Herbal "Super" Foods for Holistic Wellness

Mankind may be in search of the fountain of youth, the holy grail, the elusive trove of treasures; and superfoods bring on the next quest. Welcome to holistic wellness through the power of herbal superfoods. In today's age of health - conscious individuals, the term "superfood" has gained significant popularity. But what exactly defines or characterizes a superfood, and how can these nutrient - packed ingredients contribute to our overall wellBEing?

Understanding the Concept of Superfoods

It is important to debunk the common misconception that superfoods are a one - size - fits - all solution to optimal health. In reality, the concept of superfoods is relative - what may work wonders for one individual may not have the same effect on another. Instead of falling prey to marketing terms, we should acknowledge that every food possesses unique health benefits.

Plants are Healing Foods! Healing Foods are Superfoods!

For instance, did you know that a humble red bell pepper contains a whopping 3x more vitamin C than an orange? This simple comparison highlights the diverse nutrient profiles of everyday foods and emphasizes the importance of tailoring our dietary choices to meet our specific nutritional needs.

Personalized Nutrition: A Conscious Living Paradigm

Throughout the lifestyle of holistic wellness, it is crucial to understand our personal nutritional requirements. By adopting a conscious living ethos, we can make informed decisions about the foods we consume and the impact they have on our physical and mental wellBEing.

By incorporating a variety of plant foods that align with your individual needs, you can create a well - rounded diet that supports optimal health from the inside out. As an option, take a deep dive with our Raw Vegan Health Coaching. We consider factors such as age, activity level, existing medical conditions, and personal health goals. Health Coaches provide the best insight to creating a healthy lifestyle including ingredient recommendations, meal planning, recipes and more.

Exploring the Power of Plant Foods

Image-Source. (n.d.). Overhead view of halved red fruit and vegetables on dark background. Envato. Retrieved 2024,.

When it comes to plants, Phytochemistry is key. This is where every constituent plays a role. As much as we know about foods and how they affect physiology, most plant constituents and their actions are unknown. We do not even have names for these constituents, including vitamins. Science is a long way from understanding. But, what we do know is whole plants work as food and as medicine, period.

Antioxidant Paragons

Whenever I look at a freshly opened pomegranate, my eyes are met with an amazement of rich colour. That colour is red - the most riveting colour created by plants. Antioxidants exist in different colours. Remember, every plant has an affinity toward specific tissues / organs of the body. While some foods are identified as high in antioxidants, it is more important to understand chasing the antioxidant does not produce a high quality food. Still, when I consume a high antioxidant food, I am in deep gratitude. From a holistic point of view, all constituents are invaluable which is why we are adamant about maximizing the benefits of whole foods - because these constituents form functional teams full of precious goodies for physiology and anatomy.

Some "Super" Foods To Consider

Turmeric (Circuma longa): The Golden Spice

Renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is a potent superfood that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and well known in Auyervedic Medicine and recipes. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, offers a myriad of health benefits, including improved digestion, enhanced immunity, promoting sleep and reduced inflammation. Incorporating turmeric into your daily diet can help support overall wellBEing and vitality.

Add to curries, veggie soups, moon mylk, tea, raw energy balls

Blueberry (Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus): Strength for Kidneys and Brain

Blueberries are a tasty fruit known for their mild sweetness and high antioxidant content. They protect blood vessels and connective tissues. Bluberries help neutralize unfriendly gut bacterium, strengthen capillaries that help prevent eye lens damage. The benefits of blueberries should encourage anyone interested in longevity and great health to make these a dietary staple.

Blueberries are great as Raw Preserves, Smoothies, Fresh Juices, Sorbetto, Pie, Fresh Fruit, Nice Cream

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica):

A great herb for the urinary tract, it's antiinflammatory, astringent, fights fatigue, helps with hemorrhoids, relieves upper body eczema, cleanses the kidneys, an expectorant, nutritive, and hemostatic. It's overall a great tonic.

Use in Tea, Smoothies, Powdered and added to Raw Sauces, Pesto, Freeze Tea as Ice Cubes

Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon):

These berries are special in their ability to counter urinary tract infection (UTI). It's rich in flavanoid, antiinflammatory and astringent. Cranberries are anticancer, antiinflammatory, help regulate blood pressure, LDL oxidation and more.

Cranberries are great in Smoothies, Nice Creams, Fresh Juices, Salads, Raw Preserves

Raw Chocolate (Theobroma cacao):

Chocolate is one of the most desired foods of all! To preserve the nutrients and maintain lower acidity, the best format for chocolate is Raw. If you are already into raw foods, you are familiar with it usually being referred to as "cacao". It is antioxidant, helps relieve depression, anticapillary fragility, good for the skin, and offers many minerals including fiber, iron, magnesium, zinc and others.

Choose raw dark chocolate. The percentage referenced for dark chocolate identifies how much of the product is made from the cacao bean. The higher the percentage, the lower the sweetness (more bitter). We recommend aiming for 60-75% dark chocolate. Ideally, 70% is great for both taste and benefits. Cacao should be the first ingredient listed. Also, the shorter the ingredients list, the better. Aim for chocolate products that avoid lecithins, excess sugar, hydrogenated oils, trans - fats, milk, and alkali (dutch) processing.

There are so many ways to enjoy chocolate: Smoothies, Raw Mousse, Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies, Raw Chocolate Crépes, Raw Dark Chocolate Bar, Nice Cream, Raw Cacao Frosting, Raw Cacao Sauce/Syrup

Papaya (Carica papaya):

I love papaya. It is a digestive superpower. Papaya enhances immunity, lowers triglycerides, helps with weight management, cleanses kidneys, liver and intestines, and breaks down excess blood fibrin (protecting against heart attack).

Papaya is best eaten alone on an empty stomach. Enjoy it fresh cut, or juiced.

Chamomile, German (Matricaria chamomila):

This herb is a medicinal must have. The assistance chamomile offers includes being calmative, a nervine, helping with minor digestive concerns, relief of pain and antioxidant benefits. It's also very useful for dysmenorrhea (painful periods).

Use as a tea, add to Pesto, and blend into sauces

Crafting a Super Food Absorption Routine

Incorporating raw fruits, vegetables and herbs into your daily regimen is just one aspect of a holistic approach to wellBEing. To help maximize nutritional impact (absorption), consider the following practices:

• Cleanse and detoxify your gut : If you haven't done a deep tissue detox or a major cleanse in a while, or ever, you are likely to experience absorption issues, causing you to eliminate nutrients your body can use. Talk to a Regenerative Detoxification Specialist or Clinical Herbalist about a healthy detox regimen.

• Eat Raw Foods : Eating a majority of raw foods improves energy levels and protects nutrients. Raw foods maximize enzymes, vitamins and mineral intake. Various cooking methods do not completely destroy nutrients, but based on the heating process, molecular bonds can be changed making the food unrecognizable by the body resulting in less digestible food and can produce toxic by - products from the cooked food. You determine your health goals, talk with a Clinical Herbalist and create the best meal plan for you.

• Mindful Eating : Pay attention to the quality of the food you consume and savor each bite mindfully

• Regular Exercise : Stay active to support physical health and mental clarity; physical movement helps blood and waste circulation

• Stress Management : Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing to reduce stress levels; lower stress levels promote healthy digestion

• Adequate Sleep : Prioritize restful sleep to allow your body to recharge and rejuvenate; While you are asleep, your body enters an automatic and timely phase of healing and regeneration, utilizing the nutritious resources it has access to for the process.

By embracing these holistic lifestyle habits in conjunction with a nutrient - dense diet rich in plant foods, you can cultivate a state of balance and vitality that radiates from within.

Whether you're exploring the golden benefits of turmeric or harnessing the vitamin C power of amla, remember that plant foods are not just a trend – they are a cornerstone of a holistic lifestyle rooted in conscious living. More than this, thanks to plants, "super" foods are all around us!

When you see food the way I do, all plant food is truly beneficial!

Remember, it's not about a single superfood, but the synergy of nutrition and lifestyle choices that leads to holistic wellness. When you consume a variety of high quality, whole food everyday, there is no such thing as a superfood.

---

Endnotes

GANORA, L. (2021). Herbal Constituents, 2nd edition: Foundations of Phytochemistry. LULU COM

Meyerowitz, S. (2010). Power juices, super drinks: Quick, delicious recipes to prevent & reverse disease. Kensington

Tierra, M. (1999). Planetary herbology: An integration of western herbs into the traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic Systems (D. Frawley, Ed; C. Hobbs, Contrib). Lotus Press

Gordon, J. (n.d.). What Do Cocoa Percentages in Chocolate Mean?. Thrive Market.;https://thrivemarket.com/blog/what-do-cocoa-percentages-in-chocolate-mean

Duke, J. A. (2008). The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods: Proven natural remedies to treat and prevent more than 80 common health concerns. Rodale.

---

Tyra Ware, CHHP CIr CH AT RYT

A Clinical Herbalist who's passionate about Medical Herbalism and Aromatherapy for health care. She partners with her fiancé at bZengi offering healing arts services to clientele worldwide.  She enjoys yoga, listening to music, reading, mystery and action films, learning languages and developing culinary creations and spending time with her fiancé.  You can learn more about her work at www.bzengi.net.