THE LOW-DOWN ON SUPERFOODS: Superfood: Chia Seed Chia is the richest non-marine whole food source of Omega-3 and dietary fiber currently known to man. Omega-3 fatty acids can normalize blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, while helping promote healthy heart and blood vessels. With six times more calcium than milk, and with greater amounts of high-quality protein than the one found in soy, Chia also helps strengthen muscles and bones. Chia can absorb a whopping 12+ times its weight in water - flax seed only absorbs 6-8 times its weight. Chia�s insoluble fiber reduces digestive transit time and removes toxins as it passes through the digestive tract... while reducing blood sugar levels after meals inhibits the appetite, thus making it the perfect food for healthy, effective weight loss. It has a neutral flavor. Daily intake recommendation: 2 tablespoons daily, to help you restore the lost balance between Omega-3 and Omega-6.
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SuperFood: Raw Chocolate Nibs - What are raw chocolate nibs? Cacao beans are the seed within a fruit, they are botanically a nut. All the antioxidant value, mineral benefits, neurotransmitter rejuvenating properties, and overall health-giving qualities of chocolate are found in raw Cacao! The special properties of cacao are destroyed or lost by cooking, refining, and processing. Processed chocolate is cooked and contains rancid fatty acids and trans fats that lead to heart disease (David Wolfe) BY WEIGHT, RAW CACAO HAS MORE ANTIOXIDANTS THAN RED WINE, BLUEBERRIES, ACAI, POMEGRANATES, AND GOJI BERRIES COMBINED. Raw cacao has 540% MORE antioxidant power than organic Blueberries! Magnesium: Cacao seems to be the #1 source of magnesium of any food, it's a great alkaline mineral that supports the heart, brain, and digestive system (it fights constipation), it balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, and is associated with more happiness. Iron: part of the oxygen carrying protein called hemoglobin that keeps our blood healthy. Chromium: an important trace mineral that helps balance blood sugar. Anandamide: (The Bliss Chemical) is an endorphin the human body naturally produces after exercise. Theobromine: an effective anti-bacterial substance and kills streptococci mutans (the primary organism that causes cavities) and is a chemical relative of caffeine but is not a nervous system stimulant. It dilates the cardiovascular system making the heart's job easier. Manganese: an essential trace mineral that assists iron in the formation of hemoglobin...and is also concentrated in tears. Zinc: an essential trace mineral that plays a critical role in the immune system, liver, pancreas, and skin; is involved in thousands of enzymatic reactions throughout the human body. Copper: an essential trace mineral helps to build healthy blood. Vitamin C: Cacao must be raw to contain vitamin C. Omega 6 Fatty Acids: Cacao contains essential omega 6 fatty acids. All cooked and processed chocolate contains rancid omega 6 fatty acids (trans-fat) that can cause an inflammatory reaction when one eats cooked chocolate. Phenethylamine (PEA): PEA is the chemical that we produce in our bodies when we fall in love and also plays a role in increasing focus and alertness. Tryptophan: Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is transformed into important stress-protective neurotransmitters including serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin: Serotonin is the primary neurotransmitter in the human body. Serotonin helps us build up our stress defense shield. - Does Cacao (raw chocolate nibs) Contain Caffeine? Contrary to popular opinion, cacao is a poor source of caffeine. A typical sample of raw chocolate nibs or cacao beans will yield anywhere from zero caffeine to 1,000 parts per million of caffeine (less than 1/20th of the caffeine present in coffee). In February 2008, Dr. Gabriel Cousens discovered in clinical tests on healthy people that Cacao does not elevate blood sugar in the same way as a caffeine containing food or beverage. In fact, Dr. Cousens found that cacao has less of an effect on blood sugar than nearly any other food. There is no evidence to implicate cacao bean consumption with obesity. Cacao is actually one of the great weight loss foods because... it contains the minerals and molecules that shut off the appetite. Superfood: Flax Seed The Low Carb Whole Grain: By Laura DolsonAbout.com: Flax Seed is High in Fiber... mainly responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects of flax. Fiber in the diet also helps stabilize blood sugar, and, of course, promotes proper functioning of the intestines. Flax seed is high in phytochemicals, including many antioxidants. It is perhaps our best source of lignans, which convert in our intestines to substances that tend to balance female hormones. There is evidence that lignans may promote fertility, reduce peri-menopausal symptoms, and possibly help prevent breast cancer. In addition, lignans may help prevent Type 2 diabetes. Superfood: Hemp Seed Kimi Harris; March 11, 2009: Hemp is a high protein seed containing all 20 amino acids, including the 9 essential amino acids (EAAs) our bodies cannot produce.. It also has high amounts of fatty acids and fiber as well as containing vitamin E and trace minerals. It has a balanced ratio of omega 3 to 6 fats at around a three to one ratio. Hemp seed protein did not cause bloating or gas, like some of their whey, or other protein shakes did...unlike soy which has super high amounts of phytic acid (that anti-nutrient that prevents us from absorbing minerals), hemp seed doesn't contain phytic acid. A rich source of phytonutrients, the disease-protective element of plants with benefits protecting your immunity, bloodstream, tissues, cells, skin, organs and mitochondria. Superfood: Coconut Water Coconut water is the juice of young coconut ...clear, sweet, and sterile and composed of sugars, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, enzymes, amino acids, cytokine, and phyto-hormones in coconut water showed significant anti-ageing, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-thrombotic effects. Coconut water is composed of many naturally occurring bioactive enzymes... (that) aid in digestion and metabolism. With minerals like calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, and zinc, its water is also a very good source of B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pyridoxine, and folates. These vitamins are essential in the sense that body requires them from external sources to replenish. Coconut water contains a very good amount of electrolyte potassium. 100 ml of water has 250 mg of potassium and 105 mg of sodium. Together, these electrolytes help replenish electrolytes deficiency...In addition, fresh coconut water has small amount of vitamin-C... a water-soluble antioxidant. | Bee Pollen and Coconut Water |
Superfood: Bee Pollen Kenzie Weir; Monday, July 12, 2004 Bee pollen is nearly 40 percent protein. Almost half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids, which means easy assimilation at the cellular level. This highly available protein can contribute significantly to the body's demand for protein. Pollen also is made up of all the essential components of life. With 96 known nutrients, it is a rich dietary source of zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron. This is evident as it energizes its consumer, providing a concrete sense of well-being and increased intellectual capacity. It quickens metabolic responses. It accelerates thermogenesis (calorie-burning activity) by heating up the metabolic fires. It's no wonder why this is becoming recognized as nature's true weight-loss superfood. Bee pollen is a low-calorie food, with only 90 calories per ounce. It offers 15 percent lecithin by volume. Lecithin is a nutrient that assists the metabolism in dissolving and flushing fat from the body's most vital internal organs also known as brain and nerve food. It seems to prevent premature aging of the cells and stimulates growth of new human tissues. It offers protection against dehydration and injects new life into dry cells. The skin becomes younger looking, less vulnerable to wrinkles, smoother, and healthier because it contains a high concentration of the nucleic acids RNA and DNA of the natural antibiotic factor." |