Superfood

A superfood is nothing more than a nutrient-dense food. No magic, no bells and whistles. Simple.

"Superfoods" have gotten a lot of press this last year. From talk shows to magazines, it's the "latest" thing everyone is talking about it the food world. Until a year ago, most of the American population had never heard of chia seeds or goji berries, but now they are must-haves and their cost has skyrocketed! Not all superfoods come from secret plants scattered across the deep recesses of the Earth, though...

Today I want to share with you about some of the "superfoods" you may already have laying around the house or are easily available at your local grocery store.

#1: Hot peppers
Hot peppers come in all varieties. From banana peppers, to jalapenos, to habeneros, peppers contain the important ingredient, capsaicin. Capsaicin can reduce inflammation in the body (this may confuse your tongue, but not your brain!) as well as boost your metabolism. They are high in vitamins A and C which can also help boost your immune system! As always, the fresher the better! If you don't like spicy food, feel free to lean towards more mild varieties such as poblanos, banana peppers, and bell peppers.

#2: Salmon
First and foremost, always know where your seafood comes from. You want wild caught fish, not farm raised fish. Farm raised fish will be lighter in color and often higher in fat. If you put two pieces of salmon side by side, the natural fish will be more orange-red and less orange-pink, and the white bands (fat) will be thinner in the fish which was caught in its natural environment. Salmon is high in over a dozen vitamins and minerals and is a great source of protein. It is high in Omega 3's which has been known to be beneficial in the fight against heart disease and depression.

**IMPORTANT** You want to look for ALASKAN salmon. Alaskan salmon is wild-caught. Atlantic salmon is just a spiffy way of saying "farm raised". Go Alaskan. It's worth it.

#3: Cinnamon
This is one of my favorite superfoods because it can be found in almost every kitchen and can be put in so many things! Add a dash to your coffee or morning protein shake. Add it to your paleo desserts or just sprinkle it on slices of apples, pears, peaches, ect. for a snack! It can be sweet or savory (think butternut or acorn squash). Cinnamon may help lower your cholesterol and help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.

Talk to your doctor before increasing your daily intake of this food if you are on blood thinners as it has been known to prevent clotting with long-term use.

There are many varieties of cinnamon world-wide, so if you come across different kinds, try them out!

#4 Seaweed
Did you know that seaweed contains 10 times as much calcium as milk? Seaweed is high in chlorophyll which is good at drawing waste products out of the blood stream. It can help maintain a healthy metabolism and contains all eight essential amino acids (protein building blocks). Enjoy seaweed by wrapping your favorite fish or vegetables in nori, or add bits of nori to broth or soup. Sometimes, I just eat it right out of the package!

#5 Red Grapes
The skin of red grapes are full of the antioxidant resveratrol which can fight inflammation and doctors are currently doing studies to see how resveratrol can help prevent cancer. They contain B and C vitamins and can decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease. Next time your servant who is fanning you under your royal canopy offers to peel your grapes, just tell them you'd prefer the peel to be left on.