In this day and age, we all seem to be obsessed with our diets. Whether it’s the latest trending diet or just aiming to eat more fruit and vegetables, you can’t deny that we are all constantly reassessing the foods we choose to fuel our bodies with. With the perpetual chatter and buzz about the new foods, it is obvious that many of us are struggling to know what the best and most nutritional ingredients are.

Here are 4 of our favourite ingredient recommendations which you may not have considered:

1. Cacao
   Cacao has been one of the most popular ‘superfood’ trends over the past few years, but we truly believe that this ingredient is not just a fad. Many people do get confused between cacao and cocoa, basically cocoa is the refined version of cacao, and it is used to make chocolate. In its original form, cacao is one of the most antioxidant rich foods on the planet. Antioxidants actively fight free radicals, these are rogue cells in our body that are responsible for causing inflammation. Instead of ordering that sugary mocha every morning, try spooning a tablespoon of cacao into your coffee. It will give it a rich, chocolatey taste and your body will reap the benefits.
2. Ubiquinol
   Ubiquinol is the active form of CoQ10- a powerful antioxidant that is naturally produced within our body. Ubiquinol is extremely effective at fighting the effects of free-radical damage and oxidative stress, and can assist in reducing inflammation in the body. Why not consider discussing supplementation with your health care practitioner?
3. Turmeric
   Turmeric is an unbelievable spice that has anti-inflammatory effects not only on our joints, helping with conditions like osteoarthritis, but also has numerous benefits for our cognitive health. Try cooking with turmeric at least once a week if you can- you can cook a curry or even mix turmeric with other meals. It’s best to cook with a turmeric root if you can and avoid pre-packaged ground turmeric- this way you ensure the freshness of the turmeric and know that you’re not consuming a nutrient-deficient, processed version of the spice.
4. Blueberries
   Blueberries have been graded as having one of the highest antioxidant ratios of any fruit. Widespread research[i] has been completed into the antioxidant properties of blueberries and found that not only are they amazing for fighting inflammation, they also hold many benefits for memory and brain health. Additionally, they don’t lose their antioxidant properties when frozen, so you can keep them in your freezer and sprinkle them on top of your morning porridge for a delicious and nutritious, breakfast to start your day!

[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24512603