The 7 best EFSA-certified superfoods

Spirulina, an exemplary superfood

Highly-bioavailable proteins, numerous minerals, carotenoids, vitamins A, B, E, K... Endowed with a truly exceptional nutritional content, spirulina is used in developing countries to fight malnutrition. Considered to be both algae and cyanobacteria, it grows best in warm water lakes in India, Chad and Mexico.

Spirulina helps to support the immune system, and maintain energy and vitality(1). It’s therefore an invaluable aid for people who are fatigued, overworked or who are convalescing. It also helps with weight control and appetite suppression (2).

The only drawback is that this impressive superfood absorbs various pollutants from its environment. If you’re thinking about taking spirulina, opt for a supplement produced using controlled aquaculture (such as Spirulina, an extremely safe supplement from Parry Organic Spirulina, the world’s best spirulina producer).

Garlic – the small clove that’s big on health benefits

Garlic fully deserves its reputation as a trusted home remedy. This small plant from the Alliaceae family supports good cardiovascular health and helps maintain normal blood cholesterol levels. It also supports good immune system function and has remarkable antibacterial properties (3).

Common white garlic is excellent, but black garlic is even better (4). Produced by fermenting heads of white garlic, it has a particularly high concentration of S-allyl-cysteine, a valuable organosulfur compound. It also contains polyphenols, flavonoids and selenium. What’s more, it won’t give you ‘garlic breath’ as it is allicin-free!

If you want to obtain its many benefits, choose a black garlic supplement (such as the product Organic ABG10+, an organic black garlic supplement standardized to 0.1% S-allyl-cysteine, the highest percentage on the market).

Set your sights on bilberries

Second World War pilots apparently ate them to help improve their vision on night flights, a move supported by modern science! With their antioxidant effects, bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) support visual health and function as well as playing a role in vein health (5-6). The remarkable effects of these extraordinary red berries come mainly from their content in anthocyanosides, also responsible for their beautiful dark purple color.

A bilberry supplement is an excellent idea if you want to get the full benefits of this compound’s many properties (try, for example Bilberry Extract, a wild bilberry supplement standardized to 25% anthocyanosides).

Turmeric, Ayurvedic medicine’s star ingredient

While its lovely orange color brightens up the golden lattes beloved of foodies, turmeric (Curcuma longa) was famous long before Instagram came along. Ayurveda’s ‘King of Spices’, this age-old root offers a plethora of health benefits. With its high content of curcuminoids (especially curcumin), it has an antioxidant effect and amongst others, supports:

• liver and digestive health (7) ;
• cardiovascular health (8) ;
• nervous and immune system function (9-10) ;
• skin health (11) ;
• appetite stimulation.

It’s a shame, then, that we tend to use just a pinch in our dishes! To get the most out of turmeric, try taking a concentrated supplement (such as Natural Curcuma, a premium turmeric extract standardized to 95% curcuminoids).

Klamath, a miracle algae

From the family of super algae comes the unique klamath! Known as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae or AFA by the scientific community, this micro-algae contains proteins as well as a wide range of vitamins and minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron …).

Besides its nutrient-rich composition, klamath helps to promote a positive mood as a result of its content in PEA, a neuroamine directly involved in regulating the nervous system (12).

A helping hand for beating the blues, klamath’s benefits are available in supplement form (such as the product Klamath AFA, an extract of klamath algae that grows wild within a protected ecosystem).

Maca, a remarkable root

Don’t be put off by its turnip-like appearance! Indigenous to the high plains of the Andes, maca (Lepidium peruvianum) contains surprising properties. With its ability to support sexuality and fertility and to help maintain good physical and mental health, this Peruvian ginseng serves as a natural tonic (13-14). Its well-deserved superfood status is due to two unique types of active compound: macamides macaenes.

It’s worth noting that various ‘ecotypes’ of maca coexist, each with its own specific strengths. For one targeted more at sexual health, opt for yellow maca (which features in Super Maca, an ethical supplement standardized to 0.6% macamides and macaenes for optimal efficacy).

Ginger, a recognized super-ingredient

A medicinal plant listed in French and European pharmacopoeia, ginger (Zingiber officinale) is brilliant for pampering our ‘insides’. An essential root that features in Ayurvedic texts, it helps to support digestion and immunity and even relieve travel sickness, due mainly to its high gingerol content (15-16).

To maximise your intake of these powerful phenolic compounds, take a ginger supplement (such as Super Gingerols, standardized to 20% gingerols).