Best superfood powders for a holistic healthy lifestyle
Superfoods are foods that everyone should be consuming daily because of their extremely high nutrient density.
Most people are, unfortunately, nutrient deficient. Nutrient deficiency causes fatigue, irritability, brain fog, and so much more.
If you are a vegan, in your 20s or 40s, or wanting to improve your health, or simply a health-nut, you will find this article useful.
We will be taking a deep dive into the science behind the health benefits of superfoods as medicine. (Click here to read our introductory article, if you haven’t already!)
#1 Cordyceps Mushrooms
Cordyceps Mushrooms are one of the most highly prized natural medicines in the world, and have been used in the East for thousands of years. Fun fact: up until very recent history, consuming Cordyceps Mushrooms was a privilege that was enjoyed exclusively by royalty and the wealthiest members of society! In Tibetan Medicine, Cordyceps Mushrooms are used for people with kidney and heart weakness as a respiratory tonic and to enhance fertility.
Cordyceps mushrooms have also been used by ancient healers in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to treat fatigue, sickness, kidney disease and low sex drive. This superfood is a rare find, but most certainly worth the effort.
magic Health benefits of Cordyceps Mushrooms
We know that a key function of Cordyceps Mushrooms are their ability to help with oxygen absorption. How do they do this? Lets break it down.
Cordyceps increase lung capacity by dilating the bronchi and alveoli in the lungs, enhancing oxygen absorption and utilization on a cellular level.
That is why it's well suited for people with respiratory issues like asthma and bronchitis. It also has a strong reputation as a performance-enhancing herb, firstly, because of this effect that it has on the respiratory system!
What is ATP? (Adenosine Triphosphate)
Cordyceps Mushrooms are fantastic for a little something called ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). ATP is so important, that biologists refer to it as the “energy currency of life.”
Since ATP synthesis is completely dependent on cellular respiration, the increased oxygen delivery from Cordyceps Mushrooms is going to further support the production of ATP. What this really means is that by consuming Cordyceps Mushrooms, we're going to have access to more energy when we need it.
natural performance enhancing supplement in the 1993 Beijing National Games
Cordyceps Mushrooms are SO good for you that their results made the Olympics suspicious of illegal drug usage by athletes who used them! Check it out: What initially made Cordyceps Mushrooms widely popular was in 1993, after three female athletes broke five world records in track events at the Beijing National Games. This attracted suspicion at the time because all three of these athletes were on the same team, but they all tested negative for narcotics. When they were questioned, that coach explained that as part of their training regimen, the team had been consuming daily doses of herbal formula, and the main ingredient in that formula was Cordyceps Mushrooms.
Staying healthy after 40
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More recent findings show that Cordyceps Mushrooms actually boost the immune system. How? By enhancing the activity of macrophages and natural killer cells (white blood cells, A.K.A. the immune system’s first line of defense). Cordyceps also possess unique polysaccharides that inhibit a number of different types of cancer, including leukemia. It protects against many pathogens, including lyme, and it's a more effective antiviral medicine than the pharmaceutical drug, Ribavirin!
It regulates blood sugar, inhibits cholesterol buildup within the cardiovascular system, and because it's an adaptogen, it can dilate the blood vessels, even when we're under a lot of stress. It really helps us to cope and avoid unnecessary fight or flight responses, which in turn is going to protect the integrity of the adrenal and the central nervous system. All of these benefits are great for everyone, especially after 40 yrs old once bodies start changing.
Ready to add Cordyceps to your diet? Use the Every Day Support smoothie mix to give you a super boost, and build your health daily.
(Click below for a more basic breakdown of this Superfood)
#2 Raw Arriba Cacao
Ah, cacao. It comes from an evergreen tree native to the tropical regions of the Americas, and it’s where our beloved chocolate originates! The tree produces cacao pods and inside those pods are the seeds (or, what people refer to as the beans). Cacao is so special, ancient civilizations actually referred to it as the “food of the gods”.
Cacao beans are the world's most powerful source of antioxidants and magnesium. They also enhance mood, and we can all use a little bit of that. :)
Cacao’s true superpower is that it helps to decrease overall oxidative stress and inflammation, protecting your cells and tissues from damage, degeneration, and many diseases.
Natural Anti aging & Cellular rejuvenation Superfood
Every cell in your body, even healthy cells, have substances known as ROS, or reactive oxygen species, often referred to as “free radicals”. The ROS oxidize the lipids or fats in your body, through a process called lipid peroxidation.
This produces two substances: peroxides and aldehydes. These lipid peroxides are amongst the most catastrophic substances in the body, causing direct tissue and cellular dysfunction and damage, not to mention that they're highly volatile. They're known to cause selective alterations in cell and protein signaling, and they are directly toxic and damaging to the DNA.
If we take a quick look at an editorial article on lipid peroxidation products, and human health and disease, you’ll find it's been well observed that the increased formation of lipid peroxides and aldehydes has been observed in osteoarthritis, heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and other immunological disorders. Not to mention, that lipid peroxidation actually increases the rate of the advanced glycation end products, also referred to as AGEs, which are highly present in a wide variety of diseases. AGEs cause direct tissue degradation and are actually a reason that the skin ages and becomes wrinkled. They're highly present and involved in the pathology of all the diseases that were just mentioned. Lipid peroxidation increases the production of the advanced glycation end products 29 times more than sugar.
If you've been told that sugar is what causes oxidative damage, inflammation and accelerated aging, question that source’s understanding of physiology, because the fact of the matter is if there's any dietary culprit that is largely contributing to accelerated aging, inflammation and oxidative stress, it is the substrates that increase the rate of lipid peroxidation—which is not sugar, but poly unsaturated fats.
In a nutshell, these free radicals wreck major havoc on your health and are involved in the process of creating many diseases. With the help of cacao and its antioxidant free-radical-reducing power you can decrease the accelerated decomposing of your cells, preventing disease and creating an environment within the body conducive to thriving and feeling great.
(Click below for a more basic breakdown of this Superfood)
#3 Blue Green Algae
Blue-green algae “Aphanizomenon flos-aquae”, or a AFA, is a micro-algae powder with SO many great benefits!
It is good for the brain, memory, focus, digestion, nervous system and more.
It is one of the best superfood powders to add to your diet because it contains concentrated doses of nutrients not found in other foods, and is one of the world’s best sources for whole, natural vitamin B.
Our blue-green algae comes from the clean nutrient-rich waters of upper Klamath Lake, Oregon.
Interestingly enough, this is where all high-quality blue-green algae supplements come from.
Our algae is teeming with a high, unexhausted concentration of proteins, vitamins (A, B, C, E, K), minerals (magnesium, iron, copper, potassium, the list goes on), carotenoids, and antioxidants (the most potent being a little molecule used for the energy-producing process of photosynthesis: chlorophyll).
top Superfood For Vegans
Almost 50% of the lipid content of dry blue-green algae is composed of omega fatty acids, primarily alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The ALA in blue-green algae powder or liquid extracts can be potentially converted to DHA, which can further influence overall health and brain function. DHA plays a vital role in the proper functioning of the brain, eyes, heart, reproductive glands, nervous system, and hormone receptors.
A Natural vitamin b complex in ONE Superfood
Additional nutrients like B vitamins and choline also support healthy brain chemistry and neurological activities. Choline is a precursor of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital to nerve and muscle function. Blue-green algae is a source of whole vitamin B complex that includes: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folate, and a non-absorbable form of B12. It’s important to note that it is a whole vitamin B source because vitamins act as a machine, and when you don’t have all parts of the machine, the machine will not function properly! Many vitamin B supplements on the market are not a whole vitamin B source—make sure you choose wisely. :)
B vitamins are known energy enhancers and some, like thiamine, are required by neurons (nervous system & brain cells) for proper neurotransmitter production. B6, pyridoxine, is necessary for the conversion of the amino acid tryptophan into serotonin, a neurotransmitter important for mood. B3, niacin, is helpful for the synthesis of tryptophan, a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin, believed to contribute to feelings of well being and is important for memory and learning. Chronic deficiency of B3 can actually lead to neurological disorders like dementia and disorientation. Lastly, pantothenic acid acts as a coenzyme for the synthesis of the hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep cycles.
A good quality natural Vitamin B complex can be very hard to find. Luckily enough, we offer a Vegan Support Blue Green Algae. (Great for vegans and non-vegans alike.)
(Click below for a more basic breakdown of this Superfood)
#4 Camu Camu
Citrus fruit are more widely known for their high vitamin C content—Camu Camu has even more!
The Camu Camu berry was discovered in the 1950s to have one of the highest natural sources of vitamin C of any known plant-based food. It was first nutritionally analyzed by the Institute of nutrition in the Peruvian Ministry of Public Health. These studies revealed an exceptionally high amount of vitamin C content in the berry with results that document 2800 to 3000 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams of pulp.
What is vitamin C good for?
Antioxidants in the form of vitamin C help to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals, preventing oxidative stress and significantly influencing healthy immune response.
Natural vitamin C like Camu powders are one of the best nutrients for the nervous system, brain, and eyes. Vitamin C is a helpful ingredient for the biosynthesis of collagen as well as certain neurotransmitters needed for optimal brain function.
Vitamin C also promotes healthy bones, joints, cartilage, skin, blood vessels, capillaries and improves the absorption of non-heme iron found in plant based foods.
Moreover, it is also beneficial for breaking down cholesterol and even increasing collagen for healthy vibrant skin. Vitamin C supports the body's immune defenses and helps to prevent colds, flus and viral infections. In concentrated amounts, full spectrum vitamin C even helps to counteract cold sore flare ups.
best source of vitamin C: Natural Vitamin C v.s. Synthetic Vitamin C
BEWARE: Not all Vitamin C supplements are created equal. We’ll explain below (but bookmark this video to watch later if you’d like to learn more.) Ascorbic acid versus natural Vitamin C… Is there a difference? The majority of synthetic vitamin C supplements are simply ascorbic acid, which is not is NOT the same thing as natural vitamin C.
Camu camu on the other hand is a berry—it’s real food, with all its complexities that “man” or labs can’t recreate. It is truly a source of natural, whole, vitamin C.
The majority of Vitamin C supplements are actually the “wrapper” disguised as vitamin C. Let us explain. Early researcher, Dr. Royal Lee, found that in nature, the things that they call vitamins are a working process.
Vitamins are a complex, a machinery that contains nutrients, enzymes, co-enzymes, antioxidants, which need to be activated by trace minerals. This means if any of these pieces are missing, the whole machinery falls apart.
In the case of vitamin C, for example, it contains something called askorbinian, bioflavonoids, rutan tyrosinase, and there's a factor J, K, and P. It also has mineral co factors and ascorbic acid in it. Unfortunately, once they started studying nutrients, they were more concerned about synthesizing nutrients and wanted a cheap way of mass producing something.
They said, “Okay, which one of these can we mass produce?” They found the antioxidants in vitamin C (ascorbic acid) were easy to mass produce from cornstarch, glucose, sugar and hydrocarbons. This created your synthetic vitamin C, which does not compete with the complex system that is nature, and that is present in Camu Camu.
If you want Camu Camu + other powerful superfoods, try our Every Day Support or Daily Green Detox holistic smoothie mixes, perfect for getting in your greens and a diversity of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to function like a super human!
(Click below for a more basic breakdown of this Superfood)
#6 WheatGrass
Wheatgrass is exceptionally high in vitamins and minerals—particularly minerals like magnesium and zinc. It’s superpower is detoxification, to create a superhuman environment in your body, if you will.
CHLOROPHYLL Supplement for a natural detox
First, let's talk about the ability of wheatgrass to detoxify your body… It comes down to chlorophyll. When chlorophyll is broken down in the body, it turns into something known as chlorophyllin. Chlorophyllin is the broken down form of chlorophyll when it's broken down into a digestible or water soluble salt. It's this chlorophyllin that has a powerful effect on the body because it reacts with certain mutagens in the body and allows them to be excreted. A mutagen is a mutant cell or cell that causes DNA to structure in a different way. It's basically wreaking mutant havoc on your body.
what are mutagens?
A cancer cell would be considered mutant, right? It's kind of a regular cell that's gone rogue and done its own thing. Well, wheatgrass (because of the chlorophyll and ultimately the chlorophyllin) has the ability to neutralize mutagens, at least a little bit, and package them up in a nice, easy way that the kidneys can process and ultimately excrete through the body.
Enzymes and the role they play in detoxing
Wheatgrass, since it's so enzymatically active, induces what are called “phase two enzymes.” These phase two enzymes are literally the detoxifying enzymes within our body. They are designed to break things down and allow them to be excluded as well.
Therefore, there's literally an enzymatic way that wheatgrass helps you detox, particularly when it has to do with something known as Heterocyclic Amines genotoxicity, the stuff in processed meat. (P.s. if you want to learn more about what is in processed meat, bookmark this video to watch later).
Did you know that genotoxicity, (just like mutagens) is when our genes become totally toxic? Furthermore, when our genes are toxic, our DNA doesn't send the right signals to arrange the build out of the DNA structure!!
Imagine a blueprint for an office building that's totally torn up, in which people have to put back together. It's not going to come out right and you're not going to get the right structure. That's what happens when you have a high level of toxicity. Thankfully, the detoxifying enzymes from Wheatgrass have the ability to negate some of that!
(Click below for a more basic breakdown of this Superfood)
#7 Maca
Maca has specific medicinal properties that can have very positive benefits on your overall hormonal health, specifically related to weight gain, thyroid issues, hair loss, the inability to burn fat, and stress response.
Maca powder: one of the best Hormone balancing foods
Maca is well known for its effects as a hormone balancer.
It doesn't create hormones, but its plant sterols act as precursors to support normal hormonal activities.
It works primarily with the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, which are the two master glands responsible for regulating the entire endocrine system.
This promotes the healthy function of corresponding organs and glands such as the pancreas, the thyroid, the adrenals, and the reproductive glands.
Since Maca is an adaptogen, it promotes your body’s use of the best hormonal response for each unique situation directing more or less of any specific hormone when needed.
This means Maca can help you better sleep, respond to stress, and even increase your sex drive!
Health after 40: Menopause symptoms & Hormonal imbalance
Maca is beneficial for a variety of conditions associated with proper endocrine function such as menopause, PMS, infertility, adrenal exhaustion, and cognitive disorders.
Regular use of the powder can help to reduce or eliminate hot flashes, menstrual cramping, and balance estrogen and progesterone levels.
IMPORTANT NOTE: BE SURE TO GET QUALITY MACA. Since Maca is a cruciferous vegetable, it can cause problems with the thyroid when used as raw powder, which is known to contain goitrogens. We advocate the use of gelatinous MACA root that has the starch and goitrogens compounds removed.
This form of Maca is beneficial to the thyroid and is processed in a way that increases its effects as an adaptogen.
(Click below for a more basic breakdown of this Superfood)
#9 Açai powder
Açai is another top “super fruit” from the Amazon. In fact, Açai Berry is probably one of the most well known of the super fruit varieties. It was introduced to the Western world for its high concentrations of immune boosting antioxidants, healthy fats, dietary fiber and essential amino acids, and is another top superfood option to compliment a healthy diet.
Superfood for your holistic health diet
Natural Health Research Institute's studies indicate that plants produce higher amounts of antioxidants in response to environmental conditions and challenges including, but not limited to, competition with other plants, soil nutrient availability, droughts, weather fluctuations, exposure to molds, and amount of accessible sunlight.
All those conditions create a food source that's extremely resilient, and as a result, particularly high in antioxidants.
This is why Açai berries are so antioxidant rich and beneficial for you. They grow in these harsh environments and are resilient, so they help you do the same. ;) After all, you are what you eat!
Unfortunately, because of marketing scams, the price of Açai Berry powder and the frozen fruit pulp has skyrocketed at close to $50 to $100 per pound.
However, we have a workaround! Our Every Day Support smoothie mix not only has Açai powder, but also many other superfoods giving you way more benefits than Açai alone.
(Click below for a more basic breakdown of this Superfood)
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