From Flowers to Fungus (5 Superfoods for Healthy Aging)

Jul 6, 2024

4 min read

Looking to add some powerful superfoods to your diet? Rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and/or helpful for blood-sugar regulation, these five foods are excellent choices to add to your kitchen! From flowers to fungus, let's explore some fun culinary additions!

~Butterfly Pea Flower 💮

~Cinnamon 🔴

~Bell Peppers 🫑

~Hemp Heart Seeds 🌱

~Mushrooms 🍄

Butterfly Pea Flower

Superfoods — Blue and Green Matcha Lattes

I’m excited to share this one because it’s a fairly recent discovery for me! One of my sisters 🙋🏻‍♀️ introduced me to it. She uses it as a dried flower tea that turns into a beautiful rich blue 🦋 color. If you add a few drops of lemon juice it changes to purple! MAGIC 🪄 ! (ok, science, but you know what I mean…). My personal favorite is the powdered version that I use just like my matcha green tea powder. In fact, the one I use is actually CALLED Butterfly 🦋 Pea Matcha! It’s been around for centuries in Asia but is only just gaining exposure in the western world. This is perhaps the prettiest option in this compilation of 5 powerful foods for healthy aging!

Ways To Enjoy

Use the powder just like matcha green tea powder and make a morning latte, steep the flowers 💮 as a tea or add some to a smoothie for a gorgeous blue drink! Throw in some blueberries for a bigger blue 🔵 antioxidant kick!

Health Benefits

Use of butterfly pea flower may:

~aid digestion 👍

~decrease blood pressure ⬇️

~promote healthy hair and skin 👩🏻‍🦰

~reduce inflammation ⤵️

~improve mood 🙂

~promote brain health 🧠

Source: https://foodtolive.com/healthy-blog/butterfly-pea-powder-nutrition-health-benefits-and-uses/

Try some for yourself and let us know how you used it! https://amzn.to/4cAJCiE

Cinnamon

Nothing suggests ‘warm and cozy’ quite like the scent of cinnamon! Warm, spicy and slightly sweet, cinnamon is a pantry must-have. Native to southcentral Asia 🌍, this now-ubiquitous spice found its way around the world and into people’s cooking through the international spice trade. And I’m so glad it did!! Aren't you?!

Ways To Enjoy

Sprinkle some on your oatmeal 🥣 or brew with your coffee ☕️, add to baked goods or experiment with adding a touch to savory dishes as well. The results can be surprising!

Health Benefits

Adding a dash of cinnamon to your daily diet may:

~improve immune function 💪🏽

~support digestive health 🚽

~manage blood sugar 👌

~inhibit brain deterioration 🧠

~lower blood pressure ⬇️

Source: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-cinnamon

Bell Peppers

Bell peppers 🫑 just look like summer to me. Light, fresh, crisp with a variety of colors, they just scream to be added to summer-fresh recipes! Loaded with vitamin C, water 💦, fiber and a slew of other vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, eating bell peppers on a regular basis is a MUST for healthy aging!

Red 🔴, orange 🟠, yellow 🟡, green 🟢…they make up the first four colors of the rainbow and that’s one easy way to ‘eat the rainbow’. Or at least part of it! Just be sure to add some blueberries 🫐 and eggplant 🍆 and you’ve got the entire rainbow covered!

Ways To Enjoy

Cut strips of raw bell peppers and dip into hummus, sauté a variety in olive oil with onions 🧅 and protein of choice for fajitas or dice and freeze them to have on hand for future use!

Health Benefits

Eating bell peppers regularly may:

~support eye health 👀

~strengthen immunity 💪🏽

~aid in healthy digestion 🌀

~reduce inflammation ⬇️

~rejuvenate the skin 🤩

~support heart health ❤️

~maintain lung health 🫁

Source: https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/11-health-benefits-bell-peppers/

Hemp Heart Seeds

Another relatively new discovery for me 🕵🏼 I stumbled across these little nuggets while researching how to include more vegan recipes into my diet. Full of vitamins D & E, omega fatty acids and protein along with a host of minerals such as zinc and magnesium, these little soft seeds are a perfect way to add some extra nutrition to your day!

Ways To Enjoy

Sprinkle some in a salad 🥗, add to yogurt parfaits or throw a couple tablespoons into baked goods 🥐 for a healthy boost of nutrients and protein. Sprinkling some here and there is an easy way to incorporate this superfood into your daily diet!

I made some old-fashioned no-bake cookies 🍪 the other day and added a couple tablespoons 🥄 of hemp seeds for additional health benefits. I’m always sneaking good stuff into my kids’ diets this way!

Health Benefits

Including hemp seeds in your diet on a regular basis may:

~support gut health ⚕️

~improve skin health 🤩

~reduce inflammation ⤵️

~support heart health ❤️

Try my favorite brand here: https://amzn.to/3XUuGYd

Source: https://naturallivingfamily.com/hemp-seed-benefits/#:~:text=5%20Key%20Hemp%20Seed%20Benefits%201%20Digestive%20Health.,…%203%20Heart%20Health.%20…%20More%20items…%20

Mushrooms

Not everyone’s favorite, I know…but….mushrooms 🍄 are gaining popularity as more is discovered about their nutritional content. And with veganism on the rise, people are looking for meat-like substitutes. Mushrooms are an obvious choice! With such a large variety, the options abound!

Ways To Enjoy

Sauté with some butter 🧈 (vegan butter, perhaps?), add to salads 🥗 and omelets or stuff them with cheese 🧀 and broil for a pizza-like treat! Dried mushrooms have wildly increased in popularity lately as well and can be found in everything from supplements to protein powders to coffee substitutes!

Health Benefits

Adding mushrooms to your diet may:

~reduce/prevent signs of aging 😍

~deter brain deterioration 🧠

~improve mood 🙂

~enhance memory 🧩

~support heart health ❤️

~prevent osteoporosis 🦴

Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a27633487/mushroom-health-benefits/

Don't care for mushrooms but want the amazing benefits? Try a powder blend to add to smoothies, acai bowls and more!

https://amzn.to/4f9mtFM

Fully Stocked

You should be fully stocked with fresh ideas for your kitchen 🧑🏽‍🍳 and pantry to easily incorporate these 5 powerful superfoods for healthy aging into your daily diet! Feel free to share your favorite healthy aging foods and how you prepare them!