We Share Sami Wisdom - 4 Nordic Superfoods
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Here at Aarja Health, we love to take our ancient Sami knowledge and use it to create nutritional supplements that are unique, safe and highly effective. With a quick look at our product page, you will notice a lot of Nordic ingredients such as lingonberry, blueberry and arctic chaga.
However, this is only a small part of the many wonderful gifts that northern nature has given us. So with the new year in mind and many opportunities for change, we would like to present some of the other fantastic plants that the Sami have used for generations in their diet along their resorts. (If you want to see our products now, click here... )
Arctic chaga
Arctic chaga is extremely healthy but not particularly well known. Chaga is a sponge and is considered a superfood because of its many purported benefits for human health. Between the large range of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and immunomodulating abilities, arctic chagan is truly a wealth of health-supporting nutrients. From blood sugar and cholesterol to immunity - arctic chaga is beneficial for so many aspects of health that it's hard to count!
Traditionally, the Sami are believed to have used chaga to treat a large number of ailments and diseases. So the next time you feel a little unwell, little chaga can be your ticket back to health! If you can't bear to look for fresh chaga, Aarja Health's Vitamin C with zinc and chaga is a fantastic substitute!
Tallbark
Tallbark is another Nordic element with considerable primordial power. It is also one of the few resources that the Sami should have had access to during the harsh northern winters. It is actually believed that pine bark was a staple in the Sami diet and that it was probably used in tea and stews or dried and ground into flour for bread.
Now pine bark may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of food, but pine bark can also be classified as a superfood. With antioxidants, anti-inflammatory elements and antimicrobial properties, this therapeutic food can support immunity, increase the oxidant status and is also good for the skin. Because of its antimicrobial properties, the Samaritans even used pine bark to treat wounds! Dare we say more? If you want to incorporate a little more bark into your life, our Collagen with tall bark is a fantastic choice for skin, skin and all your antioxidant needs.
Deer
Lingon and blåbär are favorite ingredients here at Aarja Health, but have you heard of cloudberries? In addition to sponge and bark, bär was/is a Sami staple food. Hjorton is often used to make stews, soups, juices and bread and is dense in nutrition! Vitamin A and C as well as iron, calcium, magnesium and even omega-3 and -6 fatty acids - a very rare nutrient found in berries. Vegans, take note - horseradish is a plant-based source of these useful cousins! Despite its funny shape, the deer horn has a large number of health benefits.
Chanterelles
The nomadic nature of the Sami meant that they constantly traveled around the northern wilderness to make food from whatever nature was kind enough to give them. On their travels to collect pine bark, they probably also came across chanterelles (another type of sponge) which are often found around trees. The traditional Sami dish Renskav includes these tasty forest medicines together with reindeer meat - a dish that over the years has been adapted into a modern stew that is perfect for a cold winter's day.
When it comes to health, it is in the polysaccharide department that chanterelles really excel. If you don't know what it is, no problem! Polysaccharides are one of the most common types of carbohydrates found in food, but some of them such as chitin and chitosan - of which chanterelles are an excellent source - have some impressive health benefits. Chitin and chitosan are believed to have immunomodulating properties, which means that they can stimulate immune cells, which can help reduce inflammation and even reduce the risk of certain cancers. The more you know, the more you know, right?
The beauty of Sami knowledge is that even before modern science they both appreciated and understood the wonders of nature. Their diet was filled with food from the country and often consisted of what we would now consider superfoods. It is no wonder that the Sami genes have health benefits even generations ahead!
If you are ready to take on board the wisdom of the Sami, you have come to the right place! Our entire range of products has been born and developed from the lost secrets of the Sami to help you feel your absolute best all year round. So get started today by browsing our online store to find what fits your lifestyle perfectly, plant-based or not!