh-man is that a time saver (and a muscle saver too). I just put the mixer on the first setting and let it slowly combine all the ingredients. I usually mix for ten minutes total or so, adding a little bit of water here and there if I think the ingredients aren't combining after a reasonable amount of time. It's super slick! I figure I'm using my mixer anyway with the pasta attachment, so there really isn't much of a reason not to use it for the dough creation process as well. Call me a cheater, whatever. I can handle it.
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The Best No-Sugar-Added Apple Pie
This no-sugar-added apple pie gets its natural sweetness from antioxidant- and fiber-rich dates. Cider vinegar helps to enhance the flavor. We like Gala apples for their sweetness and crisp texture, but any sweet, firm apple will work well. If you like your apple pie on the tart side, add a Granny Smith to the mix. We use frozen pie crusts for the bottom and top of the pie. The dough should release easily from the tin for the top crust within about 10 minutes out of the freezer. If not, let it sit out a bit longer until it releases easily.
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