superfood

Superfood Saturday – Pomegranate

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These tiny but vibrant beauties are a powerhouse! Did you know Pomegranates have up to three times the antioxidants of red wine and green tea? I did not.

Pomegranate consumption may also play a significant role in the regeneration of cells, particularly in your skin, which may help in healing wounds and even in protecting the skin from sunburn (but this is NOT a substitute for sunblock!)

Pomegranate has also been associated with improving skin texture and helping to cleanse the skin overall. You can create this simple, nourishing facemask for some extra skin TLC! Enjoy your soft, glowing skin!

Superfood Saturday – Almonds

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To help satisfy hunger and boost energy between meals, grab some almonds! High in protein and fiber, these little nuts are quite the superfood.

Almonds are the most nutritionally-dense nut, meaning they offer the highest concentration of overall nutrients per calorie and per ounce.

Great to add to things such as oats, yogurt, and they are perfectly tasty on their own!

Do you like almonds?

 

Superfood Saturday – Schisandra

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Have you heard of this superfood? It’s fun to say, isn’t it? I had never heard of this until I was reading up on the superfoods in my Shakeology!

Apparently, this little red berry is quite the powerhouse superfood!

It’s whole purpose is medicinal use – it’s sweet, sour, salty, bitter and pungent – not a berry you wanna top your Greek yogurt with!

Considered one of the most highly protective medicinal plants, Schisandra is included in many traditional herbal formulas geared towards improving energy and mental health.

Superfood Saturday – Tulsi (Holy Basil Leaf)

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Often dubbed the Queen of all Herbs, Tulsi, an ancient herb used for thousands of years, offers help with healing on a multitude of levels.

Tulsi is a powerful adaptogen found in my Shakeology, which is what introduced me to Tulsi to begin with! Tulsi provides optimal support for the immune system, increasing stamina and endurance while also reducing inflammation.

It is an effective herb for supporting the heart, lungs and liver, and contains potent levels of antimicrobial oils. In perhaps one of my personal favorite benefits, research has also identified it to have anti-diabetic potential, and to have influence over the neurochemistry of the brain, making it comparable to antidepressant medications.

Superfood Saturday – Brussels Sprouts

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Confession: I hated these things until I was about 30 years old. They look like eyeballs, and I just couldn’t wrap my brain around eating them (though I did try). They were (that’s right, past tense!) one of VERY few veggies I dislike – joining broccoli rabe and asparagus (I have also come around on Asparagus, but not broccoli rabe — too bitter!).

True to form, my foodie husband managed to find a preparation I actually enjoy, and actually go back for seconds of! He roasts them with some olive oil, and adds in some bacon for texture (and okay fine, a little taste!) and it works perfectly! We have also had them without the bacon and I still enjoy them!

Their glucosinolate content helps us battle cancer and detoxes our body — moreso than any other vegetable!

brussels-sprouts

 

Superfood Saturday – Pumpkin

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We pick them. We carve them. We illuminate them. But do we eat them? Some people do, and those people know what they are doing – pumpkin is a fantastic superfood for plenty of reasons, but one of my personal favorite benefits is the extra potassium helps restore the body’s balance of electrolytes after a heavy workout and keeps muscles functioning at their best!

But there are plenty of others, too, and you can also used canned pumpkin year round!

pumpkin