Whole Food Supplements Your Body Will Thank You For

What is a whole food supplement? It’s a dietary supplement containing nutrients from whole items, rather than the isolated vitamin or mineral or what have you. So, for instance, polyphenol supplement would have grape and blueberry extract, and all else contained therein, rather than just the polyphenol isolate.

These supplements tend to be a little expensive, but offer a far more efficient way for your body to absorb the nutrients contained within the supplement. Let’s take a look at some excellent whole food supplements that are emerging into mainstream health trends.

1: Hive Products

Hive products refer to beehives, and no we’re not just talking about honey. Bees actually produce a variety of different substances in day to day bee life. Beekeepers Naturals is a great ethical website where you can find all these products.

• Propolis is an anti-bacterial agent that acts as the immune system of the hive. It’s perfect for sick days, colds, or for going on an airplane where stale bacteria-ridden air is constantly being circulated. It also contains 300 beneficial nutrients and great antioxidants.
• Bee Pollen is an easily absorbable source of free-forming amino acids (protein) B vitamins, and minerals. It also contains enzymes and other compounds to boost your immune system.
• Royal Jelly is a nootropic – a brain supplement. Bee larvae destined to become queen bees are bathed in royal jelly while they’re growing. This super-jelly charges the little bee brains with high levels of cognitive ability which allows them to control the colony. In humans, royal jelly helps to fight brain fatigue and boosts mental clarity and performance with its specialized nutrients that help to nourish brain cells.

2: Shilajit Powder

Shilajit seeps from the crevasses in the Himalayan Mountains and is traditionally used in the ancient Indian medicine practice known as Ayurveda. In its raw form, Shilajit is a black/brown tar-like liquid, composed almost entirely of trace minerals, humic and fulvic acid. The powder extract supplement is much easier to handle than any resin you may find. Buy in bulk and enjoy all year long.

Pressure makes a great Shilajit powder that’s inexpensive and contains 100 servings.

• Shilajit is known to improve lipid health. Studies have shown a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation on its use.
• Used for its super healing abilities. Shilajit has been shown to actively raise HDL cholesterol (good), and lower LDL cholesterol (bad). This is essential in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
• Shilajit is a great testosterone booster! It’s known to improve virility by increasing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by over 9%.
• Loaded with vitamins and minerals, it’s made up of over 85 essential minerals, Shilajit also contains vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C. It has anti-aging, anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcer properties, and reigns supreme in natural anxiety relief. Use regularly for detoxification and cell renewal purposes.

3: Broccoli Sprouts

Studies have begun to emerge regarding potent cancer and toxin-fighting potential of a family of molecules known as glucosinolates. In particular, it is called glucoraphanin which in turn produces the real glucosinolate bread-winner. Sulforaphane has been shown in studies to have tremendous detoxing effects – increasing the uptake and excretion of harmful airborne toxins like benzene by more than 50%.

Sulforaphane is most concentrated in broccoli sprouts, and a great whole food source of broccoli sprouts is Super Sprout, an Australian-based company that makes sprout powder supplements.

There are many types of cruciferous vegetables available but it’s only the broccoli sprouts that produce the most ‘sulforaphane’ under the right circumstances.

• Broccoli sprouts can contain up to 30X more sulforaphane than adult broccoli.
• Super Sprout broccoli powder has been scientifically tested independently for nutritional values and sulphoraphane yields.
• They grow their broccoli sprouts from 100% ‘Non –GMO’ seeds.

Broccoli sprouts aren’t such a common find in grocery stores. This is because they are extremely shelf-life sensitive, and at least mung bean sprouts tend to be common carriers of salmonella. Many people grow them on their own or buy them at Whole Foods, Walmart or MOMS, or other commercial organic markets. Taking your sprouts in powder form then is a real benefit if you can’t buy them fresh at the supermarket.