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Amla powder comes from a type of fruit called Indian gooseberry, also referred to by its Sanskrit name "amalaki." It is valued as a rejuvenating herb in traditional Indian medicine known as Ayurveda and has a long history of use as an ancient herbal rasayana. The term "amla" literally means "sour." While fresh fruits can be eaten when ripe, they are known to be quite tart and astringent, not like your typical sweet and juicy variety. They also don't have a long shelf life and are therefore often prepared or dried and powdered for use in herbal formulations, but not generally consumed as a fresh fruit.- Details
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Ever wondered what the difference is between cacao vs cocoa? Learn more about the Theobroma cacao species, the bean all chocolate comes from as well as why and how it is fermented. We'll discuss more on nutritional value of both cacao and cocoa and our researched findings on their different ratios theobromine and caffeine content.- Details
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Celery juice is the liquid extracted from raw celery stalks and consuming a daily glass of this bright green drink has become a very popular worldwide trend, particularly starting in the latter half of 2018. The concept of juicing one particular vegetable variety at a time is occasionally referred to as "mono juicing." Instead of juicing several different types of fruits or vegetables together, like when making the typical green juice, mono juices specifically help to concentrate a fruit or vegetable’s health-enhancing constituents.- Details
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Making your own lacto-fermented pickled red onions is a super easy process. All you need are a few basic ingredients: onions, salt, pickling spices and a culture starter. Compared to other fermented food recipes, this one doesn't involve special food-specific cultures but can be made with any probiotic supplement powder. After fermenting them for about a week they will develop a nice soft sweet pickled taste that also takes on whatever spice flavorings you incorporate into the recipe.- Details
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Pumpkin seeds are the edible olive-green seeds produced by pumpkins, a type of squash cultivar. Also known by their Spanish name "pepitas", the pumpkin and its seeds have been utilized for centuries by cultures of North and South America as a dietary food source and for their medicinal attributes. The pumpkin is believed to be one of the oldest domesticated squash species which occurred about 10,000 years ago in Oaxaca, Mexico. Evidence suggests that squashes like pumpkin were cultivated even before the two sister crops, maize and beans.- Details
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Kefirs are cultured drinks produced by lacto-fermenting certain liquids for a short 1-3 day period of time. Among the list of fermented foods, they are one of the easiest to make from scratch, requiring only a few ingredients and minimal skill level. When it comes to water kefir vs milk kefir, both can be health-enhancing drinks to consume for most people. However, each variety of kefir is made somewhat differently, utilizing unique cultures that provide slightly different end results.- Details
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Hello RSS feed subscribers! :) Very soon (March 14, 2018) we will be transitioning over to a new website domain name (same site just new URL) and our blog feed URL will therefore be changing as well. If you'd like to continue receiving our Superfoods Blog feeds, you may need to resubscribe using the following URL: https://www.superfoodevolution.com/superfoods.xml
- Our feed address, https://feeds.feedburner.com/SuperfoodsBlog, however, will remain the same.- Details
- Category: Raw kitchen tools and equipment
Benefits of a Common Culinary Vegetable
The onion and its many different cultivars are one of the most popular species of Allium vegetables, coming close to garlic for its flavorful taste that blends well into numerous savory dishes and cultural recipes. There is in fact no other single food that is used by so many different nationalities around the globe then that of the familiar-looking and humble onion bulb. Eaten raw, sautéed, grilled, simmered and even pickled, onions and their many selections seem to have made a permanent place in the pantries of most kitchens worldwide.- Details
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Difference Between Green and Black
Olives are another one of those ancient fruits second only to grapes that were valued for their pressed juices as well as a food source. Because of its naturally bitter taste and crunchy texture, the raw olive was in fact first utilized for its "olive oil" rather than something you would actually eat ripe off the tree. Eventually curing methods were implemented to make the pulp edible, essentially transforming a hard non-palatable fruit into a rich fatty and flavorful delicacy that is enjoyed by many olive-producing countries or as an imported product.- Details
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Energy Tonic And Immune Adaptogen
Largely popular in the Western world for its profound benefits to immune functions, astragalus is also recognized as one of the most potent Chi (Qi) tonic herbs available and has been utilized for centuries in Chinese herbalism for its protective, restorative and enlivening influence. What is a Chi tonic herb? Essentially, Chi tonics are natural “energy builders” and astragalus is top on the list of "major tonic herbs" for such purposes. Frequently used as a decocted tea, tincture as well as a powdered or encapsulated extract, the roots need to be hot water or alcohol processed to release their valued properties.- Details
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Grow Your Own From Scratch
Want to learn how to make a kombucha scoby from scratch so you can make your own homemade kombucha? If so, you will need a scoby, also referred to as a "kombucha mushroom" or "kombucha mother culture." We've literally been making our own since the late 80's, so we do have quite a bit of experience with this procedure. Back then, kombucha was not found in stores like it is today, nor were scoby cultures available for sale. You had to basically get a "mother" and liquid starter from a friend (or friend of a friend of a friend in some cases). It was more of a community affair.- Details
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Comparing Common Varieties
Ever want a nuts and seeds list with nutritional data all on one place, well here it is! We've compiled these break downs for you to refer back to when you want a quick glance at specific nutrient levels. The charts below list the top most common seed and nut varieties to help you evaluate which ones you might want to include more or less of according to your own personal health objectives. This info may come in handy if you're adhering to a precise dietary protocol in which more details might be helpful.- Details
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Its Controversial Use as a Healthier Choice
Agave sweetener, also referred to as agave syrup or nectar, is the processed sap or juice commercially extracted when ripe from the core of the plant "pina." Today, most agave sweeteners are primarily produced from the same blue Agave tequilana species used to make the popular distilled alcoholic beverage known as tequila. Here on this page, we'll discuss agave sweetener's commercial production and its controversial use and marketing as a "natural" sweetener. And... Is it comparable to high fructose corn syrup?- Details
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Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) or Twig (Gui Zhi)
Most people are familiar with cinnamon as a culinary spice or natural flavoring, but a variety that is less familiar here in the West is the one known as Chinese cinnamon. This is the specific type of cinnamon referred to as "Chinese" cinnamon or Rou Gui in Chinese herbalism. It is commonly found in thick pieces rather than the typical "cinnamon stick" or rolled up quill. The other variety is called cinnamon twig or Gui Zhi, which is derived from the branches as opposed to the trunk itself.- Details
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Is It a Miracle Curative?
Black seed oil, also called black cumin seed oil, is the oil derived by pressing or cold extracting the seeds from the Nigella sativa species. This variety is not related to the Cuminum cyminum species known as cumin, nor the cumin-related species Bunium bulbocastanum, also referred to as "black cumin." The herbaceous N. sativa seed plant is common to Mediterranean locations as well as southwestern Asian countries like India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. They don't taste anything like "regular cumin" but have a pungent flavor that is usually combined with other spices.- Details
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Do They Contain Fig Wasps?
Figs are one of those ancient fruits, up there with dates, grapes and olives, that have been utilized since the dawn of human life. Repeatably mentioned in the Bible as well as valued as a holy tree species in many major religions of the world, they are known to symbolize prosperity, peace and fertility. Native to the Middle East and then spreading to Mediterranean locations, the Ficus carica species has been widely grown and consumed by humans in regions spanning from Portugal to Afghanistan. Within the Ficus genus there are also other tropical variations on the Indian subcontinent, like the Ficus religiosa or the "sacred fig."- Details
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Using a Dehydrator, Not An Oven
Want to learn how to make pumpkin seeds straight from the pumpkin for a healthy alternative to roasting methods? Use those whole unshelled seeds from your Halloween pumpkin and make healthy nutritious snack food for you and your family. Sure, you can bake them in an oven, but another way to make them without high heat is to use a dehydrator. Much like sunflower seeds in their shell, the end result will give you a tasty snack to crack open and munch on.- Details
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Effect on Testosterone and Cultural Uses
Tribulus terrestris comes from the genus Tribulus which includes about 13 different species. Despite its thorny nature, the aerial portion of the plant and especially its seeds (or fruits) have been highly valued in certain countries for different therapeutic purposes as an herbal substance. We'll discuss traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese uses, but first... what are the differences between tribulus extracts and other herb-based preparations? And, can tribulus supplements actually increase testosterone levels in men and build muscle mass?- Details
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And Black Garlic Vinaigrette
This is our black cumin seed salad dressing that also features another black superfood favorite, black garlic! We've reviewed both of these on our black seed oil and black garlic pages, and recently decided to experiment with using them together in an apple cider vinaigrette. The blended end result proved to be the perfect combo for a delicious tasting dressing that is full of health-enhancing potential. Black seeds and their cold-pressed oil have an herbal thyme-like flavor due to the thymol compound, while the black garlic adds a subtly sweet and tangy element.- Details
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Top Reasons to Drink It
Aloe vera gel and juice, for consumption purposes, is typically extracted from the Aloe barbadensis Miller subspecies of the main "true" Aloe vera plant. This is the most popular variety for dietary use because of its larger sized leaves and medicinal qualities. As a hardy succulent desert-growing plant, aloe has developed a specialized storage structure which enables it to efficiently hold water within its thick green skin. These features provide a moisturizing gelatinous fiber and juice that can have a health enhancing and healing influence when consumed as a dietary food.- Details
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Is It Better Than Raw Garlic?
Black garlic has a long history of use as a prized medicinal and culinary superfood in several Asian countries, primarily Korea, Japan and Thailand. Utilized today for its distinct flavor and texture as a gourmet ingredient, it is also becoming popular for its exceptional nutritional value that in some aspects supersedes the raw garlic it was created from. Made from whole unpeeled Allium sativum bulbs, it is allowed to age for a period of time, eventually darkening the bulbs and turning the cloves a dark black licorice-like color.- Details
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A Tasty Raw Vegan Bacon Alternative
Our coconut bacon bits recipe makes a great topping for salads, meals and is even delicious as a crunchy snack eaten by the handful. It's crispy, salty, smoky-sweet and tastes pretty darn close to bacon, but it's completely vegan and pig friendly! What is coconut bacon? When most websites use the term "coconut bacon" they are most always referring to dried coconut slices or pieces that have been baked with spices. They are not the long traditional shape of bacon strips, but are more like "bacon bits."- Details
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An Alternative Natural Sweetener
Pure maple syrup is made from the sap extracted from certain species of maple trees primarily growing in the northeastern U.S. and Canada. Tapping maples for this clear sweet liquid is a practice originally acquired from various indigenous woodland tribe's native to these regions. The syrup we are explicitly referring to is 100% pure maple syrup, which is nothing but the boiled sap from the maple tree. Manufacturers use the word "pure" to make the distinction that maple syrup is the only ingredient.- Details
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The Andean Gluten-Free Grain
Quinoa is a whole grain variety that originated in the Andean highland regions of Peru and Bolivia, where it was utilized as a staple food source by pre-Columbian civilizations. Becoming increasingly popular among a more mainstream audience for its higher protein to lower carbohydrate ratio, it has also taken center stage as one of the top gluten-free grains advocated for those with gluten intolerance, wheat allergies or celiac disease.- Details
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Detox Uses as a Periodic Dietary Supplement
Activated charcoal is a manufactured form of carbon that has been utilized since the early 1900's as a natural remedy and top universal antidote employed around the world for extreme cases of toxic contamination or gastrointestinal poisoning. Today it is not only a convenient household first aid kit item, but is likewise considered a potent substance to take during periodic cleansing regimes due to its ability to effectively adhere to toxins and chemicals that may accumulate in the body.- Details
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A No-Bake Flourless Cake Using Superfoods
This is our tried and true carrot cake recipe we commonly make for birthdays or special gatherings. It is a gluten-free flourless cake with no baking required. All you'll need is a food processor for the cake ingredients and a blender for the cashew cream cheese frosting. While eating a raw carrot cake might seem a bit odd at first, rest assured it is not at all as unappetizing as it may sound. This particular recipe, we have perfected over the years, offers the best blend of dense cake-like texture and thick, smooth, sweet cheesy frosting.- Details
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Beauty Herb and Sexual Tonic
Schizandra berry tea a is a delicious and fruity liquid made with one of the top major Chinese herbs, schizandra berries. Also spelled "schisandra", the fruit has been highly valued since the beginning of Chinese herbalism for its full spectrum of tonifying properties, often prized alongside ginseng, goji and reishi mushroom. Unlike other berries, schizandra is not a fruit you would commonly consume by the handful, but is rather prepared as an energizing and restorative tonic tea or taken in extract form.- Details
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A Homemade Soy-Free Alternative
This black bean miso paste recipe is an American-style miso or "modern miso", a non-traditional version utilizing black beans as opposed to the customary soybean selection. It is made the same way you would make Asian varieties; you simply substitute black beans instead of soy. This can not only be a preferred option for those trying to avoid soy products, it also tastes absolutely delicious using this legume option. When making a homemade miso paste, is important to know going in that there is a good amount of waiting required.- Details
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Raw Vegan Using Superfoods
Our vegan key lime pie recipe is a no-bake pie made with non-customary ingredients plus, as always, a few superfood surprises, like moringa powder. In this recipe we use raw vegan "uncooking" methods that are frequently employed when making live food desserts, like cheesecake, pudding and pies. We had to play around a bit with the different ratio of ingredients, but finally got it just right and the recipe below is the end result. While conventional key lime pie is similar to lemon meringue pie, ours is more like a cross between a custard and a cheesecake.- Details
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Its Benefits Over Other Varieties
The use of apple cider vinegar has deep roots in American history and was once a popular homemade ferment created from hard apple cider. Often claimed to be the age-old remedy elixir prescribed by Hippocrates himself, "the father of modern-day medicine", its cultured use can be found worldwide wherever apple trees are abundant. But, what exactly is it and why is it more beneficial than other types of vinegar?