The new best friends of beauty don’t come from a tube (or a pill, or an infomercial, or the, er, “special doctor”). The beauty boost you’ve been looking for comes straight from the kitchen! A radiant exterior starts with a well-nourished body, and while there are many foods that offer beautifying benefits, nutrient-dense superfoods are ideal for getting that long-term glow. Add these 5 extraordinary foods to your diet for the healthiest (and most delicious!) beauty upgrade ever:

Hemp Seeds
Among their many benefits, hemp seeds are an exceptionally rich source of essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs serve as a crucial element in the development of new cells by helping to compose the cell membrane itself. Because the cells that compose our body’s exterior have an especially high turnover rate, eating foods with quality EFAs influences an increase in renewed and vibrant skin, hair, nails, etc. Hemp seeds also supply a good source of Vitamin E, the famous beauty nutrient known for its natural moisturizing and anti-aging qualities.
Try them in: Hemp Hummus

Wheatgrass Juice or Powder
Being a potent natural source of chlorophyll (the green “blood” of plants), wheatgrass is profoundly alkaline. This quality means wheatgrass assists in increasing circulation, promotes detoxification of impurities, neutralizes acids and toxins, and at the same time replenishes cells with essential minerals. While all this beneficial activity builds a clean body internally, these perks also translate to vibrant, lustrous skin and bright, clear eyes.
Try it in: Green Energy Bars

Berries
Nutrient-dense berries such as strawberries, blackberries, goji berries, or acai berries share a common benefit: concentrated antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free radicals in the body, thus providing defense against cellular oxidation (disease and aging). Consistent consumption of high antioxidant foods can delay signs of aging by keeping the body’s cell structure strong on both the inside and out. Eating these “superberries” can be especially helpful in preventing the acceleration of skin damage (like wrinkles!), as well as delaying (even reversing, according to some reports) graying hair.
Try them in: Indigo Granita Dessert

Camu Camu
As the world’s highest known source of Vitamin C, camu berries are a standout superfood in a beautifying diet. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in beauty because in addition to contributing to tissue growth, this nutrient is also essential for the formation of collagen – a protein responsible for giving skin its elastic quality (among many other things!). Plus, being an antioxidant in and of itself, Vitamin C is another premium tool in the anti-aging arsenal. Consuming vitamin C in a natural, whole food form like camu (as opposed to a synthetic vitamin pill) ensures this helpful nutrient is digested and assimilated by the body to the fullest extent.
Try it in: Camu Berry Lemonade, from Superfood Cuisine: Cooking With Nature’s Most Amazing Foods

Coconut Oil
Granted, coconut oil may not be a superfood per se, but its incredible benefits earn it a paramount position in the natural beauty regimen. When enjoyed as a food, coconut oil makes a nutritious cooking oil full of energy-giving medium chain fatty acids that are easily (and deliciously) used in place of harmful fats. Used externally, coconut oil serves as nature’s premier moisturizing lotion – an ideal remedy for dry or wrinkled skin. Rubbed on the body or face, the smooth oil is easily absorbed, softens the skin, and provides an instant radiance.
Try it in: Heavenly Baked Delecata Squash

These foods can be sourced at natural food stores, through various web-based retailers, or through my online shop.

You can view this episode along with my other videos under the Cooking Show section, HERE.

With its stellar ingredient list, this jam is a bona fide superfood in and of itself, so you can feel really good about incorporating it in your diet. Acai berries have a very mild berry flavor, resulting in a jam that looks and tastes similar to boysenberry preserves. If you like extra-sweet jams, I would recommend adding a touch of white stevia at the end for a natural (and sugar-free/calorie-free) sweet boost.

Raw Acai from navitasnaturals.com

I had every intention of going for a run this afternoon. Got my tank and shorts on, tied up my shoelaces, cued up my stopwatch. But a great idea is not always on schedule, and right as I took a step outside the front door, it hit me: Acai fudge. Wow. I bet I could make a killer acai fudge.

Now, I may be young, but I’m wise enough to know that some things in life must not be kept waiting. Things, that is, such as a really great idea. Or fudge. Being both in this case, I kicked off my running shoes without hesitation and marched back inside to the kitchen.

Afore-mentioned Great Idea soon turned into even Greater Fruition, and soon I found myself in the company of THE most divine little fudgey rich berry squares. Let me tell you, this is delicious company of mine did not last.

Later, my postponed run felt absolutely amazing. Thanks mighty acai with all your antioxidants and energy-rich healthy fats. Clearly we are friends.

Don’t pass this recipe by – it’s absolutely awesome: ACAI FUDGE RECIPE

Acai Fudge

Naturally rich acai berries make for the perfect base of a healthful (shhh) fudge. Unhesitatingly decadent tasting, this energy food contains antioxidants galore, healthy monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats, vitamin C, and many other micronutrients including polyphenols and flavonoids. I use a fabulous freeze-dried acai powder by Navitas Naturals for this recipe, which is both convenient to store and of excellent quality. You can easily find this product in health food stores, or have it delivered directly to you from the Navitas link on the right-hand side panel of this page (or your website of preference).

Warning: this recipe lasted literally 2 hours in my house. That taste good/feel good combo is very convincing!

INGREDIENTS
1 cup Navitas Naturals freeze-dried acai powder
9-10 large pitted medjool dates*
2 Tbsp melted cacao butter, or coconut butter

DIRECTIONS
Place all ingredients in a food processor. Process until dates are fully incorporated with acai.

Remove mixture from the machine onto a plate, and flatten into a large one inch thick rectangle. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes. Cut into small squares and enjoy. For best results, keep refrigerated.

Makes 12 squares.

*These dates should be as soft and juicy as possible, if dates are drier, soak in water for 20 minutes prior to using in the recipe. If the fudge is still too dry, add a extra water, a teaspoon at a time, to get to a better consistency. If fudge is too wet, add additional acai.

©2009 www.JulieMorris.net

Healthy benefits: antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamin C, minerals

All new episode of Super Foods With Jules – watch how to make a stunning frozen dessert out of healthy blueberries and antioxidant-packed acai. View Episode>