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11. Camu Camu - If you thought that loading up on Vitamin C will keep colds away, you are right. But don't rely on just citrus fruits for this. Take a look at the Camu Camu berry, which can be located in the South American rainforests. This berry consists of the highest amount of Vitamin C in any botanical source and you might be surprised to find out that while a lemon can have 0.5 percent Vitamin C, the Camu Camu berry consists of up to 4 percent! A large leap indeed.
The Camu Camu berry is not just packed with Vitamin C but also consists of calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron. Amino acids such as leucine, serine and valine are also found in this superb superfood. Other vitamins that are also present in the Camu Camu are riboflavin, thiamine and niacin.
Here are some of the benefits of the Camu Camu berry:
* Keeps away colds and other viral infections
* Keeps your collagen, tendons and ligaments strong
* Helps in keeping your lungs healthy
* Works at reducing inflammation considerably
* Frequent consumption of Camu Camu helps you keep your cool in stressful times
* Helps in keeping organs like eyes, brain, skin, heart and liver in good working disease
The Camu Camu berry is available as a dried powder which can be used in various ways. You can mix it with water to make an instant health drink or add it to smoothies and juices. The Camu Camu berry powder is flavorful and tangy so it is a pleasure to drink it. Do note that too much consumption could lead to diarrhea also.
12. Noni - This Polynesian fruit has long been in the news for quite some time and all for the best possible reasons. Individuals in the world have started recognizing the benefits of the noni fruit and scientists are giving it the status of superfood. The noni fruit has a strong smell and taste and is not tasty at first, but it takes a bit of getting used to. On the other hand, regardless of its taste, the noni is one of the most wonderful gifts of nature as it is power packed with nutrients that can fight many diseases and has loads of other benefits for you also:
* Noni is rich with antioxidants that fight free radicals effectively, keeping you younger and healthier
* Other substances such as selenium help in keeping the skin glowing, fresh and healthy
* Then there's xeronine which works wonders for your cell structure and helps in cell regeneration
* Glycosides fight free radicals whilst scopoletin has anti-inflammatory properties
* An exciting new study shows that noni helps stimulate the white blood cells and kick starts the immune system to work efficiently
Noni can be eaten fresh although its juice is highly popular now. Of course, some of its efficacy is lost when mixed with sugar, so in case you happen to visit tropical islands ensure to blend the noni fruit with coconut water and chug it down because it's a fantastic and tasty way of consuming noni. Noni powders are also obtainable that can be mixed with smoothies and juices. Noni leaves are also ingested in the form of tea.
13. Bee Pollen - Bee products are slowly gaining a wide acceptance in the world of nutrition and people are awakening to the fact that bee products are natural and wholesome superfoods. A comparatively unknown bee product is bee pollen which has become hugely popular for the numerous health benefits it offers.
* One thing common to all superfoods is the antioxidant levels which are really high in bee pollen. These antioxidants help you live a longer and healthier life.
* Bee pollen is renowned to be a fantastic aphrodisiac and is known to increase sexual health
* If you are low on endurance, try bee pollen as it helps you recover faster after exercise and lets you increase your performance levels
* Those suffering from allergies should be relieved to know that bee pollen lowers histamine creation which is the main cause of allergies
* There are lots of B vitamins in bee pollen that works miracles for your skin and avoids wrinkling and aging
* Bee pollen has an astonishing number of vitamins - 18 in all, 14 fatty acids and is 15% lecithin
* Bee pollen actually has more protein than eggs, meat or cheese.
14. Propolis - Propolis is a resin that bees collect from tree bark and use it in the honeycomb as a sort of veneer or glue, which filled up cracks and helped create doorways. What is astounding is that propolis is actually a nutrient packed superfood that people are recognizing now for its amazing disease fighting powers. It is as great as penicillin, only better. If that's confousing, read on:
* Propolis consists of minerals, amino acids, fats, vitamin E, C , provitamin B complex and A
* The bioflavonoids in propolis are extremely useful in repairing the blood vessels and making capillaries stronger
* Studies have indicated that propolis was one of the ways in which mouth ulcer could be controlled
* Research has proven that propolis helps in the treatment of arthritis, asthma and many other allergies
* It's also interesting to learn that propolis works against MRSA, the bacteria that actually resists antibiotics and causes danger to many patients.
15. Honey - By honey, we don't mean the supermarket variety that you usually use to drizzle over toast or pancakes. Have you ever considered the differences in that honey and raw, natural honey? The top most one is that the latter is a superfood, recognized the world over for its tremendous healing and beneficial properties. One doesn't need an introduction to honey. We've been brought up on it. But you need to know that raw honey is indeed special and has some benefits that you were probably unaware of. For example, did you know that:
* Unprocessed raw honey is the richest source of live, healing enzymes which go a long way in sharpening your IQ and making you more mentally alert
* Honey has medicinal benefits and can be used to heal wounds as well
* Honey can help people struggling with diarrhea, infections, gastrointestinal problems and various other ailments by alleviating their symptoms greatly
* Honey is easily digestible and is a great energy enhancer for the body
When buying honey, look for raw and organic honey that has not been highly processed and is stored in glass jars.
16. Royal Jelly - Here's another little known bee product that has gained the status of superfood in recent years. Royal jelly is a milky, thick material that is released from the pharyngeal glands of a particular group of nurse bees. Bees that are earmarked for becoming queen bees areraised on with royal jelly while worker bees are fed with just pollen and honey. While this bit of information is fascinating for those interested in apiculture, what is more alluring is that royal jelly is a fantastic source of nutrition and offers great benefits to us as well. Here is how it can help:
* Royal jelly contains B5 and other B vitamins also as amino acids and a host of minerals like potassium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, iron and manganese.
* Royal jelly gives a burst of energy. It is like caffeine without the flip side
* It consists of a great amount of pantothenic acid and has a perfect combination of proteins, fats and carbohydrates
* Acetylcholine is an essential fluid that is required for the proper functioning of nerve impulses amongst nerve fibers and this helps in thinking accurately. Royal jelly is a rich source of acetylcholine and even helps those experiencing Alzheimer's
* Helps in the treatment of glandular and hormonal disorders
* Prevents atherosclerosis and fights heart diseases as well
* Research with cancer cells has shown that royal jelly has a significant effect upon them, particularly in lowering them, truly making it an astounding superfood
Royal jelly is obtainable as a variety of goods be it capsules, tablets or powder. But you can also get fresh royal jelly by purchasing it from beekeepers who gather it directly from the bee hives. Royal jelly is also acknowledged for its cosmetic properties like eliminating wrinkles and keeping the skin re-energized and young.
Everyday scientists and researchers are throwing more light on hitherto unknown superfoods, making us realize that we have a veritable treasure chest when it comes to health giving foods. We just need to learn how to derive the maximum benefit from them.
