However, it's not always easy after a few weeks of lazing around, so more than just dietary advice, we're giving you superfood tips with 5 superfood ingredients to help you get back to school in great shape!
#1 - Mate
Also called “Paraguay tea” or “Brazilian tea,” mate is a South American infusion made from yerba mate leaves. It can replace coffee due to its high caffeine content, making it an effective food for fighting fatigue. Caffeine stimulates brain activity, which is a great way to reboot the brain during this recovery period, and without headaches! In fact, mate is also widely used in the treatment of migraines. It has diuretic and laxative properties, thus helping to detoxify the body , and is therefore a good asset if you are undertaking weight loss.
This infusion will also provide you with a great range of micronutrients such as vitamins A, B and C, magnesium and calcium .
Finally, if you suffer from rheumatism or liver disease, consider mate: it relieves symptoms in many cases.
#2 - Chlorella
Chlorella is arguably the most versatile and powerful algae. Sold in powder form, it is the ultimate detox food : it eliminates toxins, detoxifies organs, and strengthens the immune system. Its richness in micronutrients makes it a quality superfood, among those present in very large quantities, we find:
- potassium and calcium : an essential duo for the transmission of nerve impulses and essential for muscle contraction
- Magnesium : Modulating stress reactivity and therefore helping to combat it, it plays an important role in energy production. It is also essential for muscle contraction.
Chlorella is also very rich in vitamin C ! Ideal, therefore, for boosting your days and your memory.
#3 - Rooibos
Rooibos is a shrub native to South Africa, so it is not part of the tea family, but it is also consumed as an infusion. It is recognized for its many virtues.
First of all, rooibos is known to be a very good antioxidant , thus, it limits oxidative stress, cardiovascular risks, degenerative diseases and cancer. At the start of the school year, we need our brain capacities to be optimal, nothing beats a daily rooibos infusion to fight against brain aging.
For those feeling stressed during this time of year, this food will be your ally. It relieves gastrointestinal distress and promotes sleep by fighting insomnia, allowing you to leave feeling light and refreshed in the morning.
#4 - Birch sap
Those for whom back-to-school rhymes with detox will find their happiness in birch sap. There's nothing better than a reboot of the body to start the year in the best conditions. It is said to have draining properties , thus promoting the elimination of organic waste, particularly uric acid, which, in excess in the blood, can cause cholesterol and high blood pressure.
It stimulates the excretory organs, i.e. those whose role is to eliminate waste from the body (liver, kidneys, pancreas, skin, etc.). By desaturating the kidneys of toxins, birch sap can also have an impact on skin problems such as acne and eczema.
Just like mate, this sap can soothe rheumatism to help you start the year in great shape.
Magnesium and lithium to regulate mood and prevent depression, silicon for joints, vitamin C for vitality, zinc for immunity, ... The benefits are countless!
#5 - Hemp seeds
Good for the heart and brain thanks to a balanced content of omega-3 and omega-6 , these seeds have many other benefits due to their micronutritional profile.
Here is a brief overview of the treasures they contain:
- lots of vitamin E , one of the most powerful antioxidants, helping to fight premature aging of cells, cardiovascular diseases, and many other pathologies
- lots of vitamin D , essential for the immune system and neuron function
- a richness in sulfur , the forgotten micronutrient yet very useful in the detoxification of mucous membranes, and with anti-infectious virtues to face the onset of autumn.
- rich in phosphorus , useful in energy production, for a boost of vigor before going back to school!
Enough to guarantee you a back-to-school season full of vitality!
Sources :
[1] Lutomski, P., Goździewska, M., & Florek-Łuszczki, M. (2020). Health properties of Yerba Mate. Accessed September 9, 2021, at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32588612/
[2] Morgese, M., Mhillaj, E., Francavilla, M., & Bove, M. (2016). Chlorella sorokiniana Extract Improves Short-Term Memory in Rats. Accessed September 9, 2021, at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27689989/
[3] Smith, C., & Swart, A. (2018). Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos) – a functional food targeting cardiovascular disease. Accessed September 9, 2021, at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30183052/
[4] Muselin, F., Dumitrescu, E., Berbecea, A., & Doma, A. (2018). The effect of cisplatin administration on certain trace elements homeostasis in rats and the protective effect of silver birch (Betula pendula) sap. Accessed September 9, 2021, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29429790/
[5] Farinon, B., Molinari, R., Costantini, L., & Merendino, N. (2020). The Seed of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): Nutritional Quality and Potential Functionality for Human Health and Nutrition. Accessed September 9, 2021, at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32610691/
