What Superfoods are in my Cupboard?

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll often find a range of superfoods in my meals which you may look at and not have a clue what they are or what their purpose is! These superfoods are often found in my breakfasts, salads, baking or smoothies!

Before you think - wow these must be really expensive to buy, I get most of my cupboard based superfoods from Aldi, Asda or Holland and Barrett - which are not as expensive as you might think!

So without further a do, here are my 5 of my favourite superfoods:

1. MACA POWDER

Now I spoke a lot about maca in my Maca and Almond Overnight Oats recipe, but I'll give you a brief re-cap!

Maca is a type of root vegetable that belongs to the broccoli/radish family. It is generally yellow in colour and has a sweet and slightly nutty flavour to it.

The benefits of incorporating maca into your diet is: it increases the bodies energy, enhances our memory, rich in antioxidants, diet friendly, improves and increases fertility and sexual health in both men and women and it is incredibly nutritious!

2. CHIA SEEDS

Chia Seeds are tiny black seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant, (a member of the mint family) which comes from Central and South America.

The benefits of incorporating chia seeds into your diet are: they are rich in fibre, have omega-3 fatty acids which are known for their anti-inflammatory effects, these seeds are relatively high in protein, the combination of fat, protein and fibre means chia seeds are digested slowly which provides a slow release of energy to keep blood-sugar levels stable and finally they are rich in minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

3. RAW CACAO POWDER/CACAO NIBS

Cacao refers to the Theobroma Cacao tree from which Cocoa is derived, and is used when referring to unprocessed and purest versions of the cacao bean. So this means that is is 100% cacao (rather than 70% cacao dark chocolate).

The benefits of incorporating cacao (yup - chocolate!) into your diet is: it has 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries, it is the highest plant-based source of iron, it is full of magnesium for a healthy heart & brain, it has more calcium than cow's milk and it is a natural mood elevator and anti-depressant.

4. SPIRULINA POWDER

Again this is a super-food I went into detail about in my Spirulina and Coconut Overnight Oats recipe - so check out the page for more in depth detail!

Spirulina is a blue-green algae, freshwater plant - which is packed with nutritional benefits!

The benefits of incorporating spirulina into your diet are: it boosts energy, speeds up weight loss, high in protein, vitamin B1, Iron and Calcium, it is a powerful antioxidant and it is low in calories.

5. FLAX SEED

Flax seed (or linseeds) are small, brown, tan or golden-coloured seeds. Flax seeds can be eaten as whole seeds but are more beneficial when used in ground form. Grinding flax helps the body to absorb both types of fibre it contains, and its other benefits. Whereas whole flax seeds will pass right through the body without being digested, which means you will not receive many of the inherent benefits!

The benefits of incorporating flax seed into your diet is: that they are high in fibre but low in carbs, high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, helps make skin and hair healthy, helps lower cholesterol and treat Hyperlipidemia, gluten-free, high in antioxidants and supports digestive health.

Happy Eating!

Ruth xxx