Our Top 5 Superfoods – For A Super You!

Google provides an abundance of information about superfoods. “The top 10 superfoods of 2021”, “What superfoods you should be eating”, “Why these superfoods shouldn’t be missing from your diet”, are just a few big (and v. common) titles you’ll encounter.

However, there’s a big difference between a Google search and Zenberry. We’re bringing you the hardcore scientific facts and information that you need to know – all in one place! What’s more, all our products feature one (or more, but who’s counting?) of the superfoods we’re about to mention.

Before we reveal our Top 5 Superfoods, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page. This blog is starting from the basics…

What Is A Superfood?

When it comes to nutrition and science, the definition of the term superfood is up for great debate. Depending on who you ask, what you read, what you watch you’ll encounter very divided opinions on the matter.

According to Medical News Today, the term superfood can be defined as “foods that offer maximum nutritional benefits for minimal calories.” (Ware, 2019). The names that you’ll see again and again are broccoli, goji berries and kale.

On the flip side, if you were to ask renowned Australian scientist Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki (more commonly referred to as Dr. Karl) he’ll tell you: “there is no such thing as a superfood and the term was made up for marketing purposes” (Kruszelnicki, 2018). And Wall Street International claims that there is no scientific definition of the term “superfood” (Smith, 2019).

We’ve acknowledged the debate, however for this particular blog post we choose the former! Science disputes the term, not the facts. Various foods are packed full of body-loving goodness. So, let’s dive straight in with our number 1 superfood:

1. Spirulina

This green plant has knocked Kale out of the park when it comes to nutritional levels. Scientifically known as Spirulina Platensis, Spirulina is a type of algae and a mighty powerful one too!

A few of its components are (but most definitely not limited to): Spirulina is 60%-70% protein (that’s more than your Friday night steak which is just 26-27% protein), amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids (Shiomi & Waisundara, 2017).

What’s more (and why we think this little guy deserves the name Superfood), according to scientists, Spirulina has also been proven to combat illnesses such as obesity and anemia and it’s been proven to promote a healthy immune system (Shiomi & Waisundara, 2017).

Needn’t we go on about why Spirulina is our number 1 superfood. And we have some great news for you! Our Zenberry Greens smoothie is packed FULL of the algae.

Get yours here. Did we grab your attention? Find out EVEN more about spirulina in our Ingredient Insights – Spirulina blog!

2. Hemp

Sometimes this plant has its taboos. As a cousin of the marijuana plant (where both stem from the cannabis plant), hemp’s properties are often forgotten as individuals become blinded by the thought of potential psycho-active effects.

Nonetheless, hemp has made its way onto our top 5 list and here’s why: 

This little plant is also protein-dense, providing you with 34g of protein per 100g serving (you guessed it, that’s WAY more than dairy products, meat, fish, and nuts).

Hemp is also packed with cholesterol-fighting fats (did that sound oxymoronic to you? Let us explain why it’s not).

Hemp products are packed with natural phytosterols, and if you say it quick enough, it sounds like fight-cholesterol. And that’s exactly what they do! They help to reduce cholesterol levels (Tanelian, n.d.). Furthermore, studies have proven that by substituting saturated fats for polyunsaturated fats can reduce the risk of cardiac arrest (Siscovick, et al., 2000). Hemp oil is the oil with the highest polyunsaturated fat content of all oils (Tanelian, n.d.).

Add a bit of spice hemp to your life with our Zenberry Vanilla Chai Smoothie

3. Blueberries

Their color is more than just a sight for sore eyes, the color is due to their high levels of anthocyanins (Arumugam, et al., 2021). Anthocyanins are a compound that has a rich antioxidant effect and fight free radicals (Wong, 2020).

A 2010 study hinted that anthocyanins reduce the growth of cancer cells, primarily in breast cancer (Faria, et al., 2010). However, scientists later confirmed that more research was needed before a definitive conclusion (Lin, et al., 2017). Get your daily antioxidant dose with our Zenberry Cocoa Berry smoothie!

4. Acai Berries

It’s delicious and a body-boosting berry! Rich in: electrolytes, fibers, vitamins, potassium, zinc (Arumugam, et al., 2021) just to name a few, this powerhouse has a multitude of health benefits. To take the acai berry to a whole new level, it’s actually been PROVEN to improve levels of metabolism AND protect against cancer cells (Arumugam, et al., 2021).

Check out below our “Keep Young Smoothie Bowl” recipe; it’s a perfect breakfast, snack, dinner, dessert. We want to hear your opinion on the recipe, be sure to leave a comment rating how delicious it was!

5. Ginger

Ginger is an easy-to-eat-add-in-to-your-diet root that despite its spicy flavor has an array of health benefits. It’s been used to reduce nausea, motion sickness, and 25 different antioxidants. That’s a lot of antioxidants to combat free radicals that cause our bodies harm (Be Herbal, 2020)!

Have it in your tea, in a stir fry, salad, soup, or a drink, it’s so versatile there’s no reason not to include it in your diet.

An even easier solution to incorporate ginger in your day-to-day? Our Vanilla Chai smoothie of course!

There you have it, our top 5 superfoods for a super you! A few of them are easier to incorporate into your diet, others not so much! But all our smoothies include at least one of these powerhouses, so head over to our shop and look for yourself.

We’re always learning and wanting to improve, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Bibliography

Kruszelnicki, D. K., 2018. Vital Science. Sydney: Macmillan.

Smith, R., 2019. The Myth of Natural Superfoods. [Online]

Available at: https://wsimag.com/food-and-wine/50447-the-myth-of-natural-superfoods

[Accessed 29 November 2021].

Ware, M., 2019. What are superfoods and why should you eat them?. [Online]

Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/303079

[Accessed 29 November 2021].

Shiomi, N. & Waisundara, V., 2017. Superfood and Functional Food: The Development of Superfoods and Their Roles as Medicine. s.l.:Books On Demand.

Tanelian, D., n.d.. Hawkes Health. [Online]

Available at: https://www.hawkeshealth.net/community/showthread.php?t=5696&s=66499d07a93c8525bb125bbabfc1d2ea

[Accessed 29 November 2021].

Siscovick, D. S. et al., 2000. Dietary intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of primary cardiac arrest. The Amerian Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 71, pp. 208S-12S.

Arumugam, T., Lincy Sona, C. & Uma Maheswari, M., 2021. Fruits and vegetables as Superfoods: Scope and demand. The Pharma Journal, 10(3), pp. 119-129.

Faria, A. et al., 2010. Blueberry anthocyanins and pyruvic acid adducts: anticancer properties in breast cancer cell lines. Phytotherapy Research, 24(12), pp. 1862-1969.

Lin, B.-W., Gong, C.-C., Song, H.-F. & Cui, Y.-Y., 2017. Effects of anthocyanins on the prevention and treatment of cancer. The British Journal Of Pharmacology, 174(11), pp. 1226-1243.

Wong, C., 2020. What Are Anthocyanins?. [Online]

Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-scoop-on-anthocyanins-89522#citation-4

[Accessed 29 November 2021].

Be Herbal, 2020. WHAT ARE SUPERFOODS?. [Online]

Available at: https://www.beherbal.com/blogs/post/superfood-herbs

[Accessed 29 November 2021].