My top 10 Superfoods for Summer!!!

Health is important, and with summer here, our health often takes a backseat to all the late nights, smoking, drinking and delicious food! It is inevitable, but there are some foods we can take to counteract the damaging effects of summer partying and some we can even snack on during the day for a nice little health boost!

1. Aloe Vera
Aloe is indigenous to the Cape and is full of vitamins, minerals and is antiseptic both internally and externally. It is very good for detox and is beneficial for the liver and kidneys. You can buy it in health stores but Aloe is best eaten super fresh squeezed straight out of the leaf and straight into your banana, pineapple, strawberry and blueberry smoothie!

2. Goji Berries
Goji berries are an ancient Chinese anti-oxidant rich super food, that boost immunity and slow the ageing process. They are a low in sugar dried fruit and thus will not spike insulin(spiking insulin levels is not good). They are high in Omegas, the essential amino acids and contain all 21 of the essential trace minerals. Eat them by themselves or mix with nuts and seeds for a healthy trail mix.

3. The grasses
Cereal grasses are seriously nutritious and are cleansing and detoxifying and contain very high amounts of vitamins and minerals. They are also very high in chlorophyll(the green colour) which our bodies love with a passion! Wheat, barley, alfalfa or oat grasses are available powdered in which case you stir them into something, available in tablets in which case you swallow them or just go to Kauai and have a wheatgrass shot!

4. Spirulina (algae)
Spirulina is chlorophyll rich(what our bodies love with a passion!), anti-oxidant and amino acid rich. Algae was the very 1st form of life and thus its not surprising its so healthy. Mix your spirulina powder into your smoothie in the morning or take it pill form.

5. Maca
Maca is an ancient Peruvian superfood. If you have seen the movie Apocalypto and you are wondering how those Mayans and Incans could just run up mountains forever, well it was thanks to Maca! In all seriousness, they would chew on the root of the Maca plant and it would give them incredible stamina. Maca is high in minerals, amino acids and fatty acids but also acts as an adaptogenic, making you less susceptible to stress and depression. It has also been used in people with infertlity or libido issues with great success. Maca is best taken mixed into a smoothie.

6. Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is one of nature's miracle health foods. If you were stranded on a desert island it is said you could just live on bee pollen and water. It was revered by the ancient Greeks and Egyptians and is now considered "the fountain of youth" and the most complete food found in nature. It is generally quite expensive, but if you want to jump in that fountain of youth get down to your nearest health store!

7. Hemp seed protein powder
Hemp seed protein powder is the finely milled hemp seed once the oil content has been removed. Hemp is especially useful to vegans as hemp is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids. It builds muscle and boosts energy. And I know what some of you are thinking, but unfortuantely Hemp seed protein powder does not contain THC, so it will not get you high! Hemp seed protein powder has a nutty taste and is delicious mixed into a paste with olive oil, garlic, chick peas, tahini and salt...yummy!

8. Sea Vegetables
Sea veggies are the last remnince of the original food...brought to us by the sea, they are the highest source of minerals, are packed with glyco nutrients and they have an alkalizing effect on the body. Dulce, Nori and Kelp are their most common forms...Nori is what they wrap your sushi in, so eat your Nori!

9. Raw Cacao (the cacao nut)
The raw cacao nut is the food with the highest amount of antioxidants, 3 times the amount of goji berries and 10 times amount of blue berries. It is very high in magnesium and is a natural appetite suppressant and anti-depressant. The bean in its raw state is a superfood, its only when the bean is roasted and denatured, and when sugar, trans fats and dairy are added does the superfood become chocolate the 'stupid food'. Raw cacao beans actually have a great taste(not sweet though) and are best eaten like that. A good quality raw cacao powder with nothing added is also very healthy and can be added to smoothies for a delicious chocolately taste. I do approve of Lindt chocolate body paint though... ;)

10. Sprouts
And the best superfood of them all in my opinion...yes the humble sprout. Mung bean, onion, chickpea, lentil, alfalfa etc, all legumes and grains can be sprouted and when they are sprouted they become the ultimate superfood. High in protein, minerals and vitamins, they are also very high in live enzymes, makes sense considering they are essentially alive! Our bodies are mainly water and water is the medium in which all bodily processes take place. But the body also needs enzymes(the catalysts) for these processes to take place. Sprouts provide these enzymes/catalysts in massive amounts. When a fat molecule cannot be processed properly, what happens? It is stored as fat. So if you want to lose weight drink a lot more water and eat a lot more enzyme live foods such as sprouts. Sprinkle them on salads, add them to stir fries(but just briefly heat) or eat them just is!!!