Power Superfoods: Naturally Soy free, Gluten free

Do your healing body some good and incorporate some super powerful anti-oxidant and nutrient heavy foods into your food allergy or intolerant diet!  There is no real concrete definition when it comes to naming superfoods, but here I list my favorites and the ones I find to be most beneficial. (This is not a medical statement or advice). I don't list pomegranate below because I seem to react negatively to it, but please note if you're not sensitive to it, it's excellent for you!

• Dark Chocolate (or Cocoa powder) --chock full of flavonols and anti-oxidents, but make sure if you eat it to buy at least 60% cocoa dark chocolate.  The higher the percentage of cocoa the better! Do eat in moderation (if possible) though. I absolutely love Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate bars, and probably eat them more than I should... =)

• Chia Seeds --I love Navitas Chia Seeds. Who knew your chia pet was delicious? ;) I've listed a great recipe from Mimi Kirk and links below to Chia seed inforamtion.

• Blueberries --Full of polyphenols which help to prevent excessive weight gain, cancers, and brain damage to name a few of the many benefits. Many cancer patients have incorporated blueberries into their diets. Best to buy organic whenever possible.

• Oats -- Gluten free and Certified that is! My favorite brand at the moment is Udi's Gluten free Vanilla Oats. Add these to plain coconut yogurt with cinnamon and your favorite berries.  You have a powerful breakfast or snack to get you going. Probiotics, fiber, anti-oxidants, and a great B vitamin source.

• Flaxseeds -- Great for gluten free diets. Read about the power of Flax here: http://www.navitasnaturals.com/products/flax.html

• Avocado --Good source of monounsaturated fats (HDL- high density lipoproteins: good fats!) which help to stabilize cholesterol levels and even lower bad cholesterol (LDL -low density lipoproteins).

• Red Wine --A glass of red wine a day is said to be very beneficial for your heart, among other things. It helps to boost good cholesterol and has a high anti-oxidant content.

• Kale --We were lucky enough to have these given to us by my boyfriends mother all summer from her organic garden. Thanks Mrs. Charniauski! Great cancer fighting and prevention properties with high anti-oxidants. Read more on the health benefits of Kale here: http://alternativemedicinenow.com/the-health-benefits-of-kale/ We are juicing this stuff a lot these days.

• Almonds-- Make your own almond milk or eat them raw after soaking them to increase your body's absorption. Great source of good monounsaturated fats.

• Garlic --A natural antibiotic and great for cancer prevention. It also holds anti-parasitic properties. Try a few cloves of garlic in your tea or raw combined with a few raw cloves to fight off toxins and parasites chilling out in your system. You may feel some die off symptoms at first (worse before you feel better), but you'll feel way better after the cleanse. I did a small 3 day cleanse and felt amazing afterwards!

• Apple Cider Vinegar --Also good for cleansing your system and detoxifying. I'm currently looking for a different brand than Bragg's (Beware! Has soy cross contamination in manufacturing process. From personal experience). I'll post a good brand as soon as I find one without c.c. About a tablespoon a day added to your water is great from time to time and especially when you're feeling under the weather.

• Salmon --In moderation! Fish and seafood can contain mercury, so don't load up too much. Great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, but be sure to buy wild pacific salmon--Not farmed salmon! 

• Green Tea -- Powerful anti-oxidants. Read more about green tea here: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea

• Coconut Oil --I not only add this to my recipes, but put it on my skin too! It really makes your skin glow.  Coconut Oil contains MFCA's. These are good fat chains that are easily converted into usable energy in your body instead of stored as fats (like animal fats). Incorporate coconut milk, yogurt, butter and oil into your diet and you'll be feeling healthy and full of energy!

Sending you health and good energies,

Bethany xoxo

P.s. Take some time for yourself today. Green tea break?