I like to believe we all want to eat well. We want to fill our bodies with nutritious foods that satisfy our hunger, stabilize our blood sugar, support a healthy metabolism, and keep us upbeat, energetic, and youthful. I also believe that we are in over our heads with work, family life, and other time commitments. When time is limited, our daily to-dos take priority over nutritious diets.
I’m a busy woman too. I can relate to my patients who say they don’t have time. I can also relate to those women who “don’t cook,” as I’m no wizard in the kitchen.
If you’re like me and you like the most bang for your buck (in terms of effort for benefit), then these 5 superfoods are for you. Regardless of your busy schedule, adding these 5 foods to your daily routine is achievable and worth the minimal effort they require.
While adding these 5 foods to your daily routine doesn’t give you license to spend the rest of your day eating junk food, my hope is that they can be gateway foods to a more nutritious diet once you realize how simple and beneficial it can be to eat healthy.
1. Eggs
Eggs are packed with the richest mix of essential amino acids and antioxidants in addition to other essential nutrients, making it a superfood and an ideal way to start your day. Protein for breakfast helps keep your blood sugar regulated, preventing midmorning hunger and helping maintain a healthy weight. Eating eggs for breakfast also confers mood-boosting benefits. Research shows foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids have positive effects on anxiety and depression.
To reap the greatest benefit from eggs opt for organic, pasture-raised eggs. Bonus points for finding eggs from a local farm or farmer's market!
Suggestions for daily use:
Frying or scrambling an egg literally takes under a minute. But if you insist that you don’t have time to cook your eggs in the morning, I suggest boiling a half dozen eggs early in the week or the night before so that they are ready to grab and go in the morning.
2. Sauerkraut (or other fermented foods)
Eating foods with probiotic properties such as sauerkraut helps foster the growth of good, protective bacteria in our gut, and eliminate the unhealthy bacteria that make us sick. The gut dictates the health of our immune, endocrine and nervous system. This means to keep our hormones balanced, minimize inflammation, calm our overstimulated nervous system, and keep our immunity intact, we need to prioritize the health of our GI tract. Eating probiotic foods is a very simple way to promote gut health.
Sources of probiotics: sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, yogurt (beware of ingredients, ideally it should be homemade), kefir, sour pickles, tempeh (made from fermented soybeans), kombucha
Suggestions for daily use:
I keep a jar of sauerkraut in the fridge and eat a few forkfuls every morning with my eggs. You can also make a big batch of miso soup for the week and eat it daily for breakfast. If you’re on the go, fill up a to-go cup of kombucha on your way out of the house. Many grocery stores, such as Whole Foods have kombucha on tap so you can fill up a re-fillable jug for daily use.
3. Ghee
Ghee, a form of clarified butter often used in Ayurvedic traditions, is a great source of healthy fat and contains antioxidant and antiviral properties, when sourced from grass fed cows. With a high smoke point it is a great alternative to cooking oils, which, unlike ghee, break down into free radicals (think the opposite of antioxidants) at high heat. Through the process of clarifying butter, the lactose and casein which can cause inflammation in some, has been removed, making it safe for people with dairy and casein intolerance.
It’s long list of health benefits include: strengthening digestion and immunity, supporting a healthy metabolism and weight loss, and providing a consistent energy source.
Suggestions for daily use:
Use ghee in place of butter and cooking oils for frying your eggs and sautéing your veggies. It can also be used as a substitute for butter in bulletproof coffee or coconut oil in a Turmeric Latte.
4. Turmeric
Inflammation is the root cause of the majority of chronic illnesses we see today. If you have a chronic illness or symptom you can bet inflammation is a playing a role in its development and maintenance.
Turmeric is a root with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Adding it to your daily diet will help treat and prevent everything from aches and pains to wrinkles and other signs of aging.
Suggestions for daily use:
You can pick up this root in the produce aisle of most grocery stories. Grate it into hot water to make turmeric tea or add the grated or powdered root to sautés, soups, and stir fries. Click here for my Anti-Inflammatory Ginger & Turmeric Tea Recipe.
5. Bone Broth
Broths are a cornerstone of many traditional cultures for medicinal and nutritional support. Bone broths are rich in protein, gelatin, collagen, which support bone, joint, hair, and skin health in addition to restoring damaged or inflamed GI tract tissue. They are also very nourishing and immune boosting making them ideal for the treatment and prevention of conditions such such as fatigue, colds and flus, pregnancy, and postpartum.
Suggestions for daily use:
Make a batch of bone broth each weekend. All you have to do is reheat a cup each morning and drink it like tea/coffee as you start your day. You can also add it to soups and stews throughout the week. Click here for a recipe to make your own. Want bone broth without the hassle? Here are a few suggested bone broth vendors: