5 Superfood Trends and Where to Get Them in Sydney

A slew of superfoods trickle onto the health food scene each year. Some cement themselves in diets while others’ popularity is fleeting. It’s a tricky area to navigate, and once you feel on top of superfood trends the next challenge is finding out the where to purchase them. So, to make your healthy life a little simpler, here are the superfoods not going anywhere and where you can find them - along with a couple of newbies set to make their mark. Kale, you may be so 2016 but we can’t quite boot you out of the fridge yet.

Meet the new Acai berry, Maqui. Maqui’s are the latest berry to grace the superfood scene, and we don’t know how it’s taken so long. The berries are loaded with antioxidants, regulate blood sugar levels, boost metabolism and contain anti-inflammatory agents along with vitamins and minerals. Served best in a powder added to smoothies, Maqui berries are grown in the Patagonian region of Chile but are now available Down Under. Because it’s newly popular, Maqui powder is tricky to purchase in Australia, so it’s easiest to buy the product online. However, mass health food companies like Loving Earth are now making their own so it’s bound to be in the big supermarkets soon.

A nutrient-rich addition to soups, stews or smoothies, bone broth has cemented itself as a staple superfood in Australia. The broth is rich in protein, anti-inflammatory properties, amino acids and collagen - which is optimal for good skin - and can be made at home. However it is easily accessible from most health food stores across Sydney including

For some of the best bone broth in Sydney, head to 

• Sprout Wholefood in Naremburn
• Star Anise Organics in Bronte 

It’s been good enough for the Ancient Chinese for thousands of years and since it sprung onto the health food scene a couple of years ago, Kombucha has stuck. The drink of black or green tea and sugar is fermented by ‘SCOBY’ (a colony of bacteria and yeast) which leaves the liquid probiotic-rich, aiding digestion and improving gut health. Kombucha can be made at home once you have your own SCOBY (you can buy starter kits online) otherwise the drink can be purchased at most health food stores across Sydney.

You can now find Kombucha all over Sydney, but here are some of our favourites:

• Orchard St in Paddington, Bronte and Bondi
• The Farm in Potts Point and Cammeray
  
• Bare Naked Bowls in Manly and Bronte
  
• Ballsy Brewing in Leichhardt.
  
• Sprout Wholefood in Naremburn
  

They call it golden milk, and turmeric lattes are now popular for good reason. The yellow spice, which has been used in India for centuries, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some research has shown the active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, can help prevent cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric popped up on the superfood scene two years ago and is now used in more than just curries these days, with the spice sprinkled on roasted vegetables, rice and in soups. You can purchase turmeric in health food stores across Sydney and most supermarkets, including Woolworths, Coles and Harris Farm.

Most health food cafes do excellent turmeric lattes, but some standout include:

• T Totaller in Newtown, Sydney and Eveleigh Markets
• Sprout Wholefood in Naremburn
  

You’ve no doubt heard of (and possibly consumed) kimchi, dill pickles and sauerkraut which are some of many lacto-fermented veggies making their way into health foodies’ cupboards. Essentially cultured vegetables, lacto-fermented veggies are extremely beneficial for gut health, with the fermentation process increasing nutrient and probiotic levels in the food. The anaerobic process - where vegetables are stored with (commonly) salt and water - allows naturally present lactic acid to produce bacteria which breaks down raw food, allowing it to be more digestible and nutrient rich. It can be done at home, but for those wanting to cut a few corners fermented vegetables can be purchased at most health food stores and some supermarkets.

Those wanting to eat out can rest assured there’s a vast array of establishments, here are some of our favourites:

• Egg of the Universe in Rozelle
  
• Sprout Wholefood in Naremburn
  
• Porch and Parlour in North Bondi