Top 5 Most Uncommon Superfoods

While many of us are familiar with superfoods like avocados, salmon, and eggs, there is a whole world out there full of many foods with some super healthy qualities. Let us guide you as we explore some of the world's lesser-known superfoods.

Below is a list of 5 uncommon superfoods that you should consider incorporating into your diet.

Camu Camu

Camu camu is a sour, lemon-sized fruit from the Amazonian lowlands. This orange and purple superfood comes loaded with a variety of phytochemicals (chemicals that occur naturally in plants), bioflavonoids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. However, camu camu's most impressive aspect is its incredible concentration. Camu camu contains approximately 20 to 50 times the amount of vitamin C than the levels found in an average orange, making it the world's best source of natural vitamin C. In addition, camu camu helps naturally reduce the levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) in your body while also improving your ability to absorb serotonin. Put simply, eating camu camu will make you happy.

 

Moringa (Olefiera)

 Hailed as the "miracle tree," moringa might just be the most nutritious plant in existence. Native to regions of Africa and Asia, this astonishing superfood contains over 90 trace minerals. A single serving of cooked moringa leaves contains 272% of your daily value (DV) of vitamin A, 125% of your DV of calcium, 71% of your DV of iron, 41% of your DV of potassium, and 22% of your DV of vitamin C. With such a high nutritional value, it's no wonder why moringa has been linked to so many health benefits, including weight loss, digestive health, and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

Natto

 Originating in Japan, natto is a fermented food derived from soybeans. Usually sold in soup, paste, or capsule form, natto provides a wide range of health benefits. Containing high levels of pyranzine and nattokinase, natto helps significantly reduce the risk of suffering a pulmonary embolism that could lead to a heart attack or stroke. In addition, natto is also loaded with vitamin K, which is vital for keeping bone density and preventing serious diseases like osteoporosis from developing. Warning: Natto is a very acquired taste, but like we mentioned above it is available in capsule form if you find the taste unbearable.

 

Turmeric

 Looking to recover faster from your workout? Try adding this warm, peppery spice to your post-workout meal. Turmeric contains a high concentration of curcumin, one of the most powerful anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories on the planet. Superfoods like turmeric help reduce inflammation and promote circulatory health, thus expediting the recovery process. Athletes that maintain a nutritious diet high in anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories will be able to train harder, more efficiently, and more effectively. And with the help of gym backpack from 6 Pack, eating healthy just can't get any easier.

Cordyceps (Sinensis) Extracts

Perhaps the strangest item on our list, Cordyceps sinensis is a parasitic fungus that grows on caterpillar larvae native to the high-altitude regions of China, Nepal, and Tibet. Why would anyone eat fungus grown on the back of caterpillars? Cordyceps sinensis is loaded with several anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-lipid properties. Thus, eating this fungus can actually enhance the functionality of your immune system, improve your stamina and endurance, stabilize your blood sugar metabolism, and increase your aerobic capacity and oxygen utilization. While this superfood has been well known for centuries in Chinese herbal medicine, it wasn't until the 1993 Summer Olympics that knowledge of this nutritional supplement spread. That year, the Chinese Olympic women's track and field team broke multiple world records and attributed their success to a concoction made from the Cordyceps extracts. Due to their high nutritional value, superfoods are a great tool to help you unlock your physical potential. They can also help prevent serious diseases, and may even help you live longer. Both superfoods common and more obscure, like the ones described above, make great additions to any athlete's diet. With so many superfoods in existence, we recommend doing your own research and experimenting to find out which ones best fit your personal needs. Have you tried any unusual superfoods? Tell us about your experience with uncommon superfoods in the comments below.