7 New Super Foods

Cacao Nibs

Cacao trees bear football-shaped fruit pods filled with large seeds (called beans) that are processed to make chocolate. By smashing these seeds into bits, you end up with crunchy cacao nibs. The nibs' nutritional perks include stellar amounts of fiber, antioxidants and magnesium. A recent Journal of Physiology study suggests that antioxidants in cacao may help bolster exercise endurance.

Cacao Nib Fruit Salad
Serves 4

• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1/2 tsp. lime zest
• 1 cup strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup pineapple, diced
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 banana, sliced
• 1/4 cup cacao nibs
• 1/3 cup unsalted almonds, sliced
• 2 Tbsp. fresh mint, chopped

Place honey, lime juice and 2 Tbsp. water in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat until honey has dissolved into liquid. Stir in lime zest and let cool. Place strawberries, pineapple, blueberries and banana in a large bowl. Add cacao nibs and honey syrup and toss to coat. Serve garnished with almonds and mint.

Matcha

Green tea, meet your matcha. Matcha is derived from the Chinese phrase mo cha, meaning "to grind tea." In this practice, the drinker ingests whole tea leaves, which provide a giant dose of disease-thwarting antioxidants and brain-boosting L-theanine.

Matcha Smoothie
Serves 2

• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• 3/4 cup silken tofu
• 1 tsp. matcha powder
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1 cup frozen mango cubes

Place ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.