Wednesday, February 6, 2008

A Review of our top 4 Superfoods

Bee PollenBee Pollen is a great source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and anti-oxidants. Bee Pollen is actually the flower pollen that is collected by honeybees, they bind it with enzymes in their pollen sacks and carry it back to the hive in pouches their legs.

Bee Pollen is excellent for anti-ageing. As we age, cell renewal is slowed and vitamins and minerals are needed to replace cells. Bee Pollen provides all the nutrients our bodies need to keep skin young, smooth and wrinkle free. Bee Pollen is an excellent energy source and is used by many athletes as a dietary supplement to improve performance and it is generally recommended for strengthening the immune system

Bee Pollen consists of up of 5-25% amino acids, 40% carbohydrates, 5% fatty oils and 35% protein. It supplies many of the dietary antioxidants, bioflavonoids and polyphenols that we are. Bee Pollen is also a low-calorie food containing approximately ninety calories per 25g (about two heaped tablespoons). Bee Pollen also contains lecithin. Lecithin helps dissolve and flush fat from the body so Bee Pollen can lower low-density lipoproteins (LDL) while helping to increase high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which protect against cholesterol and heart disease.

Maca Powder
Maca Powder is native to Peru. It is a vegetable from the carrot, radish and parsnip family and has been used by the Peruvians for thousands of years as a foodstuff and also for its medicinal properties.
Maca contains high amounts of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and all the essential amino acids. Maca is an adaptogen so it "adapts" to your body's metabolism and can help you achieve optimal levels of health and energy. It's also known as Peruvian ginseng and has been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac and a libido booster.

Maca powder naturally stimulates the pituitary into producing the precursor hormones which ultimately end up raising oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels which rebalances your hormones. It also helps to balance the adrenal glands, the thyroid and the pancreas.

Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass has long been proven to benefit people in numerous ways including cleansing the lymph system, nourishing blood, restoring balance in the body, removing toxic metals from the cells, nourishing the liver and kidneys and restoring energy.

Wheatgrass is full of vitamins including all of the B group vitamins, A, C, E and K. Wheatgrass also contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, iodine, iron and zinc. Wheatgrass also contains 90 out of the 102 essential minerals and trace minerals.

At only seven days of growth, wheatgrass is 6 to 9 inches tall and can be cut and juiced for its full benefits. Wheatgrass juice is abundant with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and chlorophyll.

Wheatgrass restores the alkalinity to the body enabling it to recover quicker, metabolize faster and achieve optimal health. This is largely due to the high chlorophyll content of wheatgrass.

Chlorophyll is soluble in fat particles and since fat particles are absorbed directly into the blood, there is evidence that chlorophyll can also be absorbed as easily.

So if you?re looking to improve your health then consider adding wheatgrass to your diet.

Spirulina
Unlike other forms of protein, the protein in Spirulina is 85-95% digestible, amongst the highest available. Spirulina is second only to dried egg supplment with regards to usable protein. Spirulina has a protein content of 60-70 percent higher than any other natural food and most nutritional products.
Spirulina contains a high concentration of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients which include the essential fatty acids, GLA fatty acid, lipids, the nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), B complex, vitamin C and E and phytochemicals, such as carotenoids, chlorophyll, and phycocyanin, which is a protein that is known to inhibit cancer.
As little as 3 grams per day of spirulina can provide impressive levels of vitamin B12 & B complex, iron, essential trace minerals, beta carotene and gamma-linolenic acid.
Spirulina has been singled out in recent years for its nutritional properties. Long before it became a favorite of the health food industry, Spirulina was consumed regularly by North Africans and Mexicans centuries ago. Many people around the world now realise that spirulina has a huge potential as a whole food source, medicine and biochemical resource.
Spirulina is the most researched microalgae which is why many people use Spirulina in their own self-care strategy to provide more energy, nutritional balance, weight control and cleansing.
Spirulina is perfect in between meals for good nutrition without the heaviness of bulky food. Athletes gain more endurance and strength with regular use of spirulina and seniors achieve better nutrient absorption. Spirulina is also safe for children, pregnant and nursing mothers.

No comments: