Superfoods

In recent years, human nutrition has undergone significant changes. Thanks to the technology and communication of the modern age, we can now source our food from numerous places, almost anywhere on the planet. More and more people are turning towards health-conscious lifestyles, organic foods, and veganism. In stores, many customers are seeking out such products, and their numbers are reaching a “critical mass.” One of the healthiest food groups is “superfoods,” which possess not just one but dozens of beneficial qualities, packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and essential trace elements. With these, they alleviate the symptoms of most diseases, such as psoriasis, asthma, herpes, eczema, diabetes…

What belongs to the category of superfoods?!

Any edible and nutritious plant that is not traditionally considered food but is not classified as medicine either belongs here. These plants are tasty and incredibly enhance well-being, making the immune system more resilient. Moreover, they play a significant role in detoxification! (Recently, you could read about foods suitable for detoxification in a diary entry, but it’s also worth trying superfoods!) It’s advisable to consume superfoods in raw organic form, as research shows that raw organic foods contain more vitamins, enzymes, proteins, and minerals.

ALOE VERA

Surely, most people have heard of aloe vera in some form as a miracle cure. It’s no wonder because this member of the lily family is one of the planet’s most nutritious plants. The gel-like substance of raw aloe vera is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as sulfur, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and chromium. Naturally, it’s also abundant in fiber and antioxidants. All of these combined have a moisturizing effect on the brain, joints, and nervous system! Aloe vera is also a perfect choice for weight loss or muscle gain as its positive effects on weight reduction have been established. Regular consumption alleviates stomach problems, including ulcers, colitis, and the gel-like substance, when absorbed in the intestines, speeds up nutrient absorption. Aloe is a toning adaptogen, helping to maintain the health of our vital organs. (Kidney patients have been shown to improve their condition by taking aloe, aloe extract, or dietary supplements.)

In addition to the many positive things already listed, you’ve probably also heard about the beneficial effects of aloe vera on the skin. It’s no coincidence that it’s added to many creams, facial and body care products. This plant helps with numerous skin problems: sunburn, rashes, moles, allergies, eczema, scars, scratches, wounds.

When looking to buy aloe-containing products, keep the following in mind:

Aloe Vera Gel

The Oxygeni Hair Aloe Vera Gel is produced by cold-pressing aloe vera. Thanks to its germ-killing and anti-inflammatory properties, it effectively addresses problem areas. It's an effective aid in treating irritated, reddened, inflamed, and sensitive skin. A multifunctional product recommended for dermatological and trichological purposes, it's intensely moisturizing, healing, soothing, and regenerating, suitable for all skin types. It alleviates skin irritation, redness, and sunburn.

Use a knife to remove the thorns from the desired leaf, extract the gel, and mix it into smoothies, with goji berries, or sauces.

Due to its strong liver-cleansing effect, pregnant women and young children should not ingest it internally!

HEMP SEEDS

But among the superfoods?!

Cannabis sativa has hundreds of known subspecies. It may surprise many that hemp seeds are considered superfoods. Hemp is typically used for its fiber and/or seeds, and oil. This type of seed is rich in complete proteins (unlike animal-based proteins, hemp seeds contain pure protein!), and the oil extracted from it contains more fatty acids than any other seed found on Earth. Hemp leaves are also edible, containing a high amount of fiber and having a high silica content. (Silica helps with bone formation and beautifies hair/skin/nails.)

Thanks to its positive properties, hemp quickly found its way into the beauty industry: it has appeared in soaps, body lotions, shower gels, and shampoos. Hemp seeds contain the amino acids necessary for a healthy life! The phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur substances found in the seeds help relax muscles, soothe the digestive system, and detoxify.

You can add them to salads or even use them for dressing. They are also excellent as snacks on their own! They add great flavor to smoothies.

Recommended daily intake: for adults: 50-75 g
For elite athletes: 140 g
Children’s portion: 30-50 g

COCONUT

The coconut palm is distantly related to the grass family. Like grasses, coconuts absorb all minerals that can be useful to the human body. The mature coconut contains high-quality raw protein and fiber. Many things are made from coconuts: coconut cream, coconut oil, coconut fat… These are great because they can be used not only in food but also in medicine and cosmetic products, and have been used since ancient times!

Benefits of Coconut:

It improves digestion, is a great immune booster, and stimulates thyroid function. It regulates hormone balance, and its precursors are the so-called pregnenolones, which are anti-aging hormone-like compounds. When applied locally, it soothes skin rashes and can even prevent their occurrence. It cools the body in the summer.

TIP: Coconut fat is a perfect choice for those on a diet, as coconut oil has fewer calories than regular oil. It consists of raw saturated fats, which our bodies can efficiently break down and convert into energy.

After cracking open the coconut, you can consume it immediately. You can drink the coconut water with a straw (instead of a plastic straw, choose one made of metal or bamboo!)
The coconut flesh can be blended into coconut water, and the resulting drink is called coconut milk.
You can use coconut oil in salads, baking, or frying meats instead of sunflower oil.

TIP: DENTAL CARE WITH COCONUT OIL! Apply a teaspoon to your teeth and gums. Rinse for 10 minutes. It effectively kills oral pathogens and normalizes oral pH.

Unfortunately, many people nowadays do not realize that valuable nutrients essential for the long-term health of our bodies and systems may not necessarily be found in expensive chemicals or beauty products. Of course, these products are effective, but we want to draw attention to the fact that naturally occurring superfoods contain the same, if not higher doses of fibers, vitamins, with the difference being that they are not preserved and “enriched” with all kinds of chemicals…

Unfortunately, it’s a fact that nowadays the ingredients consumed with meals do not always contain enough useful micronutrients. Added to this is irregular eating, hectic lifestyles, and lack of exercise. It’s important to ensure that we get enough vitamins and nutrients into our bodies.

It’s better to protect our health alongside beauty, so if we have the opportunity, let’s consume superfoods in as many forms as possible!

Author: Eszter Csalava