Get to know the superfood

We hear the term "superfood" in many places, and some ask whether they are beneficial or whether they are merely a passing trend and a marketing term intended to increase sales.
You have surely learned that life is not just black or white, and therefore, we can state with certainty that... all answers are correct.

Yes, superfood is indeed a term that has become a tool for sales promotion, but the important question is what are the properties of those foods called “ superfoods ,” do they make an important contribution to our diet, or not?

Despite the doubts about these foods, objectively, they have good properties. They are not magic, but each of them brings with it an important nutritional composition that we would like to incorporate into our diet.

Superfoods probably won't give you eternal life, and we don't know why certain foods made it into the superfood category while others, no less good, were left out. But we'll still prefer the practical approach of examining - what do those so-called superfoods contain? You'll decide for yourself whether you want them for your breakfast.

Recommended superfoods

A quick search for recommended superfoods immediately brings up some familiar names like: Maca , Barley Grass , Spirulina , Chia Seeds , Acai , Goji Berries and many others. These are not the common products you will find among the tomatoes and cucumbers in the supermarket, and for many, the names are unfamiliar. So, to clear up the confusion, we will tell you about some of these superfoods and the nutritional values ​​they offer-

Acai - First of all, we'll tell you that it's a fruit that grows on a palm tree and comes from the Brazilian Amazon region. Although it's only become a household name in recent years, in Brazil it's been an important part of the diet for generations. Sometimes, it's eaten as a paste with added sugar, and sometimes ice cream and fancy desserts are made from it. Whether we give it the title of "superfood" or not, nutritionally it's rich in vitamins, especially vitamins C and A, as well as dietary fiber. It has various types of antioxidants in large quantities, and even the most skeptical nutritionist will agree that it's important to incorporate them into your diet. True, this isn't the only fruit that has vitamins and antioxidants, but that's no reason to underestimate its value. And you don't have to go far to Brazil to enjoy it; in Israel, you can get it as an easy-to-use powder or in a frozen puree . For the brave, there's also a special blend .

Moringa - The Moringa tree originates from the Himalayas, but you will be surprised to find that it has acclimatized well in Israel and there are commercial crops of Moringa here too. The Moringa fruit is sold worldwide as a dietary supplement and many virtues are attributed to it. But on the other hand, there is also criticism and claims that its properties have not been scientifically proven. As we said, we prefer to objectively examine what is in Moringa and we are not really interested in whether it has a crown on its head that says "super food". Moringa is rich in protein and the amount of protein in it is 2 times greater than the amount of protein in yogurt. When we say 'protein', we mean amino acids. There are 9 types of amino acids that the human body needs, and usually plant protein does not contain the combination of all amino acids. In this respect, Moringa is exceptional because it includes all amino acids. It is also rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and potassium - more than oranges, carrots, milk and bananas, which are usually good sources of these. Moringa is available as an easy-to-use powder or frozen moringa cubes . For the brave, there is also a special blend .

Spirulina - Spirulina is a type of microscopic algae rich in protein. According to online sources, spirulina was produced by NASA as food for astronauts. Sounds good, but the truth is that we are not sure about this. Long before we sent people into space, the Aztecs in Mexico collected spirulina from Lake Texcoco and for them it was one of the sources of food. Today, spirulina is not collected from lakes in Mexico, it is grown on special farms. In Israel, spirulina is also grown using special technologies that optimize the protein level.

There are many claims about the benefits of using spirulina, some of them based on research, others are questionable. But what we know for sure is that a balanced diet that provides the body with the nutritional needs helps maintain health, and there are good reasons why it is worth consuming spirulina - spirulina has a large amount of protein. A teaspoon of spirulina has about 4 grams of protein, and the amount of iron in it is 10 times the amount of iron you will find in spinach. It is also rich in other important minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium and also has a wealth of vitamins. Spirulina is available as an easy-to-use powder or frozen spirulina capsules . For the brave, there is also a special blend .

Golden Berry - The golden berry is one of the superfoods that comes to us from the mountainous regions of South America, where it is one of the sources of nutrition for the local natives. It is used to make jams, ice cream, chutney (dip), and more, so it is also attractive in terms of taste. If we look at its main nutritional values, we can characterize it as low in calories and contains vitamin C, thiamine, and niacin. Thiamine is vitamin B1, which is very important for the nervous system. Those who remember the "Children of Remedies" affair will remember that this is the vitamin that was removed from baby food formula and its lack caused severe nerve damage and even death. The importance of this vitamin is beyond doubt. The taste of the golden berry is sweet and sour and it comes from the cherry tomato family. Its color is golden yellow, hence the name "golden." Golden berry can be obtained dried and added to salads and smoothies.

Mankai - Mankai is a tiny aquatic plant that floats on fresh water. We'll talk about its nutritional values ​​right away, but before that, a few words about the taste - the taste of mankai is considered neutral and from its perspective, the combination of a neutral taste with high nutritional value certainly justifies the title of "super food". It can be used to enrich the nutritional value of any salad, smoothie, cooking pot or pastry. In terms of its nutritional value, it offers us complete protein, vitamin B12, omega 3, dietary fiber, phenolic acids and flavonoids, folic acid and other important vitamins and minerals. The amount of zinc in it is almost double the amount of zinc in peas and the amount of folic acid is close to the amount of folic acid you will find in uncooked spinach. Mankai can be obtained frozen in easy-to-use cubes .

Green Tea - Matcha - The properties of the tea plant have been known since before we used the term superfood. Matcha is the same tea plant you know, but with one very significant difference - a few weeks before the day of picking, the tea plants are covered to prevent them from being exposed to direct sunlight. It turns out that this action enriches the tea leaves with amino acids and also changes their taste and makes it sweeter. After that, the tea leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder, which is matcha. From it you can make the matcha drink. The Japanese also use it to make desserts and sweet pastries. The tea plant is rich in antioxidants, but when we prepare tea infusions, we only get a little of the antioxidants and the rest remains in the leaf itself. In matcha, the leaf is ground and we digest it in its entirety, and thus we get the full amount of antioxidants it contains - 130 times more than a regular tea leaf! Matcha tea is famous for its weight loss abilities, but this has not been proven, so we cannot guarantee this action, but testimonials from people indicate positive results. Matcha green tea is available in powder form .

Goji berry - Goji berry comes to us from Asia, where it is often used in Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisine. Traditional medicine attributes various properties to the fruit, including anti-cancer properties, improved sexual function, and there is even a story about a Chinese man who reached the age of 256 years (!) thanks to eating goji berries. You guessed it, these claims were met with great skepticism. So what is it about goji berries that justifies the nickname "superfood"? Laboratory tests have shown that in the fruit you can find 19 different amino acids, 8 of which are essential amino acids for the human body. It has important microminerals such as zinc, iron and calcium, vitamins B1, B2, B6 and E. And finally, it is rich in antioxidants. Whether you choose to believe or not the stories about a Chinese man who lived for over two hundred years, it will not change the facts - the combination of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants will do your body good. Goji berries can be obtained dried and added to salads and smoothies, or in powder form for a variety of uses. There is also a special formula that can be purchased.

Cocoa - Cocoa is familiar to all of us as the raw material from which chocolate is made, of course with the addition of huge amounts of sugar. Cocoa is not really considered a superfood. The cocoa tree comes from the Andes Mountains and from there it spread to other regions. The Mayans, in Mexico, embraced it with love and it is of great importance to them. When the Spaniards arrived in America, they brought cocoa back to Europe with them and from there the story is well known. The most prominent feature of cocoa is its antioxidants, 3 times the amount in green tea! It is also rich in protein, dietary fiber, iron, magnesium and potassium. Cocoa contains theobromine, an alkaloid similar to caffeine, which is also found in tea. It is a stimulant that helps dilate blood vessels - which leads to improved concentration and improved heart function. Its effect is considered to be less than that of caffeine, but its duration of activity in the body is longer. Cocoa can be obtained in powder , beans , ground in the form of nibs , as a paste and, of course, as butter .

Wheatgrass - We all know the wheat plant, but it is usually the wheat seeds from which we produce flour. Wheatgrass is the sprouts of the wheat plant, and these are rich in chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fiber and antioxidants. Other types of sprouts also have important nutritional values, but wheatgrass has a greater concentration. There are many claims about the properties of chlorophyll, not all of which have been scientifically proven, but without a doubt, every nutrition expert will agree that starting the day with a wheatgrass drink, which gives you a nice dose of vitamins and minerals, is definitely a good idea. It is available as an easy-to-use powder or as a frozen liquid .