Superfood powders: How could they benefit you?

 With so many superfood products on the market today, it can be hard to know exactly what to buy and how it could benefit you. This brief guide will introduce you to some of the superfood powders supplied by Detox Trading, with handy information about their background, benefits and how best to use them.

Lucuma Powder

Lucuma powder (pronounced Loo-Ku-Ma) is sourced from farms across Peru, particularly in Pesco, central Peru. This product is made from a raw and nutrient dense fruit, and is so widely sought after due to its exotic and fragrant flavour, that it’s been named the ‘Gold of the Incas’. Just some of the benefits of Lucuma powder include its ability to improve metabolism, the maintenance of healthy teeth and bones, and it encourages consistent function of cell membranes. 

Lucuma powder has a beautifully rich and creamy texture, making it a great addition to your breakfast smoothie and porridge. It can also be added to deserts and ice-creams and can even be made into a fruit coulis. Within Peru, it is one of the most popular desert flavours.

 Maca Powder

 Maca powder was originally cultivated in Peru, and has been grown and used consistently by the native Incas for over 2000 years. The powder itself comes in three different varieties; Yellow, black and red, each offering some different benefits due to the nutrients in the pigment of the plants skin. This superfood powder holds a variety of nutrients, including key vitamins such as B1, B2, C and E. It is also a great source of vitamin C and calcium, whilst containing fatty acids, alkaloids and steroids that help with the general maintenance and well-being of you and your body. This product is suitable for vegetarians and vegans, is completely GMO free, and free of all allergens, meaning that it’s suitable for wide range of dietary requirements.

 Maca powder has a range of medicinal uses that could improve numerous aspects of your life, from chronic fatigue and a weak immune system, to hormone balance and sexual function. The powder can be combined with juices, smoothies or even in porridge and cereals, you could even try making a maca-chino. 

Moringa Leaf Powder

Moringa Leaf Powder is derived from the Moringa Oleifera tree in India, otherwise dubbed as the ‘Miracle of Moringa’. It is most commonly used for its medicinal purposes, and it's bright green colouring. The flavouring is often likened to spinach or asparagus. This superfood powder is an excellent source of fibre and proteins, containing vitamins A, E, B1, B2, B3, B12 and C, and minerals iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and copper. This is your daily multivitamin in powder form! It also boasts an extremely long list of benefits that include metabolism maintenance, skin improvement, improved cardiovascular health and improved vision and muscle function. For a more comprehensive list, visit this page. 

Purple Corn Flour

Purple Corn Flour is unique variety of gluten-free flour, grown in the inter-Andean valleys of Lima, Ancash and Arequipa in Peru. The unique colouring of this flour has made it popular choice of dye and colourant in foods and drinks, and has been used by Native South Americans for centuries. It’s also a great replacement for wheat, corn and other flours, making it the perfect addition to cakes, breads, tortillas and even pancakes. This product is an antioxidant power house, due to its high levels of anthocyanins, which gives it the unique purple colouring. This powder can be used as an anti-inflammatory, and is also known to help lower blood pressure and maintain kidney health.

 Detox Trading is a family run businesses supplying premium, organic superfood products and powders to help improve the wellbeing of your body. Visit our website for further information about the products we stock.

He Shou Wu: What can it do for you?

With a mysterious history as rich as the culture it derives from, He Shou Wu (pronounced he-show-woo) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 3,000 years. Also known as Fo-Ti, this particular herb is considered to be the elixir of life in Asian herbalism, with properties that help to preserve stamina, vigour, and youth. He Shou Wu is specially prepared tuberous root of the Polygonum Multiflorumplant, found in the mountains of southern and central China. 

Legend suggests that a weak and frail man by the name of Neng Si would come to discover He Shou Wu after waking from a drunken sleep. He found entwined plant vines and decided to dig them up, and take them home. Following the advice of a passing hermit, Neng Si ground the root into a powder and ate some, only to find a few days later that he was beginning to feel stronger, and more energetic. In a matter of months, he would transform from a hapless, to virile and would even come to father a number of sons in the coming years. The herb had rejuvenated him, and it has been a highly-revered energising tonic ever since.  

Anti-ageing 

As the tale of Neng Si suggests, He Shou Wu is widely regaled for its anti-ageing benefits. It is not only-supposed to be of great use in maintaining vibrant looking hair, but it is also said to help strengthen the back and joints. He Shou Wu is also full of antioxidants that can also help to look after the eyes. 

Libido Booster  

These youthful properties go beyond physical appearance and mobility. Not only will this particular herb prove useful in maintaining a youthful and healthy sex drive, but it is also considered to be extremely useful in seeking to improve fertility when looking to conceive a child. 

Zinc and Iron supplement       

The high levels of zinc and iron in this herb make it an excellent cell producer, and it even stimulates blood-generating cells and improves circulation. It can be extremely difficult to maintain the necessary levels of these minerals, therefore to keep up with the levels that your body needs to run smoothly, the addition of He Shou Wu is absolutely essential. 

Rejuvenation of mind and body 

He Shou Wu is, above all else, an energising tonic in Asian herbalism, therefore it is a valuable dietary addition that could help to keep your energy levels up. In addition, it is said to have properties that help to reverse hair loss, and can help to protect and restore DNA, improve brain and liver function, and can help to boost the immune system. 

Calming 

For those who experience periods of high stress and anxiety, He Shou Wu has a number of calming properties, thanks to its natural balancing and muscle relaxant properties. The health and wellness benefits really do seem to be endless. 

How should you take it? 

Before it can be safely taken as a tonic herb, He Shou Wu needs to be properly prepared. At Detox Trading, our organic He Shou Wu is sliced and stewed in a black bean stew. The roots are then dried and ground in to a powder. Traditionally He Shou Wu is the ideal herb to be made as a hot tea, or can be simply mixed with cooler water. If you are interested in the hair growth properties, then creating a mixture with oil or water, then rubbing it directly in to the scalp could have a much more noticeable effect.  

Start with a small dose, no more than 1/4 teaspoon daily, and slowly work up to 1 teaspoon a day.   

As a family-run business, Detox Trading is dedicated to providing premium quality, organic superfoods, certified by the UK Soil Association. Visit our website for more information about the fantastic herb that is He Shou Wu, or view some of our other amazing organic powders and superfoods. 

Organic spinach powder is a game changer — and here's why

Even if you have always struggled to eat your greens, there's still a reasonable probability that you have looked favourably upon spinach since a young age. 

Spinach, of course, is the magic green vegetable that Popeye The Sailor Man eats when he's in need of a quick release of superhuman strength. 

The exaggerated impact of spinach on the popular cartoon character was hugely entertaining to kids, and mothers everywhere used the influence of Popeye to encourage their children to eat more vegetables. 

A healthy supplement boasting great versatility

Organic spinach powder won't give you freakish strength, but it will provide you with an extremely healthy supplement that deserves to have pride of place in the kitchen of any health-conscious person. Put simply, it is one of the finest superfoods available in the UK. 

You may have recently bought a blender and are finding yourself experimenting with all kinds of different smoothie recipes. If so, organic spinach powder is the perfect accompaniment. 

Mix it into your drink or sprinkle it in to soups and enjoy the goodness

Perhaps juicing is your thing? Again, organic spinach powder offers untold amounts of goodness while also giving your drink that famous green hue that is the hallmark of all healthy juices. 

The benefits of organic spinach powder are plentiful and wide-ranging. Also, it provides the perfect alternative for those who might struggle to eat this wonderful vegetable in its whole form but still want to get it into their system. 

Bursting with all kinds of health-boosting benefits:

For anyone looking to buy superfood online, this is a great choice. The fact that it is a natural source of antioxidants, rich in vitamins, iron and omega 3 fatty acids barely scratches the surface of its positive capabilities. Any health-food enthusiast should have a plentiful supply of organic spinach powder close to hand. 

You can order it from our website today!

6 reasons spirulina is the superfood you need right now 

With its deep forest green colour, spirulina powder is often considered the king of super greens. Its unique colour is down to the fact that spirulina is actually a form of algae. And this amazing superfood is simple to add to your daily routine - all you need to do is stir one heaped teaspoon into a smoothie filled with fresh fruit once a day and you'll start feeling the health benefits. Here are six reasons spirulina is the superfood you need right now:

1. Packed with protein

Gym-going vegans have been drinking spirulina-packed smoothies for years. In fact, spirulina is 64% protein! The fact that there are 57 grams of protein per 100 grams is just mind-blowing. So, if you are looking for a protein uptake without having dairy or meat - look no further.

2. High in chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is the stuff that flushes toxins and bad stuff out of your blood. No, this doesn't mean you should continue to eat poorly or drink excessively to balance it out, but it can give you a helping hand.

3. High in iron

If you are on a plant-based diet, finding foods high in iron is a real struggle. Spirulina is packed with iron to help you solve that issue.

4. Packed with nutrients

Spirulina is also packed with the nutrients your body craves for everyday healthy functioning and wellness such as vitamin A, B6, C and D. On top of that, you'll find magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, phosphorus, chromium and selenium.

5. High in antioxidants

High in antioxidants means it's great for a detox and also amazing for your skin.

6. High in calcium

Spirulina is incredibly high in calcium meaning that's good news for your teeth and bones. To all those milk drinkers out there, spirulina actually contains over 26 times the amount of calcium found in moo juice.

5 top reasons to add Maca powder to your diet

5 top reasons to add Maca powder to your diet

If you're looking to incorporate a superfood powder into your diet that will offer multiple health and well-being benefits, then it's time to look at Maca powder. When it comes to this superfood, UK buyers are queueing up to enjoy the benefits. It works well in drinks, juices, smoothies, salads and cooked foods - and it's great in baked goods for a healthier treat.

High vitamin content

Research into Maca powder is ongoing and initial studies suggest that it is rich in vitamins B, C and E, as well as being abundant in zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, amino acids and phosphorus.

A great sex life!

Maca powder has been used for centuries to help promote a healthy sex life in men and women alike, boosting both endurance and libido.

Women's health

The powder is also used to alleviate menstrual problems and the effects of the menopause. There is also anecdotal evidence that it helps to soothe depression and anxiety. It is important to note however that it shouldn't be taken by pregnant or lactating women, as its effects on these groups are yet to be quantified.

Energy

Maca is a great natural ingredient for enhancing stamina, and it is popular with athletes looking to boost their performance. Only a small amount is needed to feel the difference, both mentally and physically. Try adding it to a protein drink to help grow muscle mass after strength training, and add a spoon into a fresh juice before a cardio workout for an energy pop!

Overall health

Maca powder is also believed to help with wound healing, dental health and skin issues, helping to relieve sensitivity and to treat acne. It may also help with hormonal balance too. 

You can buy this superfood online at Detox Trading in convenient multi-serving packs, ready to add to your food and drinks. Start enjoying the benefits of Maca powder today!