Most of us have schedules so jam-packed, we rarely have time to fully rest and recover. The alarming thing about it is, we hardly realise it!
When we are attached to the hip with our cell phones and other gadgets, it is hard to set everything aside and just truly rest and relax. Even when we do get some peace and quiet, it is also important to point out that our diet plays an important role in our body’s recovery process.
Here are some of the best superfoods you can begin to add to your diet:
Shilajit
The shilajit is a dark and sticky substance that is usually found on the rocks of the Himalayan mountains. Known as the “Conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness”, the shilajit isn’t exactly what would come to mind when you think of superfoods but this naturally-occurring element is what your body might need.
When ingested, the shilajit tablets help nutrients reach different parts of the body, particularly deep muscle tissue. Because of this, the shilajit can help hasten recovery and fight off fatigue. Aside from helping transport nutrients, it is also a bioavailability enhancer. This means that it also aids in our body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals. Fulvic acid is also found in shilajit; this helps our body’s blood formation process, helping us feel more energised.
Eucommia Bark Extract
The Chinese were definitely on to something, as they have been using eucommia bark extract for quite some time now. They knew of its medicinal properties, which we are only starting to appreciate now. Its bark is more prized than its leaves because this is where most of the nutrients lie. Here are some health benefits you can gain when you take Eucommia Bark Extract:
- It is full of lignans, iridoids, phenolics, steroids, flavonoids, and other healthy compounds
- It helps the body get rid of free radicals caused by stress
- May help lower blood pressure
- It is a known vasorelaxant, lessening the tension in blood vessels
- Protects neuronal functions and nerves
If you are looking to lower your blood pressure, the eucommia bark extract can be ingested for 8 weeks, starting with 500 mg and 1000 mg, then thrice a day for 2 weeks.
Tongkat Ali
Tongkat Ali is also known as the Indonesian ginseng where it is mainly cultivated. It helps lower cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a hormone our body releases whenever we experience stress. The tongkat ali can also help with dealing with negative emotions like anger, confusion and tension. Because of these known effects, people who have been taking tongkat ali are more relaxed and have a positive outlook in life.
If you are a gym rat or you are regularly active, taking tongkat ali can help boost performance and increase muscle mass. Tongkat ali also helps regulate testosterone levels (which tend to fluctuate during exercise).
When taken long-term, tongkat ali is known to cause insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety in certain people.
Pine Pollen
Though it is an allergen, the pine pollen is actually loaded with nutrients such as Vitamins A, B-Carotene, B1, B2, B3, B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E. It also contains many minerals including Calcium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, Molybdenum, Phosphorous, Potassium, Selenium, Silicon, Sodium, and Zinc.
Just by looking at its nutritional value alone, the pine pollen is a certified superfood. But it doesn’t stop there! It also helps with improving testosterone levels, decreasing fatigue, and helps fight aging. It can also boost the immune system, aid in brain functions and health, help the body detoxify free radicals, aid weight loss, and also relieve pain.
Continuously drinking pine pollen won’t be harmful to your body. Because it is a tonic, it adjusts itself according to what your body needs at any given moment.
You can buy pine pollen at major online superfood stores.
Super Medicinal Mushrooms
Superfoods Australia sells an elixir that has six mushrooms that are popularly known to possess health benefits and medicinal properties:
- Chaga
- Reishi
- Cordyceps
- Maitake
- Shiitake
- Lion’s Mane
These six mushrooms are all potent, but Lion’s Mane and Chaga are two of the most powerful superfoods in the bunch.
Lion’s Mane acts as a repairing agent in nerve cells. It also helps its growth. It contains Hericenones and Erinacines which are both responsible for the growth of nerve cells. The hippocampus benefits from Lion’s Mane as well. Its functions are seen to have improved after taking Lion’s Mane.
As for Chaga, it has glyconutrients, which are responsible for boosting your immune system. It also helps boost energy levels, so it’s a perfect compound to help whenever you plan to be physically active.
Eat Superfoods Everyday
Adding these nutritious superfoods to your diet will help your body’s recovery process and help other bodily functions perform at a more optimal level. Before engaging in any sort of natural remedy or tonic, it is important to talk to a healthcare professional first.