Francesca Specter in Food

Which superfood is for you?

As the colder months approach (and that virtuous summer diet regime starts to slip!), let a superfood come to your rescue. Celebrated for their health-boosting qualities, these nutritional store cupboard staples will be a perfect complement to your wellness journey.

We take a look at six of the most popular superfoods – packed with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants – to find out which of these ingredients could boost your health.

For improving your digestion, you need chia seeds

We all suffer from poor digestion at some point – and eating chia seeds, which contain 42% of your recommended daily intake of dietary fibre, can really help. Not only this, they also form a gel-like substance in our tummies which helps to support the growth of good bacteria.

For a low mood, you need cacao powder

Cacao’s chocolate-y taste alone is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face, but this Peruvian superfood also boosts the level of feel-good hormone serotonin in your brain – we call that a double whammy.

For low energy, you need goji berries

Feel lethargic all the time? You might, like almost one in 10 women in the UK, have iron deficiency. Add goji berries – which boast 15 times the amount of iron as Popeye’s favourite, spinach – to your morning bowl of porridge, or keep them in your desk drawer to snack on throughout the day.

For a post-workout fix, you need hemp protein

Whether you’re a meat eater or a veggie, recent research has shown that eating more vegetarian protein (rather than relying on meat) can boost life expectancy. Hemp protein – which boasts all 21 known amino acids – is a perfect way to increase your intake. Add it to your post-workout smoothie to help replenish your muscles and keep you full.

For an all-round vitamin boost, you need superfood powder

This green powder packs a superb lineup of superfoods, including wheatgrass, barleygrass, spirulina, chlorella and hemp protein powder, plus iron, zinc and vitamins B12, C, E.

For just about everything, you need coconut oil

Every household needs a jar of coconut oil. It’s made up from medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are easily digested and help to stimulate your metabolism. While it’s brilliant for cooking and baking, coconut has a multitude of other uses including as a hair mask and to moisturise dry areas of the skin.

These ingredients make up Naturya’s ‘Super 6’. For your chance to win a Super 6 celebrity prize, head to hollandandbarrett.com/naturyasuper6.

Which superfood is your favourite? Tweet us or tag us on Facebook and Instagram – we love to hear from you!