Celebrities currently swear by superfoods, chefs are cooking with them and food writers are featuring them in their recipes. Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a fan of chlorella, Victoria Beckham hails the benefits of bee pollen, and Miranda Kerr makes sure she includes chia seeds in her home-made muffins and snacks on dark chocolate... We take a look at 10 superfoods, the celebrities who are eating them and why.
What? Chlorella
This is an entirely natural and balanced, single-celled, green algae, rich in amino acids and antioxidants.
Who? Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has divulged that her secret health weapon is chlorella. The Japanese wholefood has been hailed the new crème de la mer without the eye-watering price tag. Rosie, who often follows a strict health regime of organic foods, homemade smoothies and soups, 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 nutricentre.com, 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, £29.99.
What? Bee Pollen
Who? Victoria Beckham
Why is it good?
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." When at home, her mum always cooks her favourite dish - Albanian spinach pie.
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, revital.co.uk).
What? Chia Seeds
Who? Miranda Kerr
Miranda has shared one of her favourite healthy recipes with fans: "I make my own superfood smoothie with maca powder, acai powder, spirulina, cacao powder, coconut oil and chia seeds, which is alkalising 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?
Nutritional Therapist Lorna Driver-Davies 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, £5.99 nutricentre.com
What? Coconut Water
Who? Madonna
Along with Demi Moore and Matthew McConaughey, Madonna has actually invested her money in a company that makes coconut water.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, £3.49.
What? Avocado
Who? Gwyneth Paltrow
Mum-of-two, actress and health guru Gwyneth is the one to trust when it comes to healthy lifestyle choices. In her cookbook, It’s All Good, she compares a 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 at 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, £8.29, revital.co.uk.
What? Almond butter
Who? Rihanna
Why is it good for you?Try... What? Eggs
Who? Jennifer Aniston
Why is it good for you?
What? Mushrooms
Who? Katy Perry
Why are they good for you?Try...
What? Dark chocolate Who? Miranda Kerr
Why is it good for you?
When Miranda Kerr reaches for a boost, she turns to high quality dark chocolate. Packed full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals (potassium, copper, magnesium, iron) to support good health, dark chocolate is also good for the heart, helping keep blood pressure relaxed.