By Kristin Derrin, Founder/Nutritionist, June Superfoods
Boost your Energy with Superfoods
Superfoods, what makes them so super? If you are looking to maximise your health, longevity and energy, superfoods are the answer. Packed with more absorbable nutrients per serving than normal foods, superfoods are a great way to up your vitamins and minerals naturally with food. Plus all those nutrients increase the energy to help you take on any day. Here are my go-to superfoods when I need to increase energy.
5 Superfoods to boost your energy
Spirulina
A blue-green alga that grows in alkaline lakes, spirulina contains a variety of nutrients you will not find in any other superfood. Besides being an incredible protein source, spirulina improves the absorption of nutrients into your body. Rich in Omega 3 for energy production and brain function. Spirulina is also an excellent source of chlorophyll for cleansing and you guessed it, energy production. After a serving of spirulina, you will be feeling fresh and recharged. Plus if you prefer a plant-based diet, spirulina is a fantastic source of absorbable vitamin B12 found mostly in animal products.
Coconut
Coconut is truly amazing! Coconut water, coconut oil and coconut butter are always stocked in my kitchen. Coconut water is a perfect rehydrator, full of electrolytes and minerals that our body needs to stay hydrated. An interesting fact about a young coconut is it contains kinetin, a plant hormone that keeps the coconut young when it is in the sun all day. Good news, this plant hormone has the same effect on us promoting cell division and helping us stay young with extra energy. Best organic Coconut oil and butter are incredibly saturated fats that promote optimal health by supporting our body systems; immune, thyroid, nervous system and our skin. They are beautiful to cook with as they are heat stable and give you fuel to sustain the energy from your food.
Fermented Foods
Whether I start my day with coconut cider vinegar as a natural fermented probiotic or add some homemade saurkraut to my avocado toast, I am always looking to increase my healthy gut flora. There is amazing research at the moment showing the benefits of gut health and mood. Seratonin our ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter is made in the gut, so if the gut is out of balance from too much sugar, alcohol or processed foods we can easily be feeling low energy from a lack of that essential happy hormone.
Acai Berry
Popular for their high ORAC value of antioxidants, these little Brazilian berries are incredible energy producers. They take out the bad and replace it with highly absorbable vitamins and minerals. One powerful antioxidant in Acai berries is Anthocyanin which is responsible for added focus and attention. So when you need the energy to study, write that blog, or get out and go, opt for a low sugar acai bowl or smoothie to give you a boost of sustainable energy.
Camu Camu Berries
Have you heard of this little Vitamin C packed berry? Growing wild in flooded areas of the Amazon, they are loaded with 60 times more vitamin C than an orange. This soon to be popular superfood is an incredible berry. Vitamin C is the regenerator vitamin when we rest at night our body repairs and with ample amounts of vitamin C, we can optimise this recovery process giving us sustained energy every day. On its own camu isn’t the best tasting, but it can be found in some incredible superfood blends, and you only need a small amount to pack a big immune-supporting punch.
These 5 superfoods will keep you feeling great, healthy, cleansed, sustained and energised throughout your day. Within a week of adding these nutrient-dense foods take notice of how you feel. The increase in healthy fats, vitamin C, omegas, antioxidants, chlorophyll, probiotics and B12 should leave you buzzing and feeling renewed.
Photo Credit Andrea Salgado
