In a world of fancy superfood powders & insanely expensive granola mixes, it can be easy to fall for the idea that eating a healthy diet needs to be expensive & hard to stick to.

In fact, not so long ago a friend of mine sent me a photo of a little bag of granola, telling me how they were so excited to have their first paleo breakfast… despite the fact that the little bag cost them around $20… suffice to say they gave up on the whole ‘healthy eating’ thing pretty quickly after that!

Yep – totally fair enough right? I mean, bags of granola, jars of nut butter & exotic superfood powders can be delicious… & I love a superfood smoothie as much as the next person… but the truth is, when we get back to basics & remember that good old organic wholefoods are actually no less super, you’ll find that they can provide just as many – if not even more benefits – as those pricey snacks & superfoods, they’re also much easier on your wallet & if you want to, you can even grow them yourself!

So let’s take a look at 5 of the BEST ‘everyday’ superfoods that will nourish your body… without the hefty price tag! As mentioned above, all of these powerhouse superfoods can also be grown right from your backyard too (or balcony of course!!) 🙂

Before we jump in, I want to mention one of the benefits you’ll see in common with these everyday superfoods… it’s the way they all help the body to clear away toxins. In a world where we’re all bombarded with all manner of toxins, including air pollution, car pollution, pesticides, GMOs & EMFs just to name a few – eating foods that help to boost the body’s natural detox systems has never been more important!

Okay, here we go!

1. BROCCOLI:

It’s a classic healthy food for a reason. Broccoli isn’t just one of the most well known veggies out there… it’s also one of the healthiest! First off, it’s a member of the awesome brassica family – which contain some of the healthiest foods in the world! – It contains tons of nutrients that are important for human health, including sulfur, folate, manganese, vitamin C & sulforaphane.

Broccoli boosts the bodies natural detox systems, promotes healthy immune function, contains compounds that can fight cancer cells & protect heart health.

If you’re looking for a new way to get some extra broccoli onto your plate, check out our blueberry brassica smoothie bowl here… we have this bowl for breakfast nearly everyday!

Tips to grow your own Broccoli:

Broccoli should be planted around 40cm apart in full sun. Don’t overcrowd your broccoli, if you do you won’t get a nice big head. From seedling, Broccoli is usually ready to harvest at around the 2 month mark, however if you leave it too long, his head (which is made up of tiny flower buds) can go to flower & become bitter. The minute the flower buds start to loosen up is the minute you know your broccoli head is full size & ready to harvest – leave it any longer & the buds will flower! Once you’ve cut off the main head, your broccoli will produce little side shoots that look much like broccolini, they’re delicious!

2. BEETROOT: 

Another awesome edible that you’ll always find in our patch is beetroot. Beetroot is a great source of manganese, a mineral that’s important for gut health, bone structure & energy production. It also helps with building blood & the production of glutathione; the most important antioxidant in the body!

Tips to grow your own Beetroot:

Beetroot should be planted around 20cm apart. It’s best to plant beetroot from ‘seed’ rather than ‘seedling’ as disturbing the roots when they’re younger can result it some weird looking, smaller beets! They’re usually ready to harvest in 2 months, but you can harvest the leaves whilst you wait for the root to grow – just make sure you leave around 4 leaves on the plant at all times. You can harvest the root as a baby beet or allow it to grow to the size you prefer, just don’t let them get too big as they can become tough & lack flavour. Beetroot Pro Tip: Push the mulch away so you can see the diameter of the root – if you’re happy with the size, pull! If not, leave it for a little longer!

3. LEAFY GREENS:

Upping your leafy green consumption is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your health (& as a bonus they’re some of the easiest edibles to grow!)

Leafy greens not only help the body to clear out all the toxins it’s exposed to everyday (something that’s super important, now more than ever!), but they’re also packed with a HUGE range of vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients. Healthy liver function, more energy, reduced inflammation, weight loss & reduced cancer risk are just some of the benefits of consuming leafy greens on a regular basis!

Tips to grow your own Leafy Greens:

Plant your leafy greens 20-30cm apart, in a spot that gets full sun & keep them well-watered. You can usually start harvesting in less than 2 months, taking from the outer leaves first & cutting the leaf as close to the base as possible. Always leave at least 4 leaves on the plant so it can continue to convert the sunlight into energy & keep producing beautiful big leaves.

4. TURMERIC:

Turmeric could easily be one of the most powerful plants in the world. It contains the powerful compound curcumin & it reduces inflammation, reverses insulin sensitivity, provides relief from IBS, acts as a potent pain killer, kills cancer cells & improves brain function – Not a bad resume! To really get the benefits of Turmeric it should be mixed with a warming spice like black pepper or ginger, as this makes the curcumin much more bioavailable than taking it on its own. Mixing it with a healthy fat such as coconut has a similar effect!

Tips to grow your own Turmeric:

Turmeric is grown by planting rhizomes 5-10cm deep into the soil, 30cm apart. They need about 8-10 months before they’re ready to harvest & do best in a lightly shaded spot. They must be grown in warmer temperatures so they’re best planted in spring. For more information on how to grow your own turmeric, check out our turmeric growing guide right here.

5. BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are packed with powerful phytonutrients that act as antioxidants. They contain anthocyanins, flavonoids & phenols that help to protect the body from cell damage & fight the growth of cancer. They also promote healthy brain function, eyesight, digestion & reduce inflammation.

Tips to grow your own Blueberries:

Blueberries can be grown in pots or directly into soil. If growing directly into the soil always remember to amend it with nutrient dense ingredients such as rock minerals & compost before planting! They require full sun & moist soil, so mulching is a must! They can take up to a few years to produce any berries, so you’ll need to be patient!

So there you have it! 5 incredible everyday superfoods that will work wonders for your health.

Do you already include some of these in your diet? What’s your favourite everyday superfood? Let us know in the comments below!

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P.S If you want a simple & delicious way to start amping up these everyday superfoods ASAP, make sure you check out our new eBook Drink Your Way To Incredible Health right here! Loaded with over 30 of our favourite body-loving juices, smoothies, teas & tonics to repair, revitalise & energise your body!

Whether you’re after more energy throughout the day, a better sleep, improved digestion or maybe better skin or hair health (or all of the above!!) there’s a juice, smoothie, tea or tonic for it! All of which you’ll find in this book! Enjoy! 🙂