Super-foods

There are hundreds of super-foods out there, we've all heard the term. What is a super-food exactly? I just think of it as a food that has a lot of extra special things about it.

My favourites are:

Lemons- high in Vitamin C and antioxidants, and alkalizes your body! I juice half of one every morning into a glass of water and drink that before I have anything else. This is the healthiest way you can start up you body with each day to get everything flushed out, clean, and ready for food to come.

Hemp- hemp seeds are one of the few vegetarian sources of a complete protein.The type of protein in hemp is similar to the protein in our bodies which makes it much easier for your body to digest and absorb than other types of proteins. Not only that, it is high in fiber and contains a good amount of omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids. It also has heaps of vitamins and minerals too. 

Chia- another favourite seed of mine! Similar to hemp, it's full of protein, fiber, and omegas. Actually, chia is also a complete protein. It has 8x more omega 3 than salmon, 4x the antioxidants than blueberries, 5x more calcium than milk, 7x more Vitamin C than oranges, 3x more iron than spinach, 2x more potassium than a banana... must I go on? One tip with chia, it is best to grind or soak the seed to get the all benefits. 

Quinoa- yet another complete vegetarian protein source. Quinoa is a South American grain (technically a seed) full of essential amino acids, dense with vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and calcium, fiber, and again our omegas. Quinoa has anti-inflammatory affects and helps regulate blood sugar. Plus it is gluten-free for anyone who is intolerant! What I also love about quinoa is that you can have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, as cereal, in salads, or as a grain like rice. You can even eat quinoa raw in its sprouted form!

Kombucha- This is a traditionally fermented drink that is becoming quite popular; I make it myself, but you can buy it in stores as well. (Kombucha is a bit controversial but I will tell you the rundown anyways and you can decide on your own what to think) Basically how it is made is with regular tea and white sugar, with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast...gross? Kind of, but you get use to it and you don't eat that part!). The SCOBY feeds off the sugar and tea over a week or so and metabolize the most of the sugar (if not all) leaving you with a carbonated drink of fermented tea. The carbonation is part of the natural process unlike pop, which is made by carbon dioxide under high pressure. So why is this strange (but tasty) concoction good for you? 

To name a few reasons:
1. It's filled with probiotics- healthy bacteria that feed off unhealthy bacteria in your body which helps improve digestion
2. It alkalizes your body
3. Detoxes your liver and increases metabolism
4. May reduce kidney stones
5. May prevent cancer
6. Prevents grey hair (who knew?)

The list goes on. If you want to know more, ask me or go to http://www.kombuchakamp.com/health-benefits-of-kombucha I did mention that kombucha is a controversial drink, so I am providing you with another link that gives some myth busters about it. Personally, I'm still not completely convinced, but I do drink it and think it's a great refreshing drink with some good health benefits, but may not be all what people make it out to be. http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/03/25/kombucha-myths-vs-truths/