Want To Live Longer? Eat Superfoods.

Ten years ago, any food that was green was considered to be ‘super’ good for you. Superfoods, by their definition, weren’t hugely popular; there were just ranges of green leafy spinach-y looking vegies in the fruit and veg section and funny looking seeds and oils in a pokey corner of the (very small) health food aisle. But these days, superfoods are everywhere and along with the huge assortment of health benefits they bestow, they are now being promoted as life-lengthening! So if you want to add years to your life, pop these on your shopping list!

Coconut Oil

This oil is everywhere at the moment and not too expensive to boot. It can be used both internally and externally and it’s benefits include assisting the body absorb nutrients when used in cooking, a fantastically light moisturiser for sensitive skin and it contains monolaurin, a nutrient only found in breast milk!

Kale

OK, this stuff may not taste as good as a Sunday Roast, but its up the top of the list in the superfood stakes. It’s reasonably cheap, available year round and contains carotenoids that help protect against cancer, infection and heart disease. Just don’t eat it on it’s own!

Acai Berries

Throw some of these babies into a smoothie to promote weight loss, reduce inflammation, improve circulation and gain the benefits from all their little antioxidants.

Chia Seeds

Notorious for their ability to swell and get stuck in your teeth, chia seeds rock because they keep you full and help you stay hydrated. A little on the pricey side but a tablespoon in your cereal, smoothie, juice or baking is all you need to gain the benefits.

Maca Powder

YUCK! Word from the wise, do not use too much of this stuff, do not put it on your cereal and do not try and drink it with water. Best used in baking or smothered with other ingredients in a smoothie, Maca Powder is awesome for libido and hormone levels and reduces anxiety and depression. It also improves energy, strength and stamina.

Blueberries

Perfect to munch on as a snack and delightfully tasting too, blueberries are full of antioxidants and prevent infection. They are rich in all kinds of vitamins and minerals, high in fibre and promote brain health too!

Lentils and Beans

Probably the only superfood you can’t really add to your smoothie, beans and lentils are great for weight control due to their high fibre and protein content. High in iron and soluble fibre, beans and lentils are best eaten with Vitamin C rich foods to maximise iron absorption.
So there you have it the secret to longer life. Easy as frying up your beans and lentils in coconut oil and throwing maca powder, blueberries, acai berries, kale and some chia seeds in a blender for the ultimate superfood smoothie!

How many of these foods do you include in your daily diet? Are there any you just can’t stomach?

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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