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.

How to add superfoods to your diet

Superfoods are a fantastic way to add rich, powerful nutrients to your diet and transform your health and wellbeing in the process. But what are the best ways to start to incorporate them into your food? Some might taste a little strong to your palette to begin with, so you may prefer to blend them with other tastes - at least until you adjust.

Superfoods in smoothies

Green juices and smoothies are perhaps the most common way to add superfoods to your diet. Try a green juice of spinach, apple, lime, avocado and kiwi with a spoon of spirulina or wheatgrass. If you are new to green juicing, try a 50/50 vegetable and fruit blend. As you become less reliant on sugar, decrease the amount of fruit and become more adventurous with your green vegetables - celery, cucumber, fennel, lettuce and parsley will all help to transport your superfoods to every cell in your body for a powerful cleansing and reinvigorating effect.

In soups

Try stirring our Vitality green superfood blend into a soup - broccoli and coconut is a great choice made with fresh vegetable broth for vital nutrients. Allow the soup to cool slightly before stirring in your superfood sprinkle with a spoonful of toasted nuts, a swirl of coconut cream or a dusting of nutritional yeast flakes.

As a shot

If you are feeling ready for a quick health hit, then simply mix a spoon of your chosen superfood - maca, spirulina, wheatgrass or a blend - with filtered water and then knock it back!

In raw energy bites

Food process dates, nuts, vanilla and a spoonful of maca powder for some delicious raw energy bites. Experiment with other ingredients such as raw cacao, seeds, coconut flakes, nut butter, chia seeds and other healthful ingredients as you perfect your recipe. You can also roll your raw balls in superfoods for a colourful finish - try spirulina for a colourful green energy ball to enjoy after your workout!

What is your favourite way to enjoy superfoods?

Maca powder – the superfood beneficial for an underactive thyroid

Maca powder – the superfood beneficial for an underactive thyroid

Do you feel tired and stressed out all the time? Research has indicated that the alkaloids of maca will have a beneficial effect on your endocrine system when taken regularly - and this is good news for all women. As we go through life, our hormones fluctuate. This can be unsettling enough but, when we also take the stresses of daily life into account, we can start to experience adrenal fatigue - this is our body’s first line of defence. If we don’t heed the warnings, the thyroid gland can become impacted severely. 

Many women have found that taking maca improves the function of their thyroid, reducing mental fog and fatigue in a very short space of time. 

It works best if you can use maca powder on a daily basis and it works by impacting the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus - these are significant when it comes to the health of your thyroid. The hypothalamus releases a thyrotropin-releasing hormone – known as TRH - and this stimulates the pituitary gland which in turn, stimulates the thyroid to release the thyroid hormone. So, if you want an overhaul of your endocrine system, maca may be the herb for you. Maca powder can help to stimulate the natural productivity of your thyroid and this has to be a good thing. 

As a superfood, maca root is becoming increasingly popular as it has numerous benefits. It helps to reduce glucose levels, can reduce the number of hot flushes associated with the menopause, it lowers your blood pressure and can even improve sexual desire. Maca powder is readily available and it can easily be added to meals on a daily basis. If you are interested in trying it out, simply add to your cereals or homemade smoothies and enjoy the subtle, malty taste. Note: it is generally advised that you don't cook or bake maca powder but as small quantities are all that is required, you'll find many ways of adding it to your diet. Use regularly and you’ll start to notice that your health improves.

Enjoy a healthy sweet treat fix - with superfoods

A healthy diet needn't mean the end of desserts and the odd treat. Remember, everything should be enjoyed in moderation! It is also perfectly possible to maximise the nutritional value of your favourite sweet items by making a few careful swaps and by incorporating nutrient-dense superfoods - which supercharge your health and give you fantastic energy, health benefits and an overall zest for life - into your diet.

A soothing smoothie 


If you are craving chocolate, it could be a sign that you are deficient in magnesium. Luckily, you can find this in avocado and banana, both of which make a great smoothie. Whizz them up with a handful of berries and you've got a delicious, reviving smoothie that is thick and nourishing.


Chia pudding

Protein-packed chia seeds are one of the hot ingredients at the moment. They make a great breakfast pudding if you soak a couple of tablespoons in a pint of nut milk of your choice. By morning, they will have created a set pudding, which is wonderful with nuts and fresh fruit. Why not sprinkle a little maca powder on top for energy and vitamins galore?

Cacao wonder 

Pure and unprocessed cacao is packed with nutrients, including the vitamin spectrum, iron and fibre. You can use it instead of processed cocoa to make all manner of treats. Stir a spoon of raw cacao into coconut or almond milk for a soothing evening drink and sweeten with a little honey and cinnamon. Mix up cacao powder with avocado and raw manuka honey for a rich and indulgent pudding - and make little cacao bites by blending cacao powder, dates, nuts and almond butter. Serve them raw to maximise taste and nutrient profile.

Spirulina

You can even use spirulina in sweet treats! Try adding it to a green juice with spinach, banana, kiwi and lime - or add a little to a raw nut ball recipe with nuts, dates, manuka honey and chia seeds for a powerful protein and vitamin-packed health punch!

Protein Shakes, The Veagn 'Whey'

Protein shakes can often be a contentious issue, typically made from Whey and synthetic flavourings these types of powders are readily available and widely used by body builders, gym bunnies and fitness fanatics. Mixed reports in the media make it hard to know what to believe when it comes to the benefits of taking protein.

Most people actually get enough protein in their daily diet, especially with the vast amount of meat that is now part of Western diets. Taking additional protein through a shake can actually add weight if not taken in conjunction with exercise.

However taking protein within half an hour of a work out can help to build muscle. Vegans and vegetarians may also benefit from natural sources of protein if they want to inject some additional protein in to their diet. And if you are skeptical about alternative protein powders just check out The Vegan Body Builder on YouTube… Wow!

Choosing a protein from a natural source such as pea or hemp and adding your own fresh flavours is a much healthier and sustainable way to still get your protein boost without all the added chemicals.

Watch our video for a totally vegan, totally delicious and completely natural protein shake…

By Sophia @ Detox Trading

Deluxe Hot Chocolate Recipe from Detox Trading

Buy from Detox Trading Here

Warming Winter - Ginger, Lime & Maca Green Smoothie

This is a great winter smoothie with the freshness of the greens and the warming of the ginger & macs combo.

Ingredients to whizz into your blender

200ml 100% Apple Juice

1 x Banana
1 x 2-3cm of Fresh Root Ginger
½ lime juice
2 handfuls of Baby Spinach
1 ½ Tbsp of Maca Powder

Serves 2 large glasses

* if you want a creamy smoothie - add a fresh avocado

Superfoods Good for your Brain

Chia means strength and Chia Seeds contains large amount of omega-3, calcium, antioxidants, iron, protein, fibre, and potassium which gives energy and stamina for the brain.

Acai is known to enhance brain health and improve cognitive abilities, packed with antioxidants with ORAC, omega-3, vitamins, and protein.

Goji Berries are said to improve the sharpness of your brain and help you retain information more efficiently and may help in reducing damaging inflammation of the brain as well as reducing the accumulation of toxins in the brain.

Spirulina also has many brain improving benefits, it is said to reduce the degeneration of the brain and prevents brain damage and studies have shown that it can reverse damage done to the brain from process of ageing.

Cacao has lots of minerals and nutrients that help boost the brains neurotransmitters and creates serotonin (the hormone that makes you happy) that keeps you calm. It has to raw to get the most nutritional benefit.

Maca is a fabulous superfood is known to improve the brains neurochemistry and helps fight against depression, stress, anxiety and acts as a mood enhancer.

Coconut is known as a great fuel to enhance healthy brain function with its rich source of medium chain triglycerides (MCT). 

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) go straight to your liver to be processed into ketones which are then sent to the brain to be used for fuel. Being a stable fuel supply, coconut is considered to be great fuel for your brain by supporting your brain’s learning capabilities and memory retention.

Curcumin which comes from Turmeric shows neuroprotective properties and is said to help neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer's.