Everyday superfoods

Every few months, it seems, there's hype about the latest, hottest superfood. While the Thrive team love our gogi berries and cacao nibs - you don't need to only include the more costly superfoods to achieve maximum health!

We are strong believers in celebrating the more everyday superfoods, these are extremely affordable and nutrient-dense, and we bet you already have many of them in your kitchen!

1. BROCCOLI

Consider broccoli your number one cancer fighter, thanks to its sulfur compounds, such as sulforaphane, which you can smell as broccoli cooks. These compounds signal our genes to boost production of enzymes that detoxify potentially cancer-causing compounds. Eat more broccoli and you could slash your risk of everything from breast and lung cancer to stomach and colon cancer.

2. GARLIC

Garlic has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Most of its disease-fighting potential comes from its sulfur compounds, which act as antioxidants, providing many of its cardiovascular benefits. Just six or more cloves of garlic a week can slash your risk of colorectal, stomach and prostate cancer in half compared to eating one clove a week or less.

3. OATS

It's tough to find a better way to start the day than with a bowl of filling, cholesterol-reducing oats. They're also rich in thiamin, magnesium, phosphorous & manganese. 

4. FLAXSEEDS 

A tablespoon of ground flaxseed sprinkled into your smoothies, or over your breakfast oats provides an easy 2.3 grams of fibre. But flaxseed is most revered for its lingans. These act like estrogen in the body, blocking estrogen receptors on cells and contributing to reduced rates of certain hormone-related cancers, such as breast cancer. Their anti-inflammatory power may also help keep conditions from acne to asthma at bay.

5. CINNAMON

Cinnamon is one of the most powerful healing spices. It’s become most famous for its ability to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Cinnamon can help prevent blood clots and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. 

6. TUMERIC

Another spice that probably already in your spice drawer is turmeric. It comes from ancient Chinese & Indian systems of medicine and is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It helps relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritic, cystic fibrosis, and inflammatory bowel disease, and inhibits cancer cell growth. Sprinkle this spice on chicken or put a little bit in a smoothie to get your inexpensive, daily dose.

7. BEETROOT

The reddish-pink hue in beets comes from disease-fighting antioxidants called anthocyanins. They also contain vitamin C and protect against cataracts. They lower your blood pressure and help with detoxification support by helping to purify the blood and liver.

8. FREE-RANGE EGGS

They are a complete source of protein, containing all essential amino acids. They also are super rich in Choline which plays a huge role not only in pregnancy, not in many biological processes in our bodies, including DNA repair and methylation.

9. CABBAGE

It's an often-overlooked green, but cabbage is more nutritious than you might know. Not only is it a good source of vitamin C, fiber & potassium, it also boasts some of the same disease-fighting powers of other veggies in the same cruciferous family, like broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

10. SARDINES 

Bursting with omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for optimal health, sardines are also rich in vitamins B12 and D, fundamental nutrients that support heart and brain function.

If you snap up your sardines in canned form, you'll find that they're about half the price of tinned tuna and the most affordable oily fish in the supermarket. Aim to eat at least one portion of oily fish a week if you want to reap the benefits.