The top nutritionist shared her predictions for the next nine superfood crazes for 2023, from beverages she said will be the “healthy drink of the year” to ancient African grains.
PhD nutrition scientist Dr Joanna McMillan said the foods health-conscious Australians will likely be eating this year “deserve special attention”. director to Instagram.
Nutritionists have identified a little-known grain called fonio as the next big thing in health food, alongside exotic mushrooms, seaweed, coffee kombucha, extra virgin olive oil, hemp seed, black elderberry, cocoa and black rice. I nailed it.
Nutritional scientist Joanna McMillan, Ph.D. (pictured) reveals her predictions for superfoods that will be big on the health and wellness scene in 2023.
Nutritionists said fonio, an ancient grain, will be big among vegans and non-dairy eaters, and exotic mushrooms will become an important part of our diets.
Fonio is a West African cereal that Dr. Joanna said “is getting a lot of attention because of its rich nutritional profile.”
“It has the highest levels of calcium of all grains, making it great for vegan diets and those who don’t eat dairy.
Fonio, which can be used similarly to quinoa or millet, is rich in B vitamins, provides moderate amounts of protein and fiber, and is gluten-free.
Dr Joanna says exotic mushrooms are “definitely the food of the future” and will become increasingly important in the Australian diet.
“They contain unique compounds with potential health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and various forms of dementia.
“Eat it whole or in powder or liquid form.”
Most home cooks have a bottle of olive oil as a pantry staple, but Dr. Joanna said seasoning wins for nutrition, taste, and the environment.
Olive trees are the only common cooking oil that is “carbon sequestering” because it absorbs carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmosphere and stores it in the soil, helping reduce emissions.
Dr. Joanna said shoppers are unlikely to find black elderberry in supermarket fresh food aisles, but they can look for frozen or dried shelves.
“All berries are superfoods, but these top the charts for polyphenols,” she added.
Food Futurism said that black rice is much more nutritious than white rice and has a “wonderful” color that comes from polyphenols, micronutrients that occur naturally in plants.
Dr. Joanna predicts that frozen or dried black elderberries will grow in popularity due to their high content of polyphenols, micronutrients that are naturally present in the plant with many health benefits.
according to health linepolyphenols have a variety of health benefits, promoting digestion and brain health, and may protect against heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers.
Dr. Joanna said cocoa will be a popular superfood this year, adding that it is “another polyphenol winner.”
And what’s not to like about high cocoa dark chocolate?! Or add some cocoa powder to your hot milk,” she wrote.
Fermented foods and drinks like kombucha have been trendy on the health food scene for years, but Dr. Joanna predicts we’ll see more varieties, including fermented coffee.
“The potential gut health benefits, as well as the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of coffee polyphenols, make this the health drink of the year,” she explained.
Food ‘futurist’ says black rice is far more nutritious than white rice and has a ‘wonderful’ color derived from polyphenols
Doctors also predicted that cannabis seeds and seaweed would grow in popularity.
“Hemp seeds are finally getting the recognition they deserve, with heart-healthy fats, including omega-3s, and a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants,” she said.
Dr. Joanna said one of the answers to feeding the world is to use more food from the ocean.
“Seaweed is rich in vitamins and minerals, especially iodine, which is often deficient in our diets and important for brain function,” she writes.
“Fiber-rich seaweed nourishes not only you, but your gut microbes.”
