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What are the 3 Superfoods?

3 Superfoods to Add to Your Diet + How to Prep Them Maqui Berry. Sea Vegetables. Cacao.

yogajournal.com - 3 Superfoods to Add to Your Diet + How to Prep Them - Yoga Journal

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Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth yoga, fitness, & nutrition courses, when you sign up for Outside+. Can nutrient-rich “superfoods” boost your health? We explore three lesser-known superfoods that are packed with benefits. Even the most health-centric among us are craving more from their food. While the most elemental agricultural products—fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains—may be what you first think of as ideal natural choices, the fact remains that today’s apple is not the same as the apple your grandparents ate. Although some varieties now appear larger and more attractive, in reality they are often higher in mass and calories with fewer overall nutrients. To solve this nutritional disparity, attention is turning to superfoods: an eclectic group of plant-based foods that pack in the most micronutrients, or benefits per calorie (a quality known as “nutrient density”). From leafy greens like kale and spinach, to small seeds like chia, flax, and hemp, the nutrient-dense world of superfoods is vast and flavorful—and easy to incorporate into any diet. For those looking to revitalize their health, there are plenty of exciting new foods to try.

1. Maqui Berry

The South American maqui berry, also called “Chilean wineberry,” is one of the world’s most antioxidant-rich fruits. Nutrients: It has a value of more than 600 ORACC per gram, more than 10 times the antioxidant power of a blackberry! Benefits: Researchers are studying maqui’s role in helping to reduce inflammation, ease arthritis, suppress blood glucose, and regulate cholesterol. How to Prepare: Mix the tangy, bright-purple powder into smoothies, juice, or oatmeal.

2. Sea Vegetables

Among the oldest living species on Earth, highly alkaline sea vegetables far surpass the nutrient density of any land vegetable. Varieties include nori, wakame, and kelp. Nutrients: A quarter cup of kelp (20 grams) provides more than 16 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin K and more than 276 percent of iodine. Benefits: Vitamin K aids with blood clotting and can help keep bones strong. Iodine supports thyroid health. How to Prepare: Combine with vegetables, proteins, or grains. Try them in salads or in dried form as a snack. Eat in moderation, as excess iodine can lead to thyroid disorders.

3. Cacao

Is chocolate really a superfood? The answer is yes, if it’s in the form of cacao—chocolate’s natural, raw state. Cacao is native to South America, where it was traditionally consumed ground up into an unsweetened drink. Nutrients: A 2.5 tablespoon (14 grams) serving of cacao powder offers an antioxidant ORACC value of 950 per gram. Benefits: Researchers are studying cacao’s health effects, such as reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and enhancing skin’s UV protection. How to Prepare: Use cacao powder in place of unsweetened chocolate in dessert recipes or smoothies. Snack on cacao nibs. Julie Morris is a Los Angeles-based natural foods chef and the author of Superfood Cuisine.

Can zinc cause blood clots?

There is a lot of evidence linking zinc to blood clotting. Zinc is released from cells called platelets that control blood clotting, and scientists have found unwanted blood clots can form when zinc levels in the blood are faulty.

bhf.org.uk - Studying the role of zinc in blood clotting - BHF

Studying the role of zinc in blood clotting

Characterisation of zinc-dependent heparin neutralisation by fibrinogen and histidine-rich glycoprotein (Ms Amelie Sobczak)

Dr Alan Stewart (lead researcher)

University of St Andrews

Start date: 27 October 2015 (Duration 3 years)

Supervised by Dr Alan Stewart, the PhD student on this project is studying how zinc is involved in blood clot formation and if zinc is important for why some heparin-based drugs do not work. There is a lot of evidence linking zinc to blood clotting. Zinc is released from cells called platelets that control blood clotting, and scientists have found unwanted blood clots can form when zinc levels in the blood are faulty. Also, histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) and fibrinogen, which are proteins in the blood that stop the action of natural anti-clotting factors called heparins, depend on zinc to work. Heparin molecules vary in size. Short sized heparin-based drugs are currently used to treat problems with clotting. These are more effective than other types of heparin, but we don’t currently understand why. Dr Stewart has found that zinc affects the ability of HRG to prevent different types of heparin from working. But less is known about how zinc controls fibrinogen. In this project, the PhD student will establish how effectively HRG and fibrinogen stop heparins from working at amounts of zinc found in healthy people and people with heart disease. This work is enhancing our knowledge of how zinc controls blood clot formation and may explain why some heparin-based drugs are not effective at treating blood clots.

Project details

Grant amount £116,080 Grant type Fellowships Application type PhD Studentship Start Date 27 October 2015 Duration 3 years Reference FS/15/42/31556 Status Complete

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What are the 3 Superfoods?

Does pineapple help lower cholesterol?

Do apples burn fat?

Weird “juice ritual” removes 65lbs in weeks

See alsoSuperfoods Decoded: 8 Veggies + Their Benefits

1. Maqui Berry

2. Sea Vegetables

3. Cacao

See alsoSuperfood Juices 101: Tips + Recipes to Live By

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Can zinc cause blood clots?

Studying the role of zinc in blood clotting

Dr Alan Stewart (lead researcher)

University of St Andrews

Start date: 27 October 2015 (Duration 3 years)

Project details

< back to search results

Does acne go away on its own?

What drinks clean out your body?

Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab

What foods cause wrinkles?

Purple weed obliterates 72lbs of flab

How long does it take to completely cleanse your colon?