Keto Or Not: These Are The Top Plant-Based Superfoods For Your Health

When it comes to eating healthfully, dieting dogma and restrictive food rules are out— loving yourself enough to nourish your body with delicious and healing foods is in. This is an essential truth for sustainable wellness. Instead of obsessing about all the foods you shouldn’t eat or can’t eat, let’s look at all the simple ways that we can use food to feel and look great—in a way that’s sustainable for the wellness of our planet. 

A clean, plant-centric diet that incorporates superfoods is a good place to start. As a functional medicine practitioner, Navitas is typically my go-to brand to recommend because they offer all the essential superfoods that are key to promoting optimal health, and I know the quality is going to be top-notch.

Getting in healthy fats from food are vital for the optimal functioning of our brain, immune system, and hormones. Looking at it from a biological and evolutionary perspective, we started out our lives relying on fat in the form of breastmilk for energy and development. And when you consider that 60 percent of our brain is comprised of fat, it makes sense to feed it exactly what it is made of rather than deprive it.

While healthy fats come it many forms, one of my favorites is MCT oil. MCT stands for medium-chain-triglycerides, and are a special type of fatty acid that is six to twelve1 carbons in length. While MCT oils can be found in two forms—natural and synthetic—natural sources are going to be the purest and most bioavailable to our bodies and can be found in dairy fats, palm kernel oil, and my favorite plant-based source—coconut oil. 

MCTs are especially beneficial for our bodies because they not only help us reach ketosis faster2, but they can also improve overall brain health3 and memory, promote healthy microbiome balance, and increase metabolic rate4 for reduced weight, improved cholesterol4 and balanced blood sugar5.

Whether you are going keto or just wanting to elevate your health, turmeric is one of my favorite superfoods for driving down inflammation. The compound found in turmeric known as curcumin is what boasts the powerful inflammation fighting capabilities of this spice. 

Since inflammation is the thorn-in-the-side of almost every modern-day health problem from brain fog, to autoimmune disease, to cancer, keeping inflammation under control is essential. While a plant-based diet can already help lower inflammation, sometimes we need a little extra boost.

Hemp is a superstar protein source for those avoiding animal products. It is both a clean protein at 4g per serving, as well as a source of healthy fats. In fact, it is one of the few plant-based foods that contains all nine essential amino acids to make it a complete protein.

We shouldn’t overlook the importance of adaptogens and other herbal medicines when it comes to your health. Although adaptogens like maca aren’t high in protein or healthy fats, they are superfoods in their own right through their ability to restore balance to areas of your health that are out of whack. That’s because adaptogens have a unique ability to regulate the communication between our brain and hormones. HPA axis dysfunction—what is commonly termed adrenal fatigue—is really a brain-based imbalance with the adrenal glands. Adaptogens like maca can support a healthy balance between our brain and hormones—and it’s one of my favorites for its ability to boost energy while also reducing stress. 

As a society, we are still moving away from the old thought of ‘’fat is bad,’’ even with the rise in popularity of keto. We can always be looking for more ways to up our fat intake through clean, plant-based sources instead of turning to meat and dairy.

Cacao butter is a great example; it’s derived from cacao beans and is often overlooked as a fat source. It makes a delicious addition to baked goods, smoothies, or coconut milk hot chocolate for added richness and depth of flavor. If you are looking to switch things up while still staying plant-based, Navitas’ Cacao Butter is organic, vegan, and fair-trade making it the perfect superfood source for getting more fats into your life.