Learning about superfoods means loving them!

We could say “from the table directly onto our body” instead of into our body, but that would risk easy irony. The subject of superfoods, on the other hand, deserves attention and that dose of curiosity that drives us to tell and provide information to our – hopefully ever more numerous – readers.

Not all foods, of course, can be declared “superfoods”. The club is truly exclusive and includes only a few foods with specific characteristics: to establish their membership, there are bodies in charge of certification, such as the EFSA of Parma, one of the best European institutes and other highly specialised centres.
But what are these superfoods, and what are their benefits? Let’s find out!

Superfood: what are the characteristics of these miracle foods?

Superfoods are distinguished by their particularly healthy properties for the body: they have an above-average content of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and active phytocompounds. They are, therefore, functional foods with important qualities and significant benefits for a person’s health and mental and physical well-being. This is why they are studied and certified not only to be put on the table, but also to enrich the beauty routine in body and hair care.

We could therefore talk about a new frontier in cosmetics, not so much for the use of natural products or those of exclusively plant origin (some of which have been used for a long time in the form of precious oils), but also and above all for the ways in which these “superhero” foods are processed and used to maximise their antioxidant and cell regeneration properties.

“If it’s true that what we eat has a direct effect on our skin, and eating a healthy diet rich in good fats, antioxidants, vitamins, collagen, and amino acids can make the difference between a fresh, glowing complexion and a tired, dull, blemished one, then why not put what we usually ingest with food onto our faces?”

This is Maria Maccari’s question on D.it…

When talking about haircare, you can imagine “bottling up” the valuable properties of these superfoods, such as almonds, seaweed or goji berries to name but a few, to deeply nourish the hair, prevent breakage, increase shine and penetrate deep into hair follicles to stimulate healthier and faster growth.

Back to Maria Maccari on Repubblica’s Fashion and Beauty, who
writes:

“Fruits and plants for “hungry” hair. Green practices are also invading hair care
Bananas, mango, coconut and goji berries, but also pink salt and turmeric as ingredients that can replace parabens and surfactants in hair care formulas. The green attitude, after the skin, also involves shampoos, conditioners and hair treatments.”

We at myom are interested in the natural attitude and green well-being in all their aspects, and this is the common thread running through our hair care line. Especially in the younger generations, we observe a growing focus on the ingredients contained in products and the concept of green beauty. We do not think that the green phenomenon is just a passing fad, but rather an awareness, a respect for ourselves and the environment, an all-round healthy lifestyle choice.
This is why the sulphates and silicones we are so used to in hair products have been banned in the formulations of the most interesting, sustainable and healing products on the cosmetics and hair care market. This is the direction in which we at myom natural haircare have also chosen to head, focusing on research, innovation and respect for the environment and our bodies: superfood = beautyfood.

Some interesting facts about superfoods

The list of superfoods is frequently updated by studies and cosmetic reports, and every year the list of these foods with exceptional miraculous properties grows longer and more compelling.
Among the most valid and universally recognised superfoods are blueberries, goji berries, almonds, kiwi, quinoa, green tea, salmon, broccoli… and there are so many more that would merit further investigation. In this article, however, we would like to tell you a few interesting facts about the “unsuspected” and lesser-known properties of certain superfoods, and in particular, those that are part of the precious recipe of myom products.

Almond: first on the superfood list

Almonds (Prunus dulcis) are oleaginous fruits, rich in vitamin E, which is an excellent ally in keeping the heart, arteries and bones healthy. A precious source of energy, almonds consist of 50% monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and are a real goldmine of minerals such as magnesium, iron and calcium!
The oil extracted from pressing almonds has very interesting properties when used in cosmetics: almond oil moisturises, soothes and gives incredible elasticity to the skin and hair, and is so gentle that it can also be used in the care of babies and pregnant women. Almonds and almond oil are true beauty elixirs that have been used since ancient times, which is why they are on the list of the most popular superfoods rich in beneficial properties for skin and hair beauty routines.
The most popular almonds

The Toritto almond

The name comes from the town of production, Toritto, on the border between pre-Murgia and Alta Murgia in Puglia. Its main varieties are Filippo Cea, Antonio Devito and Genco

The Filippo Cea variety is the best known and most widespread of the three, the one that at the beginning of the 20th century gave rise to the famous Toritto almond. It was created in 1958, on the farm of Filippo Cea from Toritto: the mother tree still lives on to this day. The Filippo Cea almond nut has a sweet and very intense, balanced flavour, with buttery final notes. The Filippo Cea almond is one of the most sought-after almonds in the world for its versatility and sweetness in confectionery preparations, and is also extremely popular in cosmetics.

The Antonio Devito is characterised by its pale green hull and comes off easily despite having a slow drying process. As with the Filippo Cea, the nut is sweet and slightly larger and flatter than the Filippo Cea variety, with a light ochre exterior colour. Both handsome and tasty, it rightfully ranks among our superfoods.

The Genco almond has a less sweet taste than the better-known varieties, and issmall in size, with a brown, durable shell with a smooth surface and small pores. It is an almond tree that bears fruit primarily in clusters, resists drought well and is very prolific. We know it as a snack, but it is also versatile in confectionery and for cosmetic use.

The Avola almond

Superb almonds, grown in the Avola area, from which they take their name, in the province of Siracusa, another of the excellences of this lush land!
Leonardo Sciascia described it as “the perfect oval!”. This precious almond, known and appreciated outside Sicily, includes 3 distinct cultivars: Pizzuta, Fascionello and Romana.

The Pizzuta almond, considered the almond par excellence in confectionery and pastry making, features a hard, smooth shell with small pores, a flat nut and a leathery red colour. It is responsible for the well-known and popular pastry preparations.

The Fascionello is more rustic and less sophisticated. A favourite in both pastry and confectionery, its versatility in cosmetics is also worth mentioning.

The Romana variety (or Corrente d’Avola) features a triangular and irregular nut and is mainly used in pastry.

Green tea

The origins of green tea are lost in the mists of time. Particularly appreciated in Japan, where it has always been used as the most popular variety for the tea ceremony, green tea has managed to make a name for itself in the West too, especially after its health benefits were discovered. Matcha tea, in particular, is considered a true elixir of life and well-being.
Rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, iron, zinc and polyphenols, green tea has powerful antioxidant (due to the presence of flavonoids) and anti-ageing (due to the presence of polyphenols and bioflavonoids) effects, which combat cellular ageing and free radicals; it is also known for its slimming and anti-inflammatory properties.
The essential oil from green tea is widely used in natural cosmetics and hair care. It has a high content of catechins, tocopherol, oleic acid and omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids.
Green tea oil deeply moisturises and counteracts free radicals, providing an extraordinary antioxidant and nourishing effect.

The most popular green tea varieties

Matcha green tea
Matcha green tea is the best known and most popular variety for both food and cosmetics. Originally from Japan, it is a highly prized green tea that comes in a fine, fragrant powder with an intense green colour. Matcha tea is considered to be the king of green teas. The reason why? Green tea boasts 137 times more antioxidants than ordinary green tea.

Bancha green tea
Bancha tea is a light green tea with a transparent texture, very common in Japan; rich in vitamin A, calcium and iron, it is known for its strong digestive, purifying and antioxidant properties, which is why it is widely recommended as a natural remedy for those with digestive problems and suffering from cystitis. Bancha green tea is an excellent draining agent, helping to speed up the metabolism.

Kukicha green tea
Kukicha green tea, also called “three-year tea”, is a variety of green tea with a herbaceous taste originating in the East. Made from the twigs and stems of Camellia sinensis, Kukicha green tea is traditionally consumed mainly during meals, as it aids the digestive process.

Sencha green tea
A precious variety of green tea, very widespread in Japan. Sencha tea has intense dark green leaves and a typical herbaceous scent. It has a high theine content and is known for its draining and cleansing properties, particularly for the liver, as it stimulates the secretion of gastric juices.

Sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are another member of the superfood club. Thanks to the high content of vitamins B and E, mineral salts, fibres, proteins and folic acid, sunflower seeds are excellent health boosters. Apart from its culinary use, the cold-pressed oil extracted from the flower’s seeds is used in cosmetics for the production of skincare and hair care products, thanks to its particularly moisturising and emollient properties. It is also an excellent anti-ageing agent: the presence of antioxidants helps fight free radicals and prevent cellular ageing.