Thoughts on Superfoods and My Favorite Ones

Superfoods! Those powders, seeds, fruits, and vegetables that will give us eternal life, superhuman powers, and generally make us better than ever before.

We all know ’em. We’ve got kale, acai, chia, hemp, maca, ashwagandha, rujimanda (what), and a whole host of other ones I won’t waste time naming.

I find superfoods quite intriguing actually. It’s funny because they’re always these super ancient foods that apparently have been consumed for thousands of years in places that are not the United States, but only now are they suddenly considered cool and mainstream because they’re entered the elusive American wellness sphere. However, I should note that I am not a superfood hater, not at all. I think many of these foods really are incredibly healthy and nutritious. I think adding them into our diets certainly can’t hurt and might even be noticeably beneficial.

But do I think they’re necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle? Absolutely not.

I think they’re a great accessory, but not the holy grail. Anyone can be healthy by simply consuming mostly whole foods, eating a wide array of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and some healthy fats. Maca, matcha, or even *gasp* acai bowls are not at all necessities in a healthy diet.

My one problem with superfoods is they do tend to be overhyped, and because they are often so expensive, I fear there are those who will decide that “being healthy” is impossible for them because they can’t afford all these crazy powders and elixirs, so what’s even the point?

What I want you to remember is that health is made up of a host of everyday choices, not one particular product. And though these products are nice, none of them are actually magical or life-changing. They’re fun accessories, but nothing more.

So with all that, let’s dive into some of my personal favorite superfoods!

Kombucha

The first time I tried kombucha, I was like, “…meh” But then I realized that there’s such a thing as flavored kombucha, and my world was forever transformed. My favorite brand is GT’S with the Trilogy flavor. It’s naturally flavored with raspberry and ginger, and it honestly tastes delicious.

I currently have a giant 48oz glass bottle of it in my fridge because I discovered that’s cheaper than buying the smaller bottle 4 times. I don’t have kombucha every day, but I do enjoy it sometimes with a meal or just as a little afternoon pick-me-up. And I don’t know if this is entirely attributable to kombucha, but I definitely notice a difference in my digestion and general well-being when I include probiotics in my diet on an almost daily basis.

Maca Powder

I first started using maca around a year ago when I was trying to balance out my hormones. I feel like balancing hormones is the new black, don’t you? 😉 But to be frank, I was having some strange fluctuations with my monthly cycle; I wasn’t sleeping well at all, and I just constantly felt on edge, so I figured, can’t hurt. For a time I had a teaspoon every single day, either in a smoothie or just mixed into my oatmeal or greek yogurt bowl. Eventually, I forgot about it for a few months, and then remembered and started taking it again.

My hormones did eventually settle down, and I felt much better, but again, I’m not totally clear how huge of an effect the maca actually had. I do know it definitely did not hurt, and it tastes pretty good too! P.S. I hear it also boosts libido, if that’s something you’re looking for. 😉

Chia Seeds

My love! I’ve been on the chia train for years now. Probably since when I first started my wellness journey in high school. I just love how versatile it is, how it can be the star of the show in chia pudding, or a small addition in a smoothie or yogurt bowl. I love adding chia to anything that could use a little boost of nutrition, and it adds an awesome crunch that I really enjoy when mixed into creamy foods.

You can find my favorite chia oat pudding recipe in this post!

Hemp Seeds

Pretty much same story as chia, though I think I found out about hemp seeds a bit later. I use them pretty much the same way as chia seeds, in smoothies, yogurt, etc. I love how they pack a protein punch, so sometimes I’ll sprinkle them on a salad or a sandwich if I want to up the protein a bit.

Cacao Nibs/Powder

One of my favorites. I don’t remember the last time I bought regular old cocoa powder. Cacao tastes so much more rich and indulgent somehow, and I love how it’s packed full of antioxidants. It tastes delicious in hot cocoa (I’m a total weirdo who actually enjoys making unsweetened hot cocoa…I know), and I love throwing cacao nibs anywhere I want an extra crunchy boost without the sweetness. The nibs are quite bitter on their own, but when mixed into other things, it’s not noticeable at all. All you get is that strong chocolate flavor. But yes, definitely don’t just chow down on a handful. Or do. I won’t tell you how to live your life. 😉

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Powders

I’ve talked about these before, and this is a relatively new addition in my life, but I’m kind of obsessed with these. So far, I’ve only tried the hot cocoa and the coffee mix, but both were shockingly delicious. I only say shockingly because it’s rare that I find the powdered packaged stuff to measure up, but these both totally exceeded my expectations. And the hot cocoa with reishi is supposed to help you relax, and let me tell you, I sleep like a BABY when I have it before bed.

Matcha

I go through phases of being literally OBSESSED with matcha, and then sort of forgetting about it. I usually get super into it in the colder months, when my body just really craves something warm in the middle of the day. Throughout this whole winter, I would make myself a matcha tea with a splash of almond milk every single day. Like the days I wouldn’t, I would feel like something was really wrong. I even have the cool wooden spoon and whisk, so you know I’m serious :p

Funny enough I almost never order it outside my house, choosing to make it myself, but there are tons of places (especially around NYC) that make some awesome high-quality matcha drinks. If you think you don’t like matcha, I urge you to try it from a place that specializes in it, or get yourself some good quality matcha powder and a fancy whisk, and let yourself become a Matcha Master. It’s a pretty fun title, especially when it’s self-awarded.

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And that’s all for the superfoods in my life. I decided not to mention the different veggies and grains that are also considered superfoods because, well, that would take forever because most veggies and whole grains can be considered superfoods. I hope this post clarified some stuff for you and maybe taught you something new. Have an awesome Tuesday, loves, and I’ll see you on Thursday with a brand new post!

Stay jazzy!

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Now tell me, what’s your favorite superfood?