Ever been tempted to buy a bottle of kombucha or splurge on some fancy smoothie claiming to have health benefits? These types of food items are marketed as natural food products or functional foods, meaning they are derived from plants or other organic compounds that provide health-boosting properties. There are plenty of natural food products that have become trendy, but do their supposed health benefits have any scientific merit? We have made a list of the top 10 trendiest natural food products and whether or not they truly do promote health. Affiliate links may generate a small commission.
Kombucha
Kombucha, the trendy fermented beverage, has been used in Asia and Russia centuries before it ever became popular in Westernized culture. It’s made by adding sugar and black or green tea to a mixture called “SCOBY” (which stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). The SCOBY acts as a starter culture and forms a film on top of the liquid to prevent contamination by other microorganisms during fermentation. By fermenting a concoction of black or green tea with sugar and apple cider vinegar for about a week, colonies of bacteria and yeast are grown. This beverage has been shown to possess many health benefits from having anticancer activity, antioxidant activity, immune-boosting properties from the beneficial enzymes and bacteria it provides, and protective benefits to the liver and heart. It may be safe to say that kombucha is far more than a passing trend. To learn more about the benefits of kombucha, check out our other article here.
Spirulina
Ever wondered why a smoothie or beverage claiming to be a health food is a blue-green color? It may be because of spirulina, a microalgae with a high protein and micronutrient content. Spirulina has been proposed to be a functional food, meaning it has definitive health promoting properties. Some of these health benefits include lowered cholesterol and blood pressure levels, quicker recovery from athletic performance, and increased immunity.
Spirulina has been suggested to be an alternative supplement for diabetic patients because of its ability to stabilize blood sugar as well as curb appetite to prevent overeating and weight gain. Spirulina is not just a pretty color, but also a pretty healthy natural food product.
Probiotics
Probiotics are the new superfoods.
There’s no doubt about it: we live in a world where people are obsessed with gut health, and probiotics have become a staple in many people’s diets. Whether you’re looking for a supplement to boost your immune system or just want some extra digestive support, probiotic food products are everywhere.
Probiotics, otherwise known as beneficial gut bacteria, are sold in all kinds of forms from supplement pills, powders, and beverages. There is no mystery as to whether probiotic food products are beneficial for health as they have been proven to help aid in digestion and protect the immune system.
But what about those trendy probiotic drinks? Like kefir, yogurt drinks, and even sodas? They seem like they’d be a great way to get your daily dose of beneficial bacteria without having to swallow a pill or eat yogurt every day! Recently, probiotic drinks such as kefir, yogurt drinks, and even sodas are exploding on the market. But wait…what if there’s sugar hiding in these drinks?
You’ll be surprised to hear that many of these trendy probiotic drinks contain added sugars that can cause blood sugar spikes and contribute to weight gain if consumed regularly. In fact, some of them may have more sugar than your favorite soda!
Charcoal
Have you ever seen charcoal lemonade or activated charcoal powder being sold as a health product? While the charcoal seen in fire pits is different from the charcoal sold in supplements, there is still a wonder as to what this natural food product does to the body. Activated charcoal has been used in the past as an emetic to induce vomiting in people who were poisoned. Because of its “cleansing” properties, some people believe charcoal can help cleanse the body of other toxins, especially if the kidneys are not working properly due to chronic disease. However, more clinical trials must be performed before activated charcoal can be proven to be a functional food.
Activated Charcoal is made by processing raw biomass materials at high temperatures with steam under pressure and treating them with oxygen gas at high temperatures. This process causes pores between particles of carbon to expand so that it can absorb up to 1000 times its weight in liquids and gases. Activated Charcoal is produced commercially from coconut shells, peat, wood, coal and sawdust.
To read more about activated charcoal and its potential benefits, click here.
Matcha
Matcha green tea is more than just a trending food. It has been shown to have many health benefits, including reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease, as well as providing weight loss support.
Matcha is a Japanese green tea that is grown under shade to enhance its nutritional value. The chemical component of matcha that gives this food its health promoting activity are polyphenols which are exceptional antioxidants. Additionally, the caffeine content of matcha is much higher than other green teas and contributes to its antioxidant potential. Because of its high antioxidant content, matcha has possible anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects on the body. Read more about the top 10 reasons to drink matcha here.
Wheat germ
Wheat germ, although not a very enticing name, has a high nutritional value being a great source of fiber, vitamin E, most of the B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Wheat germ is an essential part of a healthy diet. It’s packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals—and it even helps lower cholesterol!
Wheat germ is the embryo or reproductive part of the wheat berry seed. It has been proposed that wheat germ has cholesterol lowering effects and may possibly help reduce menopausal symptoms. However, wheat germ should not be consumed if you are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease. Wheat germ also spoils quickly so it is important to look out for the expiration date.
If you’re interested in adding more wheat germ to your diet, here are some easy ways to do so: add it to smoothies or sprinkle on top of yogurt or oatmeal.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is a supplement that has been gaining some attention for its energy boosting benefits. This supplement is most often sold in a capsule form and is most often used to treat congestive heart failure.
Coenzyme Q10 may be one of the most important chemicals in the entire body as it is present in every single mitochondria and it is responsible for transporting the protons and electrons into the cell that are needed to make the energy molecule ATP. It is believed that nearly three quarters of people over the age of 50 may be deficient in coenzyme Q10.
This supplement has been shown to have many health implications, most notably for its role in treating congestive heart failure. In fact, coenzyme Q10 has already been approved in Japan as a treatment for chronic heart disease. Coenzyme Q10 also has other potential health benefits such as alleviating migraines and improving energy levels.
Collagen
You’re probably already familiar with collagen as the beauty supplement used in hair, skin, and nail supplements. But did you know that it can also help with joint pain and recovery?
Collagen is a protein found in the body that helps maintain strong connective tissues like cartilage and tendons. It’s also responsible for healthy skin, hair, and nails.
There is statistically significant evidence for both its anti-aging and joint health benefits. Of the various collagen supplements on the market, type 1 collagen is the best form because this is the most abundant type in the body responsible for forming connective tissues and skin.
Protein powders
Protein powders are all the rage for fast muscle growth with all kinds of formulations circulating in the market. So which protein powder is best and do any of them really work? The most popular type of protein powder is made with whey which is a normal byproduct of milk and therefore contains lactose which may be problematic for lactose intolerant individuals.
There is evidence to support that whey protein can help with muscle growth when performing resistance training. However, because exercise regimens vary from person to person and study to study, it is difficult to assume how much muscle growth is attributable to the protein powder itself. Protein powders also contain creatine which is a natural compound found in the body involved in energy production. Creatine is used in the body for quick bursts of energy and is therefore not necessarily ideal for endurance training or reducing fatigue. Branched chain amino acids are another popular protein powder supplement.
There has been speculation that branched chain amino acids work far better than any other essential amino acids to help build muscle but further research must be done to prove this. Of the thousands of protein powders available, it may be difficult to narrow it down to one and it may depend on personal preference such as whether you are vegetarian or are lactose intolerant. To read more about the different types of protein powders, click here.
Fish Oils
Everyone is talking about consuming enough omega-3 fatty acids, but what does this really mean and why do we need to take fish oil supplements to do this?
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that are required for the building of cells and chemical messengers in the body. These fatty acids are also required for brain function and heart health.
Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish oil, flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and vegetable oils. Many people choose to take fish oil supplements to ensure they are getting enough omega-3s in their diet. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help with cardiovascular disease, immunity, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease
Check out our article on omega-3s to learn more about their health benefits.
