Top 6 Superfoods to Boost Your Energy!

Superfoods are just that - super foods! Although there are few dictionaries that define the word, the commonly understood definition of a superfood is a food that packs a big nutritional punch - a whole food that contains a high concentration of nutrients.

Superfoods work in synergy with your body systems, promoting normal cell function and preventing mutations at a cellular level, boosting your immune system and preventing chronic diseases. So yep, they're pretty super!

What's more, they support weight loss, help you keep the weight off, support your gut health and digestion, boost your immunity, balance potential nutritional deficiencies, and promote wellness! In order to reap all of their benefits, try to include them in your diet daily.

Here's a list of my top 6 superfoods that regulate blood sugar levels, reduce sugar cravings and boost your energy. (I tried to limit myself to 5 Superfoods, but it was just too hard!)

My Top 6 Superfoods:

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1. Oily Fish - Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel, Herring, Sardines

Oily fish are high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, including Omega 3. These fish:

Aim for 3 servings of oily fish per week

2. Garlic

Did you know that garlic is one of nature's natural antibiotics? It:

Aim for 1-2 garlic cloves per day

3. Green, Leafy Veggies - Kale, Spinach, Collard, Mustard, and Turnip Greens, Swiss Chard, Rocket, Broccoli

These contain potent anti-oxidants that reduce cell destruction and prevent disease, not to mention they offer great anti-ageing benefits! Furthermore they:

Aim for one salad a day, and add green leafy vegetables to any stir-fry, soup or smoothie.

4. Blueberries

Blueberries contain anthocyanins, a naturally occurring pigment that gives them their blue colour, which is a potent antioxidant. They'll help to:

Aim to eat a handful a day - fresh or frozen.

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5. Cacao Beans - Raw, Unprocessed Chocolate

Cacao beans contain the greatest wholefood source of magnesium, which:

6. Spirulina - Blue Green Algae (dried and available in powdered or capsule form)

Spirulina offers the greatest source of protein on this planet, even more than any meat can offer. Protein is ideal for:

You can add 1-2 teaspoons of spirulina into a smoothie or take it as a supplement. See the recipe below for an example.

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Superfood Blueberry Smoothie Recipe:

Let's face it, in our busy, chaotic and often stressful lives it can be hard to consume the recommended intake of 5 veggies per day. There's no easier or healthier way to kick off your day then blending up a bunch of veggies and enjoying a green (or in this case, a purple) smoothie.

Serves 1

Ingredients: 250mls of coconut water or almond milk ½ frozen banana 1 handful of blueberries ½ avocado 3 kale stalks (use the leaves and discard the tough stalks) or a handful of baby spinach Add whatever of these you have on hand: 1 teaspoon of Spirulina 1 teaspoon of chia seeds 1 teaspoon of goji berries 1-2 teaspoons of cacao nibs (for a chocolate twist) Method: Blend all ingredients and blitz until smooth. Drink immediately (or store in the fridge for up to one hour)

*Images of ' woman', ' salmon', ' cacao beans' and ' smoothie ' via Shutterstock

Entities 0 Name: Spirulina Count: 3 1 Name: Blue Green Algae Count: 1 2 Name: Mustard Count: 1 3 Name: Omega Count: 1 4 Name: Leafy Veggies Count: 1 5 Name: Turnip Greens Count: 1 6 Name: Herring Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1nIj4z7 Title: Best foods to ease Crohn's disease symptoms Description: If you have Crohn's disease, you want to avoid flare-ups at all costs. Although diet can't cure it, avoiding or making smart food choices can help ease your symptoms. Before making any changes to your diet, it's important that you understand how active the disease is and get it under control- it can still be active without any symptoms, said Dr. David Rubin, a professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology at the University of Chicago Medicine.