5 Superfoods You Can Find Anywhere

Guest Post by Cassie Mendoza-Jones – naturopath, nutritionist and herbalist. Goji berries, maca, quinoa, amaranth, bee pollen, acai, yacon syrup, spirulina, kale, chia seeds, cacao, coconut oil, coconut water, coconut everything… OK we get it! You need only whisper the word “superfood” and people fall over themselves trying to tell you which of the ‘latest’ they’ve just eaten for breakfast.Yes, all of the above are superfoods; highly nutritious and wonderful additions to our diets. But before you give yourself a migraine trying to fit 97 of the latest and greatest into one power breaky smoothie after spending the entire previous afternoon hunting them down at niche health stores across the city,  it’s nice to remember there are other less ‘popular’ foods, which are just as super... potentially more so!Here are my top 5...

1. Eggs

Ok, where do I begin?! Imagine what an must egg contain in order to produce a life? In simple terms, everything required for life itself. Protein (all of the amino acids) for muscle building, repair and synthesis of neurotransmitters. Vitamins A, B complex, D and E, calcium, zinc, potassium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants such as selenium, lutein and zeaxanthin, choline (for brain health) and phosphorus (for calcium absorption). How is that not one of the most amazing foods in the world? Eggs contain good cholesterol, which is essential for good health, especially reproductive health as cholesterol is the building block for every single sex hormone. If you have cholesterol issues, it may be your liver that’s crying out for help as this is where cholesterol and therefore sex hormones are synthesised and metabolised. In most cases, I recommend 1-2 organic, free-range/pasture-fed eggs a day.

2. Parsley

Basically the plant equivalent of a mutlivitamin, half a cup of this herb contains more betacarotene than two large carrots, more vitamin C than two large oranges, twenty times more iron than one serving of liver and ten times more calcium than one cup of milk! It was eaten by the Romans as a deodoriser and breath freshener and used by monks in the Middle Ages to treat hair loss, chest ailments, bladder infections and gout. It’s also wonderful for cystitis and bladder infections, arthritis, fever, delayed menstruation, nausea and liverishness, a totally non-medical term used in naturopathy and Traditional Chinese medicine indicating an ‘over-heated’ liver. Signs include anger, aggression, impatience and frustration as well as inflamed eyes, headaches, dizziness and even high blood pressure.

3. Shiitake Mushrooms

Mushrooms have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a food and medicine for thousands of years. Shiitake's have so many incredible medicinal properties - they are immune-enhancing, antibacterial, anti-candida, anti-tumour, anti-viral, control blood sugar levels, modulate cholesterol, act as a kidney tonic, immune stimulant, liver tonic, sexual tonic and aid in stress reduction. They are also very high in B12, which is fab news for everyone but especially for vegans and vegetarians. Another incredible medicinal mushroom is reiishi. It has most of the same effects as shiitake plus more: anti-inflammatory, blood pressure control, cardiovascular effects, lung/respiratory tonic and nerve tonic actions.

4. Watercress

Another incredible food, watercress is rich in chlorophyll (making it a great internal deodoriser) and contains vitamins A, C, D, E, K plus B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6, plus the minerals calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, sodium, magnesium, copper, manganese, sulphur, iodine (one of the best sources other than seaweed), silica and zinc. Its actions are anti-bacterial, diuretic, expectorant (meaning it’s great if you have a very ‘chesty’ cough), digestive, antiseptic, antioxidant and general tonic. It can be used for coughs, head colds and bronchial ailments such as asthma, emphysema and stress, pain, arthritis, anaemia, constipation, heart conditions eczema, indigestion, sluggish menstruation and sluggish metabolism, lack of energy, kidney and gall stones and as a brain and nerve strengthener. It’s also good for issues of the spleen, thyroid and liver plus the health of all the glands and functions of the body’s metabolism; to normalise cholesterol and blood pressure; to improve memory and to improve reduced milk flow for breastfeeding mothers.

5. Seaweeds

Definitely one of nature’s most prized foods, seaweeds contain 10-20 times the mineral content of land plants! They will remove toxic and heavy metals from the body and are high in easily digestable protein. There are several types which can easily be added to your diet. Agar agar promotes digestion and weight loss and is a great source of calcium and iron. Arame is used to treat thyroid imbalances as it’s wonderfully high in iodine, a mineral necessary for thyroid health. It’s also high in calcium and iron (again, excellent for teeth, bones and anaemia).Kombu is found on most supermarket shelves and is incredibly high in iodine and iron as well as potassium and calcium. It has traditionally been used to treat cardiovascular problems, arthritis and prostate/ovarian problems. It’s also used to treat anaemia and symptoms of candida. It will alkalise anything it’s cooked with and will also improve the digestibility of legumes and grains when soaked together. It is best avoided in pregnancy as it has been used to dilate the cervix or induce labor and can also affect foetal heart rate.Arame also promotes hair growth due to its high levels of iodine (it can have 100-500 times the amount of iodine as shellfish) and contains ten times the amount of calcium as cow’s milk. Bladderwrack (kelp) is also wonderful for low thyroid function, weight loss and heart problems as it acts as an anti-coagulant meaning it can reduce the likelihood of blood clots. Also great to eat if you’re on the Pill and about to travel by plane! It’s anti-inflammatory, high in fibre, iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc and vitamin K.Nori (the seaweed wrapped around your sushi) is very high in protein, cleanses the blood and is easy to digest. It is helpful in cases of high blood pressure and cholesterol and for difficulty urinating. Wakame (found in miso soup) has four times the iron content of beef and ten times the amount of calcium as cow’s milk! Like nori, it’s incredibly high in protein and easy to digest. I love it in a lentil hot pot – delicious!Since seaweeds are very high in iodine, they’re best avoided if you have a hyperactive (overactive) thyroid, but a great addition to your diet if your thyroid is hypoactive (underactive).NB: Yes all of these foods can be found at health food stores, but you don’t actually need to go to one to buy them or include them in your diet! About CassieCassie Mendoza-Jones is a dedicated, caring and passionate naturopath, nutritionist and herbalist who believes in the healing power of nature. She has particular interests in stress, exhaustion and adrenal fatigue, anxiety and depression, disordered eating, weight loss and digestive disorders as well as hormonal imbalances and women’s health issues. Cassie is passionate about helping her clients achieve their goals of health, balance and wellbeing through nutritional and herbal treatment, education and motivation. You can visit her website, find her on Facebook or Twitter, or read some of her previous blog posts.