With 2015 on the horizon, it’s officially time to upgrade your kitchen cupboards and stock your fridge with the latest superfoods. If your New Year’s Resolution involves switching up your diet to include a nutrition-packed menu, here’s our guide to the newest health food sensations of the year.
1) Matcha: With benefits like preventing cancer, matcha green tea is loaded with powerful antioxidants known as catechins. Matcha also strengthens the metabolism to quickly burn calories, while helping to detox the system. Matcha protects the immune system by keeping viruses at bay, keeps insulin levels under control and is packed with fiber.
2) Amaranth: Derived from the bushy amaranth plant, which was once a staple in the ancient Aztec diet, the amaranth seed is packed with the essential amino acid lysine. Not only does this gluten-free seed provide a protein boost, it’s also enriched with nutrients like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and potassium.
3) Black rice: You may be used to a classic plate of white rice, but black rice is set to become a food trend for the year ahead. This mysterious dark variety of rice is often used in Asian dishes. Livestrong.com reports that antioxidant-enriched black rice contains more nutrients than white rice. It’s also packed with protein and a double boost of fiber, even in comparison to brown rice.
4) Seaweed: Fans of sushi will be ecstatic to know that this leafy green superfood is a rich source of both protein and Vitamin C. It contains natural iodine, which promotes a healthy thyroid gland, along with calcium for healthy bones and teeth. You may want to keep munching on that dried seaweed snack, as this food is also enriched with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits for the body.
5) Dandelion greens: Whether it’s in a fresh salad or a garlic-infused stir-fry, dandelion greens are set to be guests of honour at the dinner table. According to Mercola.com, these greens are a staggering source of Vitamin K, a group of compounds that allow blood to clot properly. Other than packing a whopping 535 per cent of the recommended daily value of Vitamin K, the greens also boost the system with Vitamins A, C and B6. They’re also loaded with manganese, which helps to build strong bones and protect skin from free radical damage.
