Sam's Superfoods.

[Ripped Barbarian]

Ok, thought i'd start a thread to lump together foods that are increadibly good for health/wellbeing.
There are thousands that are reputed or studied to have very positive effects.
When trying to include them in your diet you often have to do many hours of research to collect their names and their uses, it can be frustrating trying remember what to look out for.
The goal of this thread is for people to compile as many as possible, hopefully giving everyone ideas, much easier than spending hours trauling through the net and books like i do.
For each food give its common name, where to get it and why its so good!

I'll start off with a couple.

Goji berries
Also known as wolfberries, red rugby ball shaped berries from tibet, very high in minerals, vitamin c, beta carotene.
High in polysaccharides, one of which is a powerful secretagogue, stimulating the pituitary gland to release HGH.
There is a documented case of extreme longevity of a man called Li Qing Yuen, who apparently lived for 252 years and consumed goji berries daily. (take that with a pinch of salt obviously)
Can be bought dried from health shops and tesco do them in the wholefood section!

Garlic
Contains a very powerful natural antibiotic upon crushing of fresh clove, allicin great for beating infections.
Great source of sulphur.
Shown to reduce cholesterol
Assists testosterone production and suppresses cortisol production.
Can be bought anywhere, in my experience organic white skin stuff is the most potent.

Oh and try to keep a superfood addition in each post as a rule, don't start massive discussions or comment on the thread, try and keep it going as a list, it will get messy otherwise

MP SAYS: Yes please keep this thread "free" of chat and keep it as a useful resource only. Any "chat" will be removed.

[nirish_mark20]

Spirulina

good protein content, high levels of almost all vitamins (with vit A as beta-carotene) and minerals, contains Gamma-linoleic adic (GLA) and other EFA's.

Spirulina is effective for the clinical improvement of melanosis and keratosis due to chronic arsenic poisoning; improves weight-gain and corrects anemia in both HIV-infected and HIV-negative undernourished children; and protects against hay fever. (taken from wikipedia)

[alexl]

Flax Seeds

These seeds and their oil are the richest source of Omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. They’re heart protective, control cholesterol levels, help prevent some forms of cancer and improve brain function. The seeds are a powerhouse of other nutrients including vitamin E, manganese and plant fibre. They can help in the prevention of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, asthma and other allergies.

Onions

Onions protect the circulatory system and are a powerful antibiotic. They’re good for chest, stomach and urinary infections, and their diuretic activity helps with arthritis, rheumatism and gout. A recent study in Newcastle gave a traditional fry-up breakfast to volunteers, but half of them got fried onions too; the onion eaters’ blood was much less likely to clot than the others - research in America shows that half a raw onion a day raises the amount of good fats in the blood by 30%.

[Ripped Barbarian]

Broccoli
Contains indoles, which act as antiestrogens (for harmful estrogens) and potentially boosting testosterone levels.
Sulforaphane, which helps the body fight cancer.
High in calcium, iron and magnesium.
Can be bought in any supermarkets, most effective when eaten raw however digestion of raw broccoli may be a problem in some people, steaming is the best way to cook it.

Sea vegetables (sea weed)
Similar properties to spirinula, high in protein (up to 50%) and contains all minerals needed for human health.
Vitamin b12, great for vegans.
High levels of chlorophyll, very healthful.
Cleansing/detox effect on our bodies removing radiactive elements such as strontium and heavy metals such as mercury (great if you eat lots of tuna)
Pretty hard to find, some larger supermarkets may do it dried, some chinese and japanese supermarkets will sell it, other than that you can buy it online.

Pine nuts
High antioxidant level (potent pycnogenol)
Highest protein of any nut (31%)
High in fibre
'heart healthy' oils, such as are found in walnuts
Can be fairly expensive (£5/300g) can be found in the cooking/wholefood section of practically all supermarkets.

[alexl]

Carrots

Super-rich in betacarotene - one supplies enough for a day; anti-cancer, especially of the bowel; pureed for infant diarrhoea; juiced for liver problems; also contains vitamins C and E for circulatory disease, for chest infections, skin and eye problems. Eat at least two or three times a week lightly cooked.

Oatmeal

Supplies protein, polyunsaturated fats, B vitamins, calcium, potassium, magnesium, silicon and vitamin E. Oats are easily digested and soothing to the digestive tract. They help depression and reduce cholesterol - a daily bowl can lower levels by 20%. They also help regulate sugar metabolism so they’re good for diabetics and oat fibre keeps the bowels regular.

[Wotan]

Cheese

Not messy so can be eaten with hands, very portable, no washing up etc. Silent to eat [no crunching]. Leaves mouth feeling clean afterwards [used by wine-tasters to "cleanse the palate"]. Keeps teeth healthy [kills off bad bacteria]. Can be eaten cooked or raw. Wide range of tastes available, so suitable for all palates. Goes well with a wide range of other foods [animal and vegetable]. Easily stored and keeps well [especially in fridge wrapped in clingfilm, tupperware etc]. High in minerals, high in protein [complete spectrum] high in fats [good for energy] very low in carbohydrates [no sugar slump half an hour later].
Basically, the ultimate nutritional "good guy" convenience food. Available everywhere!

[hailtotheking]

walnuts
Highest omega 3 content of any nut. Statistically shown to reduce general mortality rate

Brazil nuts
Has amongst the highest selenium content of any food. Selenium is a key antioxidant and cancer-fighter.

Tomatos
Main source of lycopene, a phtyocompound shown to be extremely effective in reducing chances of prostate, and other, cancers

Tenderstem
A cross-breed between kale and broccoli, producing the highest antioxidant, indole, and sulforaphane of all cruciferous vegetables, as well as high levels of non-heme iron, magnesium, and calcium.

[Ripped Barbarian]

Acai berry
Very high level of anthocyanins, the dark colour of the berry is a very potent antioxidant, stronger than the blueberry and 10x that of grapes.
Apparent aphrodisiac effects.
Available dried in a few healthshops or can be found in certain smoothies (that tend to be about £3 a litre!) hopefully will become more available as plenty are grown in brazil etc.

Honey
Varies greatly in its properties due to differing nectar sources but can have the following properties.
High in antioxidants, the darker the more so.
Antibacterial effect, forms hydrogen peroxide slowly which kills bugs, manuka honey is potently antibacterial and has many health benefits.
Great alternative to sugar, which it nutritionally void, generally tastes sweeter so you can use less.
Good source of medium/high GI carbs if needed.
Can be got from any supermarket

Royal jelly
The food the queen bee soley lives on
B-complex vitamins, including a high concentration of pantothenic acid and vitamin B6, acetylcholine, minerals, enzymes, hormones, eighteen amino acids, antibacterial and antibiotic components, and vitamins A, C, D and E.
Can be got in health stores and somtimes mixed in honey in supermarkets, usually very expensive.

Ginger
Antibacterial effects.
Stomach calming effect (great for nausea travel sickness etc)
Antioxidants
Reduces cramps
Blood thining and cholesterol lowering properties
Very very cheap, can be got at any supermarket.

[alexl]

Sweet Potato

The sweet potato is an excellent source of vitamin A (beta-carotene) and vitamin C, two very powerful antioxidants that eliminate free radicals in the body. It's the richest low-fat source of vitamin E and can help regulate high blood pressure and anemia. It protects against inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. The sweet potato is a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron.

[Tom]

Peanut Butter!

Research has shown that increased fat intake pre-exercise can stimulate the release of fatty acids. It is also known that an acute negative energy balance induced by exercise elicits a hormonal response that indicates a significant increase in ghrelin and decrease in leptin concentration. This hormonal responce is modulated by preceding exercise with an intake of poly and mono unsaturated fat.
Whats more if u get the wholeearth, reduced sodium stuff its packed with good fats, protein, fibre, manganese, magnesium, phytosterols, folate, zinc and selenium.

my fat burning baby