Taste is a very personal thing. There are plenty of best-tasting foods, like chocolate, but what about the worst? Superfoods are the most nutrient-rich foods on the planet and provide great benefits for healthy living. However, some superfoods are bitter-tasting and not that palatable.
Certain superfoods are so nutrient-dense that you’ll have to summon your willpower to get it down your throat!
Here are the worst-tasting superfoods you should consider giving a taste test.
Acai berries
Acai berries are picked from the acai palm tree and are packed with antioxidants that help fight free radicals in your body and slow down the aging process. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation and can lower blood pressure. However, acai berries taste really bad — they’re often compared to dirt or cardboard. The best way to eat them is frozen and blended into smoothies or ice cream.
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is a grassy-tasting green powder made from wheat seeds. It’s rich in vitamins and minerals but has an incredibly strong, bitter flavor that can be difficult to mask.
It is often used as a detoxifying agent to treat digestive problems such as constipation and bloating. It can also boost energy levels, improve skin health and strengthen hair.
It’s usually sold in smoothie bars or health stores and comes in a powder form that you mix into water, or sometimes in pill form.
Arugula
Arugula is a member of the mustard family and has a slightly peppery taste. It’s also known as rocket, roquette, rucola, and rugola. The leaves are used in salads or as a garnish for soups and pasta dishes. Arugula is high in vitamins A, C and K, iron, calcium, and magnesium. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants that help prevent cell damage in the body.
The downside to eating arugula is its very strong flavor. If you’re not used to eating it often, it could be hard for you to get used to its taste. Its typically paired with other strong flavors to balance out the taste. You can add it to sandwiches, toss it with pasta or use it as part of an Asian stir-fry.
Goji berries
Goji berries look like red raisins but taste more like cranberries or dates than fruit. They’re high in vitamin A, B complex vitamins, and iron — all essential nutrients for good health — but their strong taste makes them hard to eat on their own. Try adding goji to your morning cereal or yogurt for an extra boost of nutrition!
Aloe Vera
Aloe has a bitter taste and an unpleasant smell, which is likely why so many people mistakenly think it’s poisonous when they first taste it. However, it’s still a great addition to your diet because of its many health benefits.
Aloe vera contains several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and calcium, as well as antioxidants that help prevent cancer. It also has lignans, plant compounds that may reduce your risk for certain diseases.
Maca powder
Maca is a root vegetable used by the people of Peru for centuries. It has a strong flavor, and some people find it to be a bit sweet. Maca powder is made from the dried roots of maca plants. If you’re looking for an interesting ingredient to use in your cooking, this could be it.
Maca powder can be used in smoothies, juices, or other drinks, or added to yogurt or oatmeal. Many people also use it to make energy bars or cookies. The powder has a slightly sweet flavor but can also have a bitter aftertaste depending on how it’s prepared.
Kelp
Kelp is a sea vegetable that grows in the ocean. It’s high in iodine and other essential minerals for good health. It’s also rich in vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), C and E, and beta-carotene. Kelp may help boost thyroid function and lower cholesterol levels; studies suggest it may also help prevent cancer and heart disease.
Kelp also contains all 18 amino acids essential for life — making it one of the best vegetarian protein sources!
The best way to prepare kelp for consumption is by soaking it in water for about 30 minutes before cooking or grinding it into flour for baking purposes; both methods will help remove some of its stronger flavor notes. You can eat kelp fresh or cooked in soups or stews or add it to salads for extra crunch.
Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae growing in warm freshwater lakes and ponds. It’s often used as a dietary supplement due to its high nutritional content. It contains all essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source. It also has high levels of beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A.
It has been shown to be beneficial for people with high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other chronic diseases. In addition, it may help prevent some types of cancer, boost immunity and fight inflammation.
Spirulina can be added to smoothies or sprinkled on top of salads. It also works well in juices when mixed with other fruit juices that mask its flavor.
You may also want to consider taking spirulina in capsule form if you don’t like the taste of the powder.
Takeaway
We hope we’ve managed to convince you that these so-called “worst-tasting superfoods” aren’t so bad after all and that they can be used in your kitchen, provided you don’t mind their unique taste.
Some of them are more common than others, but if you’re willing to take a little bit of time to learn about each one, it might not be so hard—after all, eating healthy doesn’t have to rely heavily on consuming fresh produce, and you can still get the nutrients you need from a variety of other sources.
