Celebrities Superfood Secrets!
What? Chlorella
This is an entirely natural and balanced, single-celled, green algae, rich in amino acids and antioxidants. It can help improve the production of your skin’s collagen, reduce redness and protect skin from free radicals, as well as sun damage.
Who? Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has divulged her secret health weapon – chlorella. The Japanese wholefood has been hailed the new Crème De La Mer without the eye-watering price tag. Rosie adds chlorella powder to her cucumber, kale and parsley juice and says it’s “delicious” and “a great way to start the day.”
Why is it good for you?
Shona Wilkinson, Head Nutritionist at www.nuricentre says: “Chlorella helps to improve circulation as well as skin firmness. It is also thought to help with decreasing cellulite on your skin and make it more elastic – this is due to the toxin removal properties and the ability to remove fat deposits from the skin.”
Try…
Nature’s Plus Green Lightning (Powder Packets 20 packs £29.99, www.nutricentre.com),
What? Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is widely hailed one of nature’s most complete nourishing superfoods as it contains nearly all of the nutrients required to function by humans, including amino acids, B-complex, and folic acid.
Who? Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham keeps herself looking young and healthy by popping over 60 pills every day! “Twenty-two amino acids, 12 vitamins, 28 minerals. Please don’t write that I’m completely mad. We can’t have wrinkles!” she’s said. Bee pollen taken daily gives her energy to juggle her fashion career with motherhood, as she has recently twitted “Totally obsessed with this Bee pollen! So good for you!”
Why is it good?
Nutritionist at www.nutricentre.com, Elouise Bauskis says: “Bee pollen can help increase energy due to the high B vitamin content. Bee pollen also includes large amounts of Rutin, an antioxidant that helps strengthen capillaries and blood vessels which can in turn supports the cardiovascular system.”
Try…
Nature’s Plus Propolplus Softgels (www.nutricentre.com, £14.49)
What? Spinach
Who? Rita Ora
Singer and X-Factor Judge, Rita Ora swears by spinach, tweeting a picture of green leaves with the message “Eat it then Popeye.” Like Popeye, Rita is hooked. When at home, her mum always cooks her favourite dish – Albanian spinach pie. “My mum makes the best spinach pie. I can make it with my mum and that’s my favourite one. It doesn’t sound that exciting, but it’s really good. It takes about three hours to make, with all the pastry and layers.”
Why is it good for you?
Nutritionist Cassandra Barns explains: “Spinach is packed with iron, which has many vital functions in the body. The most obvious one is that it’s used to make hemoglobin inside our red blood cells, which carries oxygen around the body. It also has a direct role in energy metabolism, meaning the production of energy inside our cells. These are two reasons why we feel tired when we’re low in iron. Iron is also important for DNA synthesis and cell division – meaning it’s necessary for growth and repair, reproduction and immunity too.”
Try…
If you are not a big fun of spinach, keep your Iron levels steady by taking Synergistic Iron by Quest Vitamins (£10.65 for 90 tablets,www.revital.co.uk).
What? Chia Seeds
Who? Miranda Kerr
Miranda, who is a walking advert for the healthy lifestyle she leads, shared one of her favourite healthy recipes: “I make my own superfood smoothie with maca powder, acai powder, spirulina, cacao powder, coconut oil and chia seeds, which is alkalizing and nutrient dense.” She also adds chia seeds to her homemade muffins “I live by the philosophy of 80/20…meaning I eat healthily 80 per cent of the time and indulge 20 per cent of the time. For an everyday treat, I cook gluten-free muffins with blueberries and chia seeds.”
Why is it good for you?
Lorna Driver-Davies, Nutritional Therapist at www.nutricentre.com explains, “Chia seeds come from a flowering plant belonging to the mint family, which is native to South America. It was a staple food for these ancient cultures that also used it for athletic endurance due to its ability to provide varied vitamins, minerals and plant proteins. They have also been found to support hydration and electrolyte balance, which may be helpful for those who are busy and active. Research has shown that chia seeds have more omega 3 fatty acid than any other plant making them a good alternative food for those who do not eat fish. They are also rich in fibre and therefore create a good feeling of fullness and slow the emptying of the stomach making then helpful for promoting a healthy appetite (meaning not wanting to over-eat) and general weight maintenance.”
Try…
Linwood’s Milled Chia Seed (www.nutricentre.com, £5.99)
What? Coconut Water
Who? Madonna
Along with Demi Moore and Matthew McConaughey she has actually invested her money in a company that makes coconut water! During her tour in 2009 she has also been reported to drink this powerful liquid at least once a day.
Why is it good for you?
Nutritionist, Cassandra Barns says: “Coconut water is low in calories and sugar compared to fruit juices. It has a lovely natural sweet taste. Coconut water can be better for hydration than water alone because it’s naturally ‘isotonic’, meaning it has a similar concentration of salts and sugars to the human body; the salts in particular help our body to retain the fluid it needs and help the fluid to get into our cells. Coconut water also contains small amounts of many vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, magnesium, calcium and manganese.”
Try…
Chi Coconut Water (www.nutricentre.com, £3.49)
What? Avocado
Who? Gwyneth Paltrow
Mum of two, actress and also a health guru is the one to trust when it comes to healthy lifestyle choices. In her cookbook, It’s All Good, she compares toast and avocado combo to a favourite pair of jeans “so reliable and easy and always just what you want.”
Why is it good for you?
Dr Marilyn Glenville, Nutritionist (www.marilynglenville.com) explains “Avocado is a great source of Vitamin E, essential to maintain general health. It is also known as ‘youth vitamin’ with its anti-aging properties. It contains 70% monosaturated fats, which help reduce cholesterol absorption and support heart condition. One of the highlights of avocadoes is their potassium content: one avocado can contain as much as 1000 mg of potassium – several times the amount contained in a banana. Potassium is vital for maintaining a healthy blood pressure, and for nerve and muscle function. They are also good sources of magnesium, copper, vitamin C and several B vitamins. High level of dietary fibre help to control blood sugar levels and will keep you fuller for longer.”
Try…
If Avocado doesn’t appeal to you, get your Vitamin E dose from a good quality supplement, such as Vitamin E by Quest Vitamins (www.revital.co.uk, £8.29).
What? Almond butter
Who? Rihanna
What Rihanna has for her breakfast to get an energy kick? Recently, her fitness guru Harley Pasternak, who has also worked with Lady Gaga and Megan Fox, revealed, “A typical breakfast would be almond butter on toast with fruit, and through the day she’ll have small meals like quinoa with fruit and veg, a Greek yoghurt and some nuts to keep hunger at bay.”
Why is it good for you?
Dr Marilyn Glenville says (www.marylinglenville.com) says “Almond butter is not only high in protein but also packed with vitamin E and magnesium. Protein takes longer to digest making almond butter a steady source of energy. Magnesium supports your nervous system and boosts production of ‘happy hormone’, serotonin.”
Try…
Worried about calories? Increase your Magnesium levels by taking Nature’s Plus Dyno-Mins Magnesium (www.nutricentre.com, £14.95)
What? Eggs
Who? Jennifer Aniston
Known as Rachel from “Friends”, Jennifer has hardly aged in the last decade. She swears by Pilates and healthy diet. Recently, she has shared a picture of her breakfast on instagram, with deliciously looking toast topped with a poached egg and a side of tomatoes and sliced avocado.
Why is it good for you?
Dr Marilyn Glenville, the UK’s leading nutritionist (www.marilynglenville.com) explains: “Eggs should be considered a ‘superfood’ because they can boost health and fight obesity. Research has shown that leucine, one the essential amino acids found in eggs, can help with weight loss by stabilising blood sugar levels and encouraging the body to shed fat. They are also a perfect protein source that – eaten in the morning -will make you feel less hungry throughout the day. They are also packed with vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium and choline.”
What? Mushrooms
Who? Katy Perry
To shed those extra pounds and get red-carpet ready, Katy has been known to follow the ‘M’ diet, where she swapped one meal a day for mushrooms.
Why are they good for you?
Shona Wilkinson, Head Nutritionist at www.nutricentre.com, explains: “Mushrooms are not only low in calories but also extremely rich in protein, which keeps us fuller for longer. In addition, they are an excellent source of B Vitamins, Iron and Zinc, essential for healthy nails, skin and hair.’
Try…
Try Mico-Rei by Hifas da Terra (Harrods, £55) with a pure, organic extract of reishi mushroom, also known as ‘Mushroom of Immortality’, which may be helpful with protecting against free radicals and conditions associated with inflammation, such as arthritis, heart disease, osteoporosis and allergy.
