In this article I wanted to stress some of the benefits of some of the lesser known foods & raise awareness of some of the health benefits of the more strange foods, herbs & plants sitting on the shelf of your local health stores.
It’s important to eat organic when you can as organic food is less likely to contain contaminates & non-food products. But the good thing about the foods listed is that they are a lot less well known & less in demand so are a lot more likely to be organic.
What I mean by this is- it is very expensive to get certified as an organic supplier, so just because something is not labelled organic it doesn’t mean it isn’t & while a non-organic apple is almost certainly not organic, a strange berry from South America may be, even if it‘s not labelled that way.
Below are 7 Strange Foods With Remarkable Health Properties
Bee Pollen-
Bee pollen is considered one of nature’s most complete foods & meets most of the nutritional requirements we have.
Bee pollen contains amino acids, b-complex vitamins, folic acid & has more protein per weight than any type of meat.
Bee pollen is great for enhancing energy, improving your respiratory system & boosting your immune system .
The bees also work pretty hard for that pollen, with it taking a bee 8 hours to produce just one teaspoon. So make sure you appreciate it!
Goji Berries-
These strange looking little berries pack a highly nutritious punch & contain all essential amino acids. They are high in vitamin c, have 21 trace minerals & contain more iron than is found in spinach.
In Chinese medicine, the goji berries are used for the Kidney and Liver meridians & can be used to help with lower back pain, dizziness and eyesight. They are often consumed raw, but are usually available to us in dried form.
Edamame beans-
Edamame beans are young soya beans & are an excellent source of protein, iron & calcium. They also provide all of the essential amino acids we need.
Edamame beans are said to increase your energy levels, are great for your cardio vascular health & the folate in edamame beans may help with the flow of the feel-good hormones such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine helping to fight depression.
Quinoa-
Quinoa is a little better known, but still deserves a mention. Quinoa is an edible grain which is very high in fibre & contains large quantities of flavonoids, including Kaempferol & Quercetin. Which are antioxidants with numerous health benefits & it is also gluten free.
Quinoa is also a complete protein meaning it contains all nine of the essential amino acids & like bee pollen contains most of our nutritional needs.
Quinoa is also high in magnesium (a mineral that many are lacking) & restoring a magnesium balance can help you to overcome anxiety, insomnia, irritability & heart problems.
Dandelion Greens-
Dandelion green are the leaves from dandelions & are a great source of calcium, fibre & are high in vitamins K & A.