The body receives a clear message from a wholefood as it delivers the nutrients directly, unlike the isolated components put back together in a multi vitamin supplement. In a wholefood the natural synergy is preserved and the body recognises this automatically. The superfoods provide the body with increased energy. Natural stimulants give you increased energy without dropping you like a stone a couple of hours later. Raw cacao is a natural stimulant that stimulates the natural ‘feel good’ chemicals found in the human brain. The intrinsic properties of the superfoods are transferred to us through the assimilation of the energy of the plant. Often hardy plants, that are able to withstand adverse weather conditions and survive against all the odds, they ultimately transfer their intrinsic qualities to us.

Maca, a Peruvian root vegetable, grown in the high altitudes of the Andes, survives the frost, wind and intensive sunlight. Maca transfers the vibrations of strength and stamina in a stable and grounding manner. It is an adaptogen, meaning that it gets to the root of the disharmony in the body and restores balance.
In the morning when I feel like an energy boost, I reach for Spirulina and Hemp protein to set me up for the day. Spirulina, one of the oldest life forms on earth, boosts our immune system and protects us from the many toxins directed at us in our modern world. Whenever I feel that afternoon drop, I reach for a hot Maca and Cacao Hemp milk and I feel nourished and energised. Emotionally balanced and grounded with a new energy release to carry on with the demands of my life. The best thing about the superfoods for me is the way they work holistically. Physically, they feed our cells, emotionally, they balance us, mentally, they fine-tune us and spiritually they re-connect us. Health & wellbeing is interrelated to all our levels. The superfoods nourish us on all our levels.

I could go on for pages reeling off the nutritional values of the superfoods, as there are so many, however relating my own personal experience of discovering how they have enhanced my being, seemed more exciting. Discovering what works for you individually is crucial because we are all made differently and have unique needs. It has taken me years to tune into my body and its needs. Now I know how certain foods make me feel physically, emotionally and mentally. I avoid them and increase them according to these signals and I know what my body performs best on. At the root of all wellbeing is a connection to nature and relating to the plant kingdom in this special way is a direct connection to nature. Connecting with superfoods is connecting to nature. Becoming your own guide and teacher to yourself is the best way to go.

I have only mentioned four of my favourites that I have welcomed gratefully into my life. Life is full of challenges and often at an increasing pace. Make friends with the superfoods to assist you in all your daily challenges and for peak performance in all your tasks and creative pursuits. And it’s easy! By putting a teaspoon of the superfood into a smoothie or juice, you can easily add them to your daily routine. It’s great for children, as a mother of two, I used to constantly stress over getting nutrition into my fussy eaters. Now they have a breakfast smoothie with four superfoods and I can feel relaxed knowing they have eaten well every day.

We don’t need to dream of being a superbeing, we already are! We have just got to give ourselves the foods that bring out the super qualities of being a truly healthy human being. Invite the superfoods into your life and become a natural superbeing.

Written by Constandia Christofi. She runs ‘Brighton Naturally’ wellbeing lifestyle store at the Brighton Open Market, Marshalls Row, BN1 4JU – www.brightonnaturallystore.com
Come along and have a chat about superfoods and try a superfood smoothie or a raw chocolate for yourself!

The post Why bring superfoods into your diet? appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

The Chia Seed is a dieter’s dream come true. Hunger is the main enemy of weight loss. When a chia seed is exposed to water, it forms a coating of gel, increasing its size and weight. Since the gel is made of water, it has no calories. It is also difficult to remove from the seed, meaning that it helps your body think it is full, without adding calories!

Balance Blood Sugar

Lowering risk of Diabetes and keeping a balanced level of blood sugar is important for both health and energy. Blood sugar may spike after meals, especially if you eat high-starchy foods or sweets. This can lead to ‘slumps’ in your day where you feel tired and out of energy. By balancing your blood sugar, you not only lower your risk for type 2 diabetes, you also ensure steady constant energy throughout your day. How does the chia seed help with this? Both the gelling action of the seed, and its unique combination of soluble and insoluble fibre combine to slow down your body’s conversion of starches into sugars. If you eat chia with a meal, it will help you turn your food into constant, steady energy rather than a series of ups and downs that wear you out.

Aid digestion

With an abundance of over-processed foods and white flour, rich sources of fibre are harder to come by. To help ensure regularity, you need plenty of soluble and insoluble fibre in your diet. Each seed is coated with soluble fibres which aid its gelling action. The exterior of the seed is then protected by insoluble fibre. The digestive system is unable to digest the insoluble fibre but helps to keep food moving smoothly through the digestive process. The soluble fibre, and the gel coating of the seed keeps the colon hydrated and also ensures the easy movement of food.

Adding Omega 3 

Omega 3 oil is usually thought of as “that healthy stuff in fish”. However Chia is the richest plant-source of Omega 3. By weight, chia contains more omega 3 than salmon! Omega 3 is important for heart and cholesterol health. It’s also recently been targeted as a weight-loss helper. USA Weekend magazine also reports on a study where overweight dieters who included omega 3s in their eating plan lost 2 more pounds monthly than the control group, who did not.

Feel More Energized

Your energy levels have a lot to do with what you eat. Chia is one of nature’s highest plant-based sources of complete protein. Protein from items like peanut butter and some beans are incomplete, meaning you have to combine them with other foods to get the full benefit. Not chia though; its protein is complete to raise your energy levels. The combination of complete protein, vitamins, minerals and blood-sugar balancing gel all work together to make sure you have steady energy.

Bake With Less Fat 

Do you enjoy baking? Chia gel can substitute for half the butter in most recipes! The food will bake the same and taste the same (or better) from the addition of the chia gel. All you need to do is divide the amount of butter or oil in half, and then use the same amount of chia gel to fill in. The antioxidants in chia can even help keep the food tasting fresh longer. Everything from cookies to cakes to muffins, pancakes and waffles can be made with Chia gel as your butter replacement.

Age-Defying Antioxidants 

Antioxidants have been in the news lately due to their super healthy benefits. You know that blueberries and several exotic fruits have them, though did you know that chia is extremely high in antioxidants too? These helpful substances are what makes the chia seed stay fresh for so long. At room temperature, they’ll stay fresh and ready to eat for over two whole years! And that’s all without a single chemical or preservative. This amazing ability is not found in other seeds like flax or sesame, because those seeds don’t have the same rich antioxidant content. Antioxidants help prevent free-radical damage in your body. Free radicals lead to problematic conditions such as premature aging of the skin and inflammation of various tissues.

Curb Cravings

Being deficient in minerals or vitamins can create a craving for food. By weight, chia has more calcium than whole milk. It also has magnesium and boron, essential trace minerals used in the absorption of calcium and other vitamins. By balancing your vitamins and minerals with chia, you can curb cravings that might tempt you.

Create More Flavour! 

How can a seed with NO flavour help other foods taste better? When the seeds are hydrated, they magnify the taste of whatever they were added to. For puddings and smoothies to dressings, dips, salsas, sauces and more.

Save Your Money 

Adding Chia to your diet costs from as little as 50p per day. You can use as much or as little as you want to achieve your own desired results. There are no preparations required for these simple seeds as a measuring spoon is all you’ll need. They’re always safe and 100% chemical free.

Buy your organic Chia Seeds from Wikaniko and get a healthier lifestyle, instantly! Visit online shop ecomarketstall.wikaniko.com

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I do agree that there are good and bad supplements on the market, but isn’t that the same as the food industry? We pick up food, read the labels and unwittingly purchase food that we think is good for us, only to find that the labels are misleading. It annoys me that a carton of juice can say “100% natural’ when actually it’s made from fruit concentrate and is pure sugar! It has been proved that a fruit smoothie can contain more grams of sugar than a chocolate bar! Even the healthy fruit snacks can lead us into thinking that we are giving our children a healthy dose of vitamins but read the sugar content and it’s plain to see why your little ones might be bouncing off the walls!

Over the last few years there has been a growing interest in whole food powders, using powders from wheatgrass and spiralina to baobao and maca. I’ve been using these whole food powders for a while and find them a great way to get good nutrition into my families diet.

There are so many different processes for creating these powders, from freeze drying and dehydrating to a new technology guaranteeing that nutritional content and enzymes remain intact.

The last few months I have been on a mission to find a good source of wholefood powders with good nutritional content, good colour and good taste. One such product was so amazing that we started to work on bringing it to the UK market. It has had it’s challenges, we have shipped in samples, tasted and tested but we were so inspired that we decided to launch a new business to share these amazing powders. At last there is a healthy and fun way to enjoy your five a day.

The pioneering technology is so gentle all the nutrients and taste of the fruit and vegetables remains intact. This guarantees the flavour and intensity of the powders. We never add any additional ingredients or synthetic colourings so you can enjoy a 100% natural product.

In studies at Washington State University our strawberry powder was shown to retain the same vitamin C content as its original fruit.

As this is such a dynamic product there are so many uses and we are sure you will invent a few of your own once you try these powders!

For more information, recipes and to order visit zingology.co.uk

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