17 superfoods that are set to be 2017’s hottest health food trends
Edible insects, animal organs and bacon-flavoured red algae are just some of the superfoods set to become huge health food trends this year, according to experts.
A total of 17 foods will feature increasingly on menus and appear on supermarket shelves more and more, say insiders – ranging from the exotic kakadu plum to goat meat.
From healthy alternatives to sugar and chocolate to super fruits and nutritious substitutes for pasta, these are the foods to eat if you want your new year’s healthy resolution to last more than a month.
A total of 17 foods will feature increasingly on menus and appear on supermarket shelves more and more, say insiders – including insects (pictured: fried silk worms)
Many items on the list compiled by health food website Musclefood.com may already be familiar with health food shoppers, such as the tilapia fish, offal, the increasingly popular yellow spice turmeric and macadamia nuts.
But others are much more unusual, including maca powder and pea protein, both of which contain high amounts of iron and important vitamins.
Darren Beale, of Musclefood.com, said: ‘Customers are becoming far more adventurous with their eating habits, and we’re expecting that trend to continue in 2017.
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‘Offal may not sound appetising at first thought, but organ meats such as calf liver and beef brain have tonnes of important health benefits, so it’s great to see people are taking the plunge and trying new things.
‘It’s really great to see that the stigma surrounding the consumption of insects is finally vanishing, as they’re a highly sustainable source of protein.’
These are the 17 superfoods all healthy eaters should consider introducing into their diets if they want to stay healthy.
‘Bacon-flavoured’ red algae is set to be a hot new healthy superfood trend of 2017
1. RED ALGAE: Often described as ‘bacon flavoured seaweed’, red algae is the latest superfood that allows people to eat healthily without sacrificing taste.
2. KAKADU PLUM: Also known as Gubinge, these tart, tangy fruits are a rich natural source of vitamin C and are said to contain 100 times more of the antioxidant than an orange.
3. OFFAL: Offal could be the next superfood champion of 2017, as it is a great source of vitamins, amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids. Offal such as beef and pork hearts, liver, brain, kidney and other organs are also packed full of iron and essential anti-oxidants. What’s more, they are cheap too – ask any butcher and you’ll go home with a bag full of offal and still have change from a fiver.
4. TURMERIC: Last year saw turmeric become an increasingly popular spice due to its many reputed health benefits, but it really looks set to explode in 2017 thanks to the healthy compound curcumin that it contains.
Offal such as duck hearts (pictured), brain, liver and kidneys are packed full of iron and other antioxidants
5. GOJI BERRIES: Also known as a ‘wolfberry’, Goji berries have been steadily growing in popularity in recent years. It contains a multitude of vitamins and minerals, such as iron and vitamin’s A, C and B2.
6. BONE BROTH: The name may be offputting, but bone broth has incredible flavour and contains essential minerals and protein. It’s often promoted by clean eating gurus such as the Hemsley sisters.
7. COCONUT SUGAR: Coconut sugar offers more vitamins and minerals that white sugar, as well as added iron and zinc.
8. INSECTS: Insects rapidly became seen as an important and sustainable food source towards the end of 2016. Just 100g of crickets contain 214 per cent more protein than 100g of chicken breast meat, according to Musclefood.com.
Coconut sugar (left) and goat meat (right) have been identified as two new superfoods, according to Musclefood.com
9. PEA PROTEIN: Pea protein looks set to become 2017’s whey protein alternative, and as well as being both dairy and gluten free, it is 100 per cent vegan friendly.
10. BLACK BEAN PASTA: 2015 had courgette spaghetti, 2016 had soybean fettuccine, now 2017 looks set to be the year of the black bean pasta craze. Unlike standard spaghetti, black bean pasta is high in protein and fibre.
11. RAW CACAO NIBS: Raw cacao nibs are great source of iron, fibre and magnesium, making them a good alternative to chocolate, an ingredient for desserts or just as a healthy snack.
12. GOAT MEAT: Goat meat typically contains more iron and less fat than beef, pork and lamb, and is already widely eaten in other parts of the world, namely in south Asia and the Carribean. 2017 looks set to be the year that the UK follows suit.
13. TILAPIA: The tilapia fish is associated with a number of health benefits, including boosting metabolism, building strong bones, preventing arthritis and reducing signs of aging.
The tilapia fish (pictured) is associated with a number of health benefits, including boosting metabolism, building strong bones, preventing arthritis and reducing signs of aging
14. MACA POWDER: Maca powder is a great natural resource of vitamins, boasting large amounts vitamins B, C, and E as well as calcium, zinc and iron to name a few.
15. BUCKWHEAT NOODLES: Buckwheat noodles contain no actual wheat and are the ideal replacement for any noodle-based dish if you’re a coeliac. It’s been said to aid digestion and reduce the risk of diabetes.
16. AVOCADO OIL: This is packed nutrients such as vitamin E that does wonders for your skin. Avocado oil looks set to keep avocados at the top of people’s shopping lists in 2017.
17. MACADAMIA NUTS: Macadamia nuts have a sweet taste and are a terrific source of energy. They also contain large amounts of vitamin A and iron, as well as zinc and calcium.