Dr. Joanna Macmillan: These Are the Superfoods You Should Be Eating in 2023 for Better Health
A prominent nutritionist has shared her predictions for the next nine superfood crazes of 2023 from a drink she said will be the ‘healthy drink of the year’ to an ancient African bean.
PhD nutritionist Dr Joanna Macmillan said foods she thinks health-conscious Australians will love this year ‘deserve some extra attention’ Mail on Instagram.
A nutritionist pegged a little-known grain called fonio as the next big thing in health food along with mushrooms, seaweed, kombucha coffee, extra virgin olive oil, hemp seeds, black elderberry, cocoa, and black rice.
Nutritionist Dr. Joanna Macmillan (pictured) has revealed her predictions for the superfoods that will be big on the health and wellness scene in 2023.
The dietitian said that fonio, an ancient grain, would be great among vegans and non-dairy eaters while exotic mushrooms would become an important part of our diets.
Fonio is a West African bean that Dr. Joanna said is “gaining attention because of its rich nutritional profile.”
“It has the highest level of calcium of all grains, which makes it great for vegan diets and anyone who doesn’t eat dairy,” she wrote.
Fonio, which can be used in the same way as quinoa or millet, is rich in B vitamins, provides moderate amounts of protein and fiber, and is gluten-free.
Dr Joanna said exotic mushrooms are “undoubtedly the foods of the future” that will become increasingly important in Australian diets.
“They contain unique compounds with potential health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and various forms of dementia,” she said.
Eat them whole or in powder or liquid form.
While most home cooks have a bottle of olive oil as a pantry staple, Dr. Joanna said the condiment wins out on nutrition and taste as well as the environment.
It is the only common cooking oil that is a “carbon sequester” since olive trees absorb carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere and store it in the soil, helping to reduce emissions.
Dr Joanna said shoppers are less likely to find black elderberry in the fresh produce section of the supermarket, but they can look for it on frozen or dried shelves.
“All berries are superfoods, but they top the lists for polyphenols,” she added.
The food expert said black rice is much more nutritious than white varieties, which have a “brilliant” color that comes from polyphenols, micronutrients found naturally in plants.
Dr. Joanna expects the popularity of frozen or dried black elderberry to increase due to its high content of polyphenols, micronutrients that occur naturally in plants and have many health benefits.
to me HealthlinePolyphenols have a range of health benefits and may boost digestion and brain health, and protect against heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even some types of cancer.
Dr. Joanna said cacao will be a popular superfood this year adding that it’s ‘another winner for polyphenols’.
And what’s not to love about high-cacao dark chocolate?! Or just add cocoa powder to hot milk.
Fermented foods and drinks like kombucha have been popular in the health food scene for a number of years, but Dr. Joanna predicts we’ll see more varieties including fermented coffee.
“With the potential gut health benefits and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of coffee polyphenols, this is set to be the healthy drink of the year,” she explained.
The food expert said that black rice is much more nutritious than white varieties, which have a “cool” color that comes from polyphenols
The doctor also predicted the rise in popularity of hemp seeds and seaweed.
“With heart-healthy fats including omega-3s, and a load of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, hemp seeds are finally getting the recognition they deserve,” she said.
Dr Joanna said that one solution to feeding the world is to use more foods from the sea.
“Seaweed is rich in vitamins and minerals, especially iodine, often low in our diets and essential for brain function,” she wrote.
“Being high in fiber, seaweed not only nourishes you but your gut microbiome.”