I’ve written hacks before on superfoods. But there are so many, that I wanted to expand on them. Besides, what’s easier than reaching for your favorite foods for health and beauty benefits?
Here are your anti-aging superfood hacks:
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When you need to clear the brain fog, have an egg yolk . You see, egg yolks contain choline which is the most important nutrient for brain function.
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If you are interested in natural cosmetics, try using organic raw cacao powder for eyeshadow or even a bronzer. And you can find cacao powder at the Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.
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For all-day energy, without the crash, add a tablespoon of coconut oil to your coffee.
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Reduce stress and anxiety with pumpkin seeds . Pumpkin seeds contain the amino acid glutamate, which is a precursor to GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) – the anti-stress neurochemical in the brain that makes you feel calm. Pumpkin seeds can also help you sleep better. Try having a handful half an hour before bed for a more restful night.
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Beat the blues with a cup of coffee . According to the Harvard School of Public Health, women who drink coffee often are less susceptible to depression. As little as a cup a day keeps the blues away.
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Ginger has been shown to drastically reduce fasting blood sugar and A1C levels (a marker for long-term blood-sugar levels) in type-2 diabetics. One study had human subjects take 2g of powdered ginger, in pill form, daily. A second study showed 1600 mgs in pill form or ¼ tsp of fresh ginger every day. And a third used alcoholic extract of ginger in a diabetic-rat study. All forms of ginger had significant lowering effects on glucose levels.
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Including parsnip regularly in your diet can help you lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Eat and prepare parsnip like a carrot – it is great raw or cooked.
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Eating tangerines – also known as mandarin oranges – can delay, and in some cases prevent, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. The reason is because of the high Vitamin A content which is also great for your skin.
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You know those little yellow flowers … the dandelions ? The ones everyone considers weeds? They are actually a superfood. You see, they work to clean the liver and are a diuretic. High in antioxidant properties they’re also great for your skin. You can make a tea or throw some into your smoothie. I buy mine fresh at Whole Foods when available. You’ll want to use the roots as well as the leaves. When I can’t get it fresh I’ll buy a tea.
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More than just a garnish, parsley is rich in vitamins and nutrients and has many health benefits. But the one I want to focus on today is its anti-inflammatory properties. Flat or curly leaf, it has the ability to speed up the process of uric acid removal reducing the inflammatory reaction associated with the pain of arthritis.
I want to circle back to tangerines because of their ability to brighten the skin and delay signs of aging. Vitamin A has been proven to tighten the skin and regrow collagen. With this delicate little orange you can whip up a mask and be glowing by tomorrow.
Tangerine Face Mask
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Juice of 1 tangerine
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1 Tbsp of honey
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1 Tbsp of plain yogurt
Mix all ingredients together and apply to a clean face and neck. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water and pat dry.
If your mixture is a little thin you can double the amount of honey and yogurt. The thickness of the mask will depend on the size of the tangerine … you’ll want to play around with it a little to get the consistency you like.
Have a great week.
To a healthy more beautiful you!
Sandy DeRose
References:
Zeisel SH, Corbin KD. Choline. Present Knowledge in Nutrition. 10th ed: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2012.
Zeisel S., Et. al. Choline: An Essential Nutrient for Public Health. HHS Public Access. 2009.
Abdou AM, Et. al. Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans. Biofactors. 2006.
Michel Lucas., Et. al. Coffee, Caffeine, and Risk of Depression Among Women. Harvard Health. 2011.
Heckman MA., Et. al. Caffeine (1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) in foods: a comprehensive review on consumption, functionality, safety, and regulatory matters. J Food Sci. 2010.
Nafiseh K, Et. al. The Effects of Ginger on Fasting Blood Sugar, Hemoglobin A1c, Apolipoprotein B, Apolipoprotein A-I and Malondialdehyde in Type 2 Diabetic Patients. Iran J Pharm Res. 2015.
Ojewole JAO. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic effects of ethanol extract of Zingiber officinale (Roscoe) rhizomes (Zingiberaceae) in mice and rats. Phyto. Res. 2006.
Caldwell B. Esselstyn. Prevent and reverse heart disease: The revolutionary, scientifically proven, nutrition-based cure. 2008.
Burri, BJ., Et. al. Citrus can help prevent vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. California Agriculture. 2011.
Clare BA, Et. al. The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day. J Altern Complement Med. 2009.
Gargouri M., Et. al. Dandelion-enriched diet of mothers alleviates lead-induced damages in liver of newborn rats. Cell Mol Biol. 2017.
Nazari A., Et. al. Chemical composition and hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic root extract of Taraxacum Syriacum Boiss against acetaminophen intoxication in rats. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2015.
Davaatseren M., Et. al. Dandelion leaf extract protects against liver injury induced by methionine- and choline-deficient diet in mice. J Med Food. 2013.
