What exactly is a superfood you ask? A superfood is any food that has “super” nutrient powerhouse qualities, such as antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. There isn’t an official list of superfoods, however, there are many long lists out there, so finding a handful of superfoods to include in your diet should be quite simple! Here a few of my favorite superfoods that I try to eat on a daily basis:

Lemons

Lemon are best known for their detoxifying and alkalizing properties. They are acidic to begin with, but they are alkaline-forming in the body, which helps to balance the body’s pH level. One of my favorite ways to incorporates lemons into my diet is drinking a hot cup of lemon water every morning before I have breakfast or drink my coffee. I also use fresh lemon juice in my Radiant Green Smoothie! Lemons also increase peristalsis in the bowels, helping to create a bowel movement and eliminating waste, first thing in the morning.

Avocados

Avocados need to become a staple in your diet asap! Not only are they absolutely delicious, but they are one of the healthiest sources of plant based fat. In fact, 77% of the calories in an avocado are from fat. Don’t let that scare you off though, because we’re talking about the good fat here. The majority of the fat is Oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat that plays a vital role in heart health. I personally consume one whole avocado per day. I typically make a gluten free brown rice wrap mid-morning with half an avocado and greens, then top my salad at lunch with the other half. Another great way to incorporate this superfood into your diet is to add it to a smoothie. Not to mention, it gives the smoothie a decadent, creamy texture! Need some more recipe ideas? Check out my Smashed White Bean and Avocado Open-Face Sandwich and 5 Minute Avocado Toast.

Kale

Kale is truly a nutritional powerhouse, even being labeled as one of the world’s healthiest foods. Per calorie, kale contains more iron than beef. Iron is essential for the formation of hemoglobin and enzymes, transporting oxygen to various parts of the body, cell growth, and proper liver function. Kale is also high in Vitamin K, which can protect against certain cancers. In addition, the rich amount of antioxidants, such as carotenoids and flavonoids help protect against various cancers as well. I always have a kale salad for lunch (typically a version of the Goddess Buddha Bowl) and a big bowl of kale with my dinner to help with better digestion of heavier foods.

Blueberries

Blueberries not only look beautiful, but they make YOU look beautiful. These tiny purple berries are known to help maintain young, glowing skin due to their high amount of antioxidants. The main antioxidant compounds in blueberries are known as flavonoids. Try eating these for breakfast on top of steel cut oats, almond milk yogurt, in fruit salad or in Fluffy Banana Oat Blueberry Pancakes.

Grapefruit

Grapefruits are a delicious tart, sweet fruits that are a wonderful source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for the prevention of free-radical damage and cardiovascular health. The bright pink and red colors of the flesh is due to lycopene. Lycopene has the highest capacity to help fight oxygen free radicals, which protect us against cancer. I love having a grapefruit with my breakfast or as a mid-morning snack. If you prefer it a little sweeter, try sprinkling a little Truvia on top!

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