A “superfood” is a food that contains significant amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber and other beneficial nutrients. Although “superfood” now is a buzzword, it implies any food that has been touted for years as a means to detox from junk food or other foods that contain non-beneficial additives.
When you look for products contained in the list below of the 50 proven superfoods, be sure to research their properties carefully, especially if you currently take medications. And, as with anything, moderation is key. Organic choices, also, are best in most cases, which does affect your wallet’s bottom line. Check this Consumer Reports list to learn when buying organic pays (and doesn’t) as a general guideline. Tips are included in the list below to help you stay as organic as possible.
This list cannot contain all the known “superfoods,” but it’s a good start. The list is alphabetical for your convenience, and the links take you to some of the least expensive online products available for that given “superfood.”
- Açaí: The açaí “berry” is sold in the form of tablets, juice, smoothies, instant drink powders, and whole fruit. Try: AçaíRoots.com.
- Apples: Apples are a good source of the mineral boron, touted for boosting alertness, and they are natural diuretics. This is probably one of the easiest superfoods to find, and any variety will do — as long as it’s organic. Try: OrganicA to learn more.
- Alfalfa sprouts: Sprouts are a concentrated source of the living enzymes and “life force” that is lost when foods are cooked. You can easily grow your own, best for avoiding contamination from other sources. Try: WheatgrassKits.com.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe vera contains seventy-five healing compounds including natural steroids, antibiotic agents, amino acids, minerals and enzymes. Most often available in juice form. Try: Aloe Vera.
- Aphanizomenon flos-aquae: AFA is a blue-green algae touted as a protein and chlorophyll source. Try: Bluegreenfoods.
- Avocado: Avocados have the same thing going for them that olive oil does: healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (good fat). Try: OrganicAvos.com.
- Bananas: This superfood is heart-friendly, as one medium banana is an excellent source of vitamin B6 and a good source of potassium, fiber, and vitamin C. But, they’re a top food for heavy chemicals if not organic. Try: Dole Fresh Fruit Company, as they say they grow organic (look for the organic sticker at your local market).
- Beans: Beans and lentils are sources of high protein, vitamins and complex carbs. They are low in fat, calories and sodium. Try: Vitacost.
- Bee Pollen: Bee pollen is considered one of nature’s most completely nourishing foods. It contains nearly all nutrients required by humans. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be sued directly by the body. Try: eVitamins for granules or tabs.
- Beet: Beets are high in fiber and antioxidants compounds such as cartonoids and betacyanin, a powerful cancer protective agent found to inhibit cell mutations. Try Diamond Organics.
- Bilberry: This fruit is famous for its ability to improve nighttime vision, and it’s full of antioxidants. Try: HerbsMD (bilberry is not inexpensive…).
- Black Chicken: Also known as Siklie or Taihe chicken, this superfood has been used in Chinese medicine for well over 1,000 years. The chicken is born with black bones, meat and skin and is a bantam or miniature chicken filled with carnosine, an antioxidant. Try: Exotic Meats.
- Blackcurrants: Once an illegal berry in the U.S., this berry has higher levels of antioxidants and total vitamins and minerals than virtually any other fruit, including blueberries and pomegranate. Try: The Currant Company to find a store near you.
- Blueberries: Some nutritionists believe that if you make only one change to your diet, it should be to add blueberries. The contain the same amount of antioxidants in one serving as five servings of any other fruits and vegetables. Try: LocalHarvest if you can’t find local organic blueberries.
- Blue Green Algae: Blue-green algae supplements come in the form of capsules, pills, and powders and it contains small amounts of protein, vitamins (including C, E, and folate), beta carotene, and some minerals.Try: eVitamins for more information and products.
- Broccoli: If you eat just one green veggie, make it broccoli. This is one of the most powerful weapons in your dietary arsenal against cancer. Try: Your local grocery store. Conventional broccoli faces fewer pest threats, which means less spraying. But, you’ll need to use soap to remove the oil-based pesticides. Try: Veggie Wash.
- Cabbage: Reduce your cancer risk and cleanse your blood with cabbage. Like broccoli, you can purchase this superfood at your local grocer. Another cleaner to wash the cabbage? Try: Make your own.
- Cacao, Raw chocolate: There are over 300 chemically identifiable compounds in cacao beans, including blissful tryptophan! Try: Raw Cacao .
- Chili peppers: Capsaicin is what you’re after here as well as vitamin C. Reduce heart attack risk, treat inflammation from arthritis. Try: TasteofNature, where you can buy them crushed and sprinkle them on other foods.
- Chlorella: This superfood has been touted is the cure-all for nerve tissue damage and more. What is known is that it contains all the nutrients you need as it is a whole food. Try: Herbs Wholesale.
- Coffee Berry: One gram of coffee berry provides the same amount of free radical protection as over two kilograms of organic grapes. Capsules, drink powders and skin creams are available for purchase. Try: Dealighted.com for coffee fruit drinks.
- Cranberries: Choose no-sugar or low-sugar or organic versions of this superfood to prevent urinary tract infections, prevent tooth plaque and help to prevent stomach ulcers and even stomach cancer. Try: Cranberry Hill Farm to make your own juice.
- Eggplant: The Black Magic variety, usually found in U.S markets, was found to have three times the amount of antioxidant phenolics as compared to the other varieties. Shop for this superfood between August and October to get the best deals. Try: Local grocer or farmer’s market or grown your own.
- Flax seed: Flax seeds are a rich source of the omega-3 fat, alpha linolenic acid (ALA), which is a precursor to the form of omega-3 found in fish oils, which is eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA. Try: Nuts Onlinefor the seed.
- Garlic: The allicin in raw, crushed garlic has been shown to kill 23 types of bacteria, including salmonella and staphylococcus. Garlic is filled with vitamins and antioxidants. Try: The Garlic Shoppe for a variety of options.
- Kale: Kale is loaded with substances that can help protect one from cancer, cataracts, emphysema, and rheumatoid arthritis. This is one of those foods that should be bought organic. Try: Local grocer or farmers’ market or grown your own.
- Kimchi: Kimchi has long been touted as health superfood that can cut cancer risk, lower cholesterol, improve skin, aid digestion and fight infection. Try: Rejuvenate Foods.
- Maca: Maca root has been used traditionally for centuries in South America to enhance fertility in humans and animals. Maca has also been referred to as Peruvian ginseng, although it is actually not in the same family as ginseng. Try: iHealthTree .
- Noni Fruit: Noni juice is sold under many different brand names, but it is usually always mixed with other fruit juices to make the taste acceptable. Noni juice contains 17 of the 20 known amino acids. Or, buy capsules. Try: AllNutrifor the latter.
- Oats: Oats deliver protein, potassium, magnesium and other minerals, and phytonutrients, including antioxidants. Their cholesterol-lowering powers are well known, and oats are the king of fiber. Try: Homegrown Harvest.
- Oranges: This superfood supplies 116 percent of your daily needs for vitamin C and helps to fortify your frontline against heart disease, stroke and cancer. Try: Cherry Moon Farms Organic Orangesthrough QVC.
- Papaya: The papaya is considered to be one of the healthiest fruits to eat and to some the most nutritious fruit of all. Since it loses nutrient strength as it ripens, papaya is best if purchased mostly ripe and eaten by the next day. Or, you can buy it in powder form and add it to dishes. Try: Live Superfoods.
- Probiotics: Probiotic superfood helps re-colonize the intestinal flora and helps restore proper intestinal balance. This superfood is expensive, but we found the lowest price (today). Try: In-Liven Probiotic .
- Pumpkin: Pumpkins carry carotenoids, which have the ability to ward off the risk of various types of cancer and heart disease, along with, cataracts and macular degeneration. Try: Pumpkin Puree or Pumpkin Pie Mix from Tropical Traditions.
- Quinoa: This superfood is considered a complete protein, and it has about twice the protein of regular cereal grains, fewer carbohydrates, and even a dose of healthy fats. Try: Nutricity.
- Raspberries: Raspberries ranked 10th in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) per serving out of over 100 common foods (fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, etc.) tested. Try: Organic Direct .
- Rose hips: Vitamin C and bio-flavonoids, as in Rose Hips, could be used with good results for almost every named or unnamed disease or condition. Try: DealTime for capsules.
- Salmon, wild: Get the wild salmon, not farm-raised, for one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and vitamin D. To save money, buy the softgel caps. Try: iHerb.com .
- Seaweed: Also known as kelp, this superfood has detox properties, is an all-around tonic and is touted as great for digestive health. You can buy it in packs, dried. Try: Any grocer or Asian market or Organic Direct for a variety of products.
- Soy: In the fall of 1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed makers of soy products to claim that eating the protein as part of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. Try: Nuts Online for raw soy beans.
- Spinach: Spinach is low in calories, yet extremely high in vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients. Try to buy organic whenever possible, and frozen is better than canned for shelf life. Try: Organic Direct or your local grocer.
- Spirulina: Spirulina is one species of single celled plants also known as blue-green algae. At 60 to 70% protein, it is higher in protein than any other natural food. Two grams daily is known to reduce allergy symptoms. Try: Herbs Wholesale.
- Sweet Potato: Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, vitamins A, C, B6, potassium and manganese. They can also help stabilize blood sugar, which means they’re a good choice for diabetics. Try: Bruce Foods .
- Green or Black Tea: The only difference between the two is that green tea contains ECGC, an antioxidant. Both teas reduce cholesterol and ECGC can inhibit cancer cell growth. Try: Buy Tea Leaves for a bag that is mixed green and black — that’s the way to save.
- Tomatoes: Some studies show the tomato may help decrease the risk of prostate cancer, as well as breast, lung and stomach cancers. Try: Cal Valls Certified Organic Tomato Puree from Cooking.com or purchase locally.
- Turkey: Turkey offers a rich array of nutrients, particularly niacin, selenium, vitamins B6 and B12, and zinc. These nutrients are heart-healthy and are also valuable in helping to lower the risk for cancer. Try: Local Harvest , but you probably cold find something locally. The skinless breast is the least fattening part of the turkey.
- Walnuts: Walnuts are rich in fiber, B vitamins, magnesium and antioxidants such as Vitamin E. Nuts in general are also high in plant sterols and omega 3 fatty acids, more than any other nut. Try: Nuts Online .
- Watercress: Bursting in vitamin C, calcium, iron and folic acid, it;s great for flushing out nasty toxins after a hangover. Use your local grocer or farmer’s market, as this is a seasonal superfood. Oor, try an extract. Try: Herbal Extracts Plus.
- Yacon Root: Being a prebiotic, Yacon root is a colon health food product, able to aid digestion and colon function and is recommended to those with diabetes. Try the syrup for a sweetener. Try: Raw Guru .
- Yogurt: Low in fat, vitamin-rich, relieves some stomach ailments, fights infection, may be useful in preventing cancer. Find this superfood anywhere, like your local grocer (look for dairy-free yogurt for the best health product). Try: Turtle Mountain to find a store near you.
