#1 Medjool Dates
In case you aren't familiar with the pure sweet wonder of the medjool date, you can check out all of its amazing healthy benefits of dates here or here. They're filled with fiber, rich in antioxidants, pregnancy savors, magnesium and more potassium than a banana, among many more vitamins and minerals!
Dates are easy to eat as a snack on their own, stuffed with nut butter or your favorite cheese (vegan or not) and included in your favorite recipes. Dates are a great alternative sweetener, which is why we offer pitted dates and even date syrup.
They're especially the best when they're sold organic and fresh, just like the ones here at Joolies ๐ This ensures all of the main elements and makeup of the date is intact when consuming and why it's included in the SIRT diet!
Pictured Right: Ayurveda Pecan Stuffed Dates
#2 Kale
Kale salads were all the rage last year, hyping up their leafy green superfood powers and, honestly, the hype is definitely deserved. Kale provides more than 206% of your daily Vitamin A, 134% of your Vitamin C, and is a great plant-based source of iron and calcium! Kale, yeah!
#3 Parsley
Parsley is an easy add-on to your other SIRT meals. Just chop it up to add to salads or hot dishes for a simple step-up on flavor and health rewards! Seriously though, it can provide substantial amounts of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, and Potassium on top of the many other benefits it can have for your bones, eyes, and heart ๐ฟ
#4 Coffee
#5 Celery
I'm a full grown adult, and I still love ants on a log (proud of it, too)! In case you didn't have that kind of childhood, raisins on some celery smothered in peanut butter is like bringing yourself back to summer camp days. Besides being an amazing snack, your tummy loves it thanks to its high fiber content and helps your body control bleeding. Weird, I know, but Vitamin K controls your ability to stop blood from wounds! ๐ท
#6 Walnuts
Walnuts are the fattiest nuts and arguably the most nutritious! Ironically, their brain texture and shape is truly reflective of what they can do for the human body. They are a remarkable source of Omega-3s and can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and certain cancers due to their high levels antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals ๐
Pictured Right: Date Walnut Bread
#7 Red Chicory
More commonly known as radicchio, red chicory is a staple food of both the Mediterranean and SIRT diet. Due to its multitude of antioxidants, it has a ton of potential value, including fighting off liver cancer and oxidative stress. It even produces one of the prettiest colors ๐
#8 Strawberries
#9 Lovage
Honestly, I had no idea what lovage even was before writing this article. Thanks to some extensive Google searching, I found out its a type of leafy plant that is mainly used in salads, alcohols, or as a herb, being extremely common in Mediterranean and Asian cuisine. According to one study, "the roots of which enrich the blood, invigorate the circulation, regulate menstrual function, ease pain, etc. and are utilized to treat menoxenia, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, headache, constipation, anemia, rheumatism, ulcer, edema, and so on." Guess I gotta find some lovage ๐ณ
#10 Chocolate
Before we dive into surprising chocolate trivia, let's be clear that the chocolate used for the SIRT diet is extra dark, meaning it is 85% cacao and above. If 85% is too bitter for you, you can always sweeten it up with some of our date syrup which is also SIRT approved ๐
Anyway, dark chocolate is a great source of iron, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, and potassiumโmaking it one of the most underrated superfoods ever. Be careful though...check the ingredients list first. There could be some added sugars, inflammatory oils, or unnecessary preservatives that are not recommended by SIRT ๐ซ
Pictured Above: Chocolate Stuffed Dates
#11 Extra Virgin Olive Oil
EVOO is a staple among healthy eaters, being an antioxidant filled, immune boosting, and overall tasty addition to every meal. Since the '90s, scientists have known olive oil to have anti-inflammatory properties including fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis and even acting as a natural ibuprofen. This shows just how much healthy living can limit or replace man-made supplements...insane!
#12 Red Onion
#13 Soy
Even though soy is approved for SIRT, it is still a controversial food for good reasons, meaning you should educate yourself and listen to your body first before taking in the advice of others. The background on the controversy is soy's risk of Kawasaki disease and possible cancerous and metabolic risks especially for women.
With that said, soy is a high protein food that is really common within diets that do not eat meat. Soybeans are high in Vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate and pretty much every mineral. As always, if you decide to eat soy it's crucial to get it from whole foods and to not rely on vegan chicken nuggets for every meal ๐
#14 Capers
Did you know that capers are actually harvested from flower buds? ๐ธ Weird, right? They are very familiar in Italian and Mediterranean foods and can really elevate a good salmon dish. Beside the point, one study found capers to have antiallergenic properties which can aid in histamine related reactions. They're also anti-diabetic, since they help out maintaining glucose at a healthy level!
Pictured Right: Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
#15 Buckwheat
Gluten-free eaters rejoice! Buckwheat is a great alternative for noodles, bread, and more with a ton of added perks. It can provide 111% of your daily manganese, 93% of copper, 98% of magnesium, and 60% of niacin just to name a few! Thanks to its incredibly high vitamin and mineral content, it can help with skin health, anemia, bone mass, and immunity ๐
#16 Red Wine
Yes, red wine! Let's take a second though and remember to drink any alcohol in moderation, even if it is approved by a diet, scientist, or professional. One of the more compelling facts about wine is its memory enhancing potential thanks to phytoalexin which is found in the skin of grapes.
It's also an inflammatory agent due to its many antioxidants, however, make sure that you check with your doctor that red wine will not be of damage to your current state of health. Those who are allergic to histamines, pregnant, or have a history of alcohol abuse should not be considering this as a part of their everyday diet โ๏ธ
#17 Green Tea
We ain't talking about any green tea, we're talking about matcha! It's been used for literally centuries by Buddhists, claiming to have incredible impacts on mentality, energy, and immunity. It's now more common in coffee shops as a matcha latte. Green tea in general has shown to lower cholesterol in some studies, fight chances of Alzheimer's, and be even used for skin care! ๐ต
#18 Chili
If you can handle a little bit of spice, chilis are a unique way to balance weight, improve heartburn symptoms, and increase your daily sodium and potassium intake! Although, be cognizant of the fact that chilis are literally used in most pepper sprays and can worsen stomach pain, IBS, and other related conditions. Take mental notes of how you feel before and after eating any food so you can make better decisions in the future ๐
Pictured Left: Vegan Coconut Curry
#19 Rocket
Rocket is a very close sister to arugula, which can be used instead in case rocket isn't at your local store. Like all the other foods on this list, it is a great source of vitamins including A and C on top of having the possible ability to suppress tumor cells. Arugula has a peppery, crunchy taste that adds a little flair to your everyday salad or can be frozen and mixed into smoothies ๐ฑ
#20 Turmeric
Whether you take it via pill or powder, turmeric is magical โจIt is one of the oldest herbs studied in the whole world, aiding patients with depression or arthritis. Turmeric can be found in most stores now can also be used for face masks and other remedies due to its antibacterial properties ๐ท
Conclusion
Regardless if you follow a diet or not, these foods (and beverages) have wonderful benefits for your overall health. You don't need to be on the SIRT diet to enjoy any of these, and the Joolies team is always here to support you and how you embrace healthy living! What do you think of the SIRT diet? Comment below ๐
