Neal’s Yard is making a fantastic effort to promote our inner health. Not only is their skincare organic and ethical, so that we are careful about what we apply to our skin, but they are empowering us in our knowledge about how we can boost out well-being from the inside. Last year saw the launch of their Organic Coconut Oil – the uses are endless. Not just for skin, hair and oil pulling, but for cooking and popping into smoothies.
Here some articles about its health benefits
http://www.nyrnaturalnews.com/diet-2/2015/02/coconut-oil-exercise-combo-lowers-blood-pressure/
Here is a smoothie recipe too http://www.nyrnaturalnews.com/article/super-c-boost-smoothie/
The main Neals Yard website lists the wide array of superfood supplements that are available to buy in the shops and on-line http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/remedies/herbal-remedies/superfoods-and-antioxidants/
Another family essential is the Superfood Omega 3.6.9. Blend. We pop this into smoothies, add it to the salad dressing, or stir it into our soup. Essential fatty acids are needed for healthy skin, hair and nails and help cell membranes stay strong. It contains plant based sources such as pure organic linseed, avocado, evening primrose and pumpkin seed oil. It is 100% organic and raw, coldpressed, no preservative, no additives, gluten and lactose free, vegan, no GM ingredients and is suitable for all the family.
Product link
Organic Greens Complex
Helps detoxify and boost wellbeing and vitality
This easy to use organic blend of essential nutrients, vitamins and trace elements is supercharged with goodness to support the gut, brain and building of muscles.
Enjoy sprinkled over food, as a tasty smoothie, a nutritious juice booster, or even as a shot.
Carefully blended to provide a natural source of soluble fibre and non-animal protein, Organic Greens Complex is ideal for vegetarians and vegans. With acerola fruit powder extract, rich in vitamin C, to support the immune system and normal collagen function of the skin.
Benefits:
- Spirulina Powder – Antioxidant and promotes vitality
- Spinach Powder – Rich in chlorophyll to help maintain a healthy alkaline balance
- Parsley Powder – Supports healthy function of the kidneys
- Chlorella Powder – Purifying and supports immunity
- Seagreens® Wild Wrack – Helps support healthy digestion
- Barley Grass Powder, Wheat Grass Powder – Raw food source of essential nutrients
- Green Tea Powder Extract – Promotes breakdown of fats
- Acerola Cherry Powder Extract – Excellent source of vitamin C
- Oat Grass Powder – Beneficially promotes the body’s detoxification processes
How to Use:
To make a delicious, nutritious juice booster, add fruit and water to a blender, add 5g (1 teaspoon) of Organic Greens Complex powder, drink immediately and enjoy. Or, sprinkle our versatile Organic Greens Complex powder on salads or hot foods, add to smoothies or other drinks, or mix with water and serve as a SuperFood shot! Do not exceed the recommended daily dosage. Not to be used as a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle. Keep tightly closed in a cool, dark place and out of reach of children and pets. Do not use if seal is broken. Not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, unless advised by a healthcare practitioner.
Ingredients:
Spirulina Powder*, Spinach Powder*, Parsley Powder*, Chlorella Powder*, Seagreens® Ascophyllum nodosum*, Barley Grass Powder*, Wheat Grass Powder*, Green Tea Powder Extract*, Acerola Cherry Powder Extract (on Manioc Maltodextrin)*, Oat Grass Powder*. *Organically produced ingredient. Made with minimum 95% organic ingredients. This is a vegan product.
Contains: Wheat, Barley and Oat.
Product Link
Ashwaganda Powder
Withania somnifera
An Ayurvedic herb which is said to give you the strength and vigour of a horse. A very good nerve tonic – feeds nervous system without being stimulating. Good when convalescing or feeling run down.Try adding it to home-made energy snacks, breakfast smoothies or healthy hot cocoa.
Product link
www.nealsyardremedies.com/files/nyr/superfood-recipes/super-restore-and-recharge-v2.pdf
www.nealsyardremedies.com/files/nyr/superfood-recipes/super-hot-nights-cocoa-v2.pdf
Chia Seeds
Salvia hispanica
Chia means ‘strength’ in the Mayan language. Aztecs cultivated chia seeds 4,000 years ago to give them greater endurance and wellbeing. They can help as part of a weight loss program as they swell up and make you feel fuller quicker, for longer. They also help to improve digestion and may help with issues of constipation (also look at Psyllium husks). They can also be used to make jams, added to water, mixed with melted chocolate to give it some crunch, or used to make a delicious pudding. When added to liquid, they create a gel-like substance.
The Wellness Mama website says the following: “They are currently being used for their nutritional and medicinal properties, endurance for athletes, for suppressing the appetite, weight loss, levelling blood sugar, and for aiding intestinal regularity. Chia seeds readily dissolve into the water, creating a substance that looks like gelatin. This gel-forming action is due to the soluble fibre in the Chia seed. Researchers believe that this same gel-forming phenomenon takes place in the stomach when Chia seed is consumed, thus creating a physical barrier between carbohydrates and digestive enzymes and slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar. Slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar helps with endurance and metabolic rates, which is beneficial for athletes and others”.(wellnessmama.com/4981/uses-for-chia-seeds).
Chia Seed Jam
http://ohmyveggies.com/how-to-make-chia-seed-jam/
Chia Seed Pudding
www.secretsquirrelfood.com/simple-chia-pudding
Ingredients:
3 tbsp chia seeds
1 cup milk of choice (soy, almond, coconut milk etc)
1 tsp sweetener of choice (raw agave syrup, maple syrup, honey)
¼ tsp vanilla bean paste
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
2. Place in the fridge to soak overnight.
3. In the morning, stir the chia pudding until you get a smooth, creamy consistency.
4. That was so EASY! Now that you’ve created a chia pudding, start layering with your favourite fruits and be creative!
Product Link
http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/remedies/herbal-remedies/superfoods-and-antioxidants/3384.html
Goji Berries
Lycium barbarum
Part of the nightshade family (Solonaceae), which contains many other common vegetables such as potato, tomato, eggplant, and pepper, as well as some poisonous plants like Belladonna (deadly nightshade – a fantastic homeopathic remedy for fevers!). Native to the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet and Mongolia. I have added these to smoothies, superfood chocolate and added them to teas – they are packed full of antioxidants.
Product Link
Beautiful skin tea
Mulberries
Morus spp
Mulberries are packed full of essential fatty acids and antioxidants, and are rich in vitamins and minerals. They taste very sweet, almost a little like caramel. They can be eaten as a snack or added to smoothies, sprinkled on yoghurt, added to muesli or added to superfood chocolate (recipe link below).
Product link
http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/remedies/herbal-remedies/superfoods-and-antioxidants/3381.html
http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/files/nyr/superfood-recipes/super-energy-snack-v2.pdf
Baobab
Adansonia digitata
The African ‘upside down’ tree, also referred to as the ‘Tree of Life’, is said to contain as much calcium as a glass of milk and six times more vitamin C than an orange.
Product link
http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/remedies/herbal-remedies/superfoods-and-antioxidants/3383.html
Baobab Lemonade
Easy and quick to make, it gives you a shot of Vitamin C.
Mood-boosting Smoothie
Mix ingredients in a blender – you could use a different milk if you prefer.
1 handful of oats (high in B vitamins for energy and mood)
4 dessertspoons of hemp powder (packed full of essential minerals)
1 heaped teaspoon of coconut oil (mind and energy boost)
1 teaspoon maca powder (stress support and energy boost)
1 teaspoon rhodiola powder (mood boosting & anti-stress)
4 teaspoons Raw cacao powder (good for the brain and focus plus enhances serotonin levels)
1 banana (great for energy)
2 teaspoons of baobab (rich in vitamin C)
1 pint oat milk (for energy and mood)
100 ml coconut milk (full of good fats)
(http://www.mydaily.co.uk/2015/01/02/healthy-recipes-mood-boosting-smoothie)
Bee Pollen
Caution: Bee Pollen supplements should be avoided by those allergic to bee stings, honey & bee products. Always test for allergy by ingesting one pellet first.
http://www.mercola.com/article/diet/bee_pollen.htm
These little golden nuggets can be added to smoothies or sprinkled on yoghurt.
Product link
http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/remedies/herbal-remedies/superfoods-and-antioxidants/3385.html
This Healing Foods Book is an invaluable source of recipes and explains in detail what each ingredient is good for in regard to health benefits.
A personal favourite is this little gem, a snip at £3.50 and packed full of superfood recipes.
http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/remedies/supplements/9332.html#start=20
Here is the link to an article all about Superfoods and the fabulous Tipper Lewis, Head of Training at NYR, and author of the Little Book of Superfoods above