Alfalfa Grass Arame Barley Grass Blue-green Algae Chlorella Dulse Hijiki Kelp Kombu Crystal Manna Nori Oat Grass Spirulina Watercress Wheat GrassWe all know that foods are materials which our bodies can use to break down into the building blocks we need to support growth, tissue repair and health. These building blocks, such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, amino acids etc. are vital to our wellbeing and some are present in all foods that we eat. However, some foods are better than others at supplying high quality, easily absorbed nutrients to our bodies and some forms of nutrients are more easily absorbed by our bodies than others, which is particularly important when we are ill or vulnerable.
In recent years, interest has grown in a class of foods collectively known as superfoods, which includes all foods which provide highly concentrated and easily absorbed forms of as many useful nutrients as possible. Most of these superfoods are young or newly germinated plants, although some vegetables are good enough to be classed in this company and many nuts are also included by some authorities in the group, even though nut allergies are becoming more common, as they are such a rich source of nutrients such as selenium which are hard to obtain in other foods.
There are some terms and abbreviations used in discussing Superfoods for which it can be difficult to find clear meanings; click here for our Glossary to some of these terms.
Green superfoods:
| Alfalfa Grass |
Arame |
| Barley Grass |
Blue-green Algae |
| Chlorella |
Dulse |
| Hijiki |
Kelp |
| Kombu |
Crystal Manna |
| Nori |
Oat Grass |
| Spirulina |
Watercress |
| Wheat Grass |
Green superfoods are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, chlorophyll and antioxidants. They are Gluten and Phytate free, although they may contain other materials which can cause problems to some people; see the Cautions section below.
Seeds can also be grown for up to two weeks until the sprouts are 15 to 20 cm high, (see the page on sprouting seeds) then turned into juice by blending with a small amount of cooled, boiled water and drunk immediately. Sprouted seeds are sometimes also available fresh in the local health food store.
Vegetables, plants and fruits:
Vegetables are nature's richest sources of phytochemicals including lycopene, sulforophane, allicin and bioflavonoids. They may also contain some materials which can cause problems to some people; see the Cautions section below.
Grains and Seeds:
| Azuki Beans |
Barley |
| Brown Rice |
Buckwheat |
| Flax Seeds |
Kidney Beans |
| Maize |
Millet |
| Oats |
Pumpkin Seeds |
| Red Lentils |
Rye |
| Sesame Seeds |
Soya Beans |
| Sunflower Seeds |
Easily digestible grains, seeds and legumes provide vitamins such as B complex and vitamin E, Isoflavones, Fiber and essential fatty acids including Omega 3 and 6. They may also contain some materials which can cause problems to some people; see the Cautions section below.
Fruit and Nuts:
| Brazil nuts - the highest selenium content of any nut |
| Peanuts - high in folic acid but many people are allergic these days |
| Pecans - an alternative to peanuts for natural folic acid and high in zinc |
| Walnuts - high in omega-3 oils, these are great for your heart |
Nuts are a great meat substitute in any diet, and are especally useful in any high-protein, low-carb diets such as Atkins. Nuts are always better bought in the shell, as they can quickly go rancid once shelled (although some of the shells are extremely hard to crack!) Buy organic if possible and keep them cool for the best results. Nuts are high in dietary fibre and different nuts contain different concentrations of antioxidants, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. They are also low in carbohydrates and cholesterol, and are useful in protecting against cancers and heart disease.