ACAI BERRIES

Place of Origin: Acai berries grow in the Amazon rainforest region of Brazil.

What is it: Acai is a tiny purple berry (and powerful superfruit) that grows on palm trees in the Amazon.

What are the benefits: Acai berries help support natural energy, healthy hair, skin and nails, as well as antioxidant levels.

Why it’s important for women: Women need protein, fiber, omega fatty acids and antioxidants.

How to incorporate into diet/everyday routine: With a variety of Acai products available in the market, incorporating Acai into your daily diet/everyday routine is pretty easy. One popular way to get your daily does of Acai is in the delicious chew form – they’re about the size of a postage stamp, but can pack some nutritional punch.

COCONUT WATER

Place of Origin: Thailand and other tropical regions.

What is it: The liquid extracted from a young, green coconut.

What are the benefits: Coconut water supports the balancing of your body’s electrolytes, as well as promotes natural energy and healthy hydration.

Why it’s important for women: Lack of energy is a common complaint of women, oftentimes due to dehydration.

How to incorporate into diet/everyday routine: Coconut water is in liquid form and is easy to drink. You can feel the hydration almost instantly when drinking coconut water. It is Nature’s hydration drink, which hydrates without the sugar and calories of most sports/fitness drinks. I’d suggest making coconut water part of your daily regimen. It tastes great and hydrates better than water.

SEA BUCKTHORN BERRIES 

Place of Origin: Sea buckthorn hails from some of the harshest environments of Eastern Asia, Mongolia and the Himalayan Mountain regions.

What is it: A tiny, sour and pungent orange berry that is no larger than a pea, but packed with vitamin C and other powerful nutrients.

What are the benefits: Sea buckthorn supports healthy skin, hair and nails, as well as promotes healthy energy and immune support.

Why it’s important for women: Antioxidants are even more important for women as they age.

How to incorporate into diet/everyday routine: Sea buckthorn in natural form (i.e. the berries) is not typically found at local grocery stores. However, liquid supplements and soft gel capsules are becoming increasingly available at stores and online. Just a note – because of its very tart and pungent flavor, you may want to mix or chase it with a juice or tea.

RAW CACAO

Place of Origin: The tropical belt: countries within the 10 degrees N and 10 degrees S of the equator.

What is it: Cacao (theobroma cacao) is the purest, rawest form of chocolate.

What are the benefits: Cacao is an antioxidant powerhouse that helps support healthy antioxidant levels and heart health, plus natural energy, mental alertness and focus.

Why it’s important for women: Many women are deficient in the mineral magnesium (which is one reason why women crave chocolate when it’s that time of the month). Magnesium supports a healthy heart and is needed for your body to be able to absorb and utilize calcium.

How to incorporate into diet/everyday routine: Cacao is one of the easiest superfoods to incorporate into your daily diet and routine.  Who doesn’t love chocolate?

MANGOSTEEN

Place of Origin: Mangosteen grows in the jungles of Thailand.

What is it: Mangosteen is a small, white-fleshed fruit with a dark purple rind that tastes sweet (a cross between a strawberry and a peach).

What are the benefits: Mangosteen contains over 40 xanthones (super potent antioxidants) that help fight free radical damage, as well as keep your body’s inflammatory responses in check.

Why it’s important for women: As women age, risk of inflammatory health concerns rise.  Also, it’s not secret that with age come weaker joints.

How to incorporate into diet/everyday routine: You would have to fly all the way to Thailand to actually get fresh Mangosteen.  Luckily, Mangosteen is popping up at specialty grocery stores across the country in juice and liquid supplement forms. You can also make smoothies with these juices with a combination of fiber and yogurt.

GOJI BERRIES

Place of Origin: Goji berries come from the valleys of the Himalayan mountain region of China, Mongolia and Tibet.

What is it: Goji berries are small reddish orange berries that look kind of like tiny chili pepper that grow on bushes.

What are the benefits: In Asia, goji is known as the “happy berry” for its ability to support positive moods, as well as a sharp mind, memory and eye health.

Why it’s important for women: Hormones affect women’s health.  And as women age, their health and mood-supporting hormones decrease.

How to incorporate into diet/everyday routine: Since dried goji berries can be found at places like Whole Foods, it’s easy to incorporate this superfruit into an everyday routine/diet.  Just sprinkle goji berries on your food such as oatmeal, yogurt, cereal, and salads. You can even bake them into side dishes or desserts.