Exotic superfoods are a relatively new trend of the worldwide healthy-lifestyle movement. The term superfoods refer to foods, highly rich in nutritious elements, vitamins, and minerals, that are able to strengthen your body, recharge it with energy and fight serious diseases. The mix of unique components in these foods can provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-aging, mood-enhancing, and stress-fighting benefits, which will make up for several check-ups at your doctor in a year.
Top Exotic Superfoods
Superfoods typically grow in exotic, remote from civilization areas, but your access to them is still wide since their popularity makes them increasingly available on the global market. The top exotic superfoods include Maqui berries, goji berries, Gyokuro tea, seaweed, chia seeds, among others. Let us look, in detail, at the most trendy and healthy superfoods that work wonders for the human body:
A plateful of nature Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Maqui Berries
Grown in the Patagonia region in Chile, these tiny, purple fruits have a wide range of health benefits. Anthocyanins, the pigments that give the berries their color, prevent inflammation. Also, they provide antibacterial properties that strengthen the immune system. Moreover, Maqui berries keep premature aging at bay by nourishing skin cells, preventing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. [1]
Black Beans
Due to the great amounts of protein, fiber and antioxidants black beans contain, these delicious beans can be definitely called a superfood. While they are not as exotic as berries, you can use other beans like red beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. Fiber is the driving force of the digestion process, so consuming beans daily is a must. Black beans supply the body with the needed amount of fibers enough to ensure a stable absorption of nutrients and regulate the cholesterol levels. Also, black beans play a huge role in preventing cancer with the help of cell proliferation, cellular arrest, and apoptosis. This superfood contains a high amount of iron, which is crucial for the transportation of oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to organs. [2] [3]
Goji Berries
Goji berries are rich in antioxidants. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
This food was included in the daily diet of Chinese monks, being preferred as a meditation aid and longevity enhancer. Nonetheless, its pool of health benefits is much larger and it is used nowadays as a superfood with limitless powers in treating ailments and maintaining the body. Goji berries prove effective in fighting anxiety and stress, ensuring a smooth and restorative sleep. Also, they enhance the mental activity, increase concentration, and foster awareness and vigilance. In addition, this superfood contains beta-carotene, which is a strong antioxidant, with skin care and eyesight-improving functions. [4]
Gyokuro Tea
Although not among the cheapest products, this super drink pays off with a plethora of health benefits. Gyokuro tea contains an antioxidant called EGCG that aids weight control. This component speeds up the metabolism, which makes calories burn faster and impedes food fat from storing as adipose tissue. Since energy consumption runs faster, muscles are continually supplied with healthy nutrients to recharge quickly from pressures and gain more strength. This Asian tea improves the overall performance of the brain. Caffeine provides mental alertness, boosts concentration and memory, and fosters faster decision-making. Furthermore, polyphenols, found in Gyokuro tea, protect heart cells from intruding the tissues, causing their degradation and eventual failure.
Seaweed
Straight from the ocean shorelines, these algae come on your table with a lot of health benefits. They protect your reproduction and energy formation functions by influencing the thyroid gland that is in charge of them. The iodine and tyrosine contained in the seaweed help produce the necessary hormones. This helps reduce the risk of weight gain, hair loss, and unstable heart rate. The plant abounds in essential vitamins, fiber and minerals, such as iron, potassium, zinc, vitamins A, C, and K. Calcium, in seaweed, protects and strengthens the bones. Seaweed also reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and preventing blood clotting.
Dried Plums
This superfood keeps your body strong and functional. It helps you protect yourself from cancer by fighting free radicals, whose evolution leads to the formation of a malignant tumor. Plums also keep your heart safe by decreasing blood pressure and regulating cholesterol. A wide array of vitamins strengthens the immune systems, adding to its efficiency against colds, infections and unfriendly bacteria. Dried plums encourage bone building, through the supply of calcium and magnesium that feed and protect bone’s structure, reducing the risk of such skeletal diseases like osteoporosis and osteopenia. [5]
Dried plums can be added to your breakfast granola. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Chia Seeds
Your body and mind are going to benefit a lot from consuming this nutrient-rich superfood. Chia seeds are called “runners’ food” due to their capability of boosting energy levels and increasing endurance. As a big source of proteins, chia seeds empower muscle growth and encourage weight loss. Also, they contain a lot of vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids that have a strong and positive impact on human’s health. One of them is omega-3 acid, which bans the development of cervical and breast cancer cells. Moreover, this compound improves brain performance by stimulating neurotransmitter functions. It tackles depression and regulates mood swings, by assisting the production of the happiness hormone, serotonin. [6] [7]
