Five more superfoods…and a coffee substitute you wouldn’t believe!

Here are five more superfoods for you, all of which are great for some extra brain power!

I have included these particular ones because I personally enjoy them…and let’s be honest, have you ever thought of using mushroom powder as a coffee substitute? Wait till you taste it!

Reishi mushroom (pictured above)

What it is and what it does

Reishi is an extra-nutritious mushroom which makes an excellent brain food.

It also helps keep your blood sugar stable, is anti-fungal (which strikes me as funny seeing as it’s a fungus) and is excellent for the immune system and lymph system.

How you use it

I buy reishi in powder form and I make – get ready – coffee with it.

Yes, mushroom coffee! It’s absolutely delicious, and you’d never know you were drinking mushrooms!

I take a cup of warm water (not too hot because that would kill most of the nutrients) and steep a teaspoon of reishi powder in it for a few minutes, then I blend it quickly with a tablespoon of maple syrup, xylitol or coconut palm sugar, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract or powder, 3 teaspoons of maca and 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and voila, instant ‘coffee’. Try it, you’ll be surprised! You can get reishi mushroom powder here (make sure you get the powder, not the capsules).

Shilajit

What it is and what it does

Shilajit is a dark mineral pitch formed in the cracks of the Himalayan mountains. How’s that for obscure? Apparently in Aryuveda the name means ‘destroyer of weakness’.

Shilajit is said to rank #1 out of 10,000 Ayurvedic herbs! It contains over 80 minerals, and it is said to be great for detoxifying the body and ridding it of heavy metals. It is readily available in India where it comes as a powder and is also exported to the UK and elsewhere.

There have even been studies that seem to say that shilajit can be helpful for Alzheimer’s sufferers which you can read about here.

How you use it

It tastes a bit like coffee but very ‘roasted’, with a deep smoky flavour. A ¼ teaspoon of this in your ‘reishi coffee’ would give it an extra kick – it’s strong stuff!

And as with most superfoods, it also tastes great…in chocolate!

Mucuna Pruriens

What it is and what it does

Mucuna, or Mucuna Pruriens, is one of my favourite superfoods, and I use it daily. It is a root vegetable which is said to be a complete neurotransmitter as well as a restorative tonic.

It can have an effect similar to L-dopa, and can therefore be helpful for people with a history of drug abuse.

For the rest of us, it can help push out fear and stress. If you rush around like I do, you may want to give mucuna a go!

Interestingly, it is apparently the fastest growing plant in the world – one guy I know who has the actual plant told me it grew 4 inches in one hour!

How you use it

Mucuna is available in powder form and is easily added to cereals, smoothies, salads – basically any food as long as you don’t heat it so that you get all the amazing benefits it has to offer.

Ashwagandha, also known as Winter Cherry

What it is and what it does

Ashwagandha is a berry and is also called ‘Indian ginseng’. I’ve been told it has been used in India for more than 4,000 years. It is said to give strength, rejuvenate and be a good tonic for both men and women.

Some say it calms the nerves too so can be helpful with insomnia, anxiety and neuroses in general.

Ashwagandha is also considered an anti-inflammatory, as well as a balancer for the immune system.

How you use it

It’s another popular ingredient in my morning smoothies: I add a teaspoon to just about any drink or dish, once a day.

Mesquite

What it is and what it does

Mesquite is a root vegetable, traditionally used by Native Americans, or so I’m told.

Mesquite is high in protein as well as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur – but I like it for the taste!

How you use it

Mesquite has a delicious caramel taste and goes really well with maca, cacao and carob.

I add a teaspoon of mesquite to milkshakes, cereals and puddings and it’s absolutely delicious.

In Europe it is not sold as food anymore, only as medicine, although many people are still eating it and loving every bite. It’s said to be suitable for everyone. I know we love it!

And an extra one, just for fun…

Purple corn extract!

What it is and what it does

This is a really fun superfood and is another one that I discovered thanks to superfood advocate and wonderful author Kate Magic.

Not to be confused with the blue corn to be found in some brands of tortilla chips – purple corn extract is powerful stuff!

Before you go thinking that it’s some kind of hallucinogen, it’s not…It is said to open the third eye and put us more in touch with our intuitive faculties and who we really are at the deepest core of our being.

It also has a very high amount of anthocyanins which are the antioxidant found in blueberries that has so many wonderful properties, including the reduction of cholesterol and acting as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Sounds like a tall order for a food, doesn’t it? But try it and you’ll see what I mean! My experience has been that it makes me feel centered.

How you use it

If you do want to try purple corn extract, start small – many people feel its effects with just a pinch!

Another thing I like about it is its beautiful purple colour – perfect for making purple almond milk, pink dipping sauce…you name it!

You can buy purple corn extract in powder form, but be sure you’re buying from a reputable supplier.

Where to get superfoods

Amazon There are more and more raw food supplies available on Amazon, and they are very reliable if you want to get several things from one place. I shop locally first if I can, but for those of you who are without a Whole Foods or other such store nearby, Amazon is always a safe bet.

Funky Raw FunkyRaw is another good source for superfoods and other raw food products. Delivery and customer service are excellent. Located in the UK.

What to do next

Grab yourself some superfoods, and dig in!

And…let me know what you discover!