We Share Sami Wisdom - 4 Nordic Superfoods
Here at Aarja Health, we love taking our ancient Sami knowledge and using it to create 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 a new year in mind with many opportunities for change, we would like to present some of the other amazing plants that the Sami have used for generations in their diet along their travels. (If you already want to see our products, click here... )
Arctic chaga
Arctic chaga is hugely healthy but not well known. Chaga is a mushroom and is considered a superfood due to its many supposed benefits to human health. Between the vast array of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and immune-modulating abilities, arctic chaga 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 wide range of ailments and diseases. So the next time you're feeling a little down, a little chaga could 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 great substitute!
Pine bark
Pine bark is another Nordic element with real primordial power. It is also one of the few resources that the Sami would have had access to during the harsh northern winters. Indeed, it is believed that pine bark was a staple of the Sami diet and was likely 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 oxidant status and is also good for the skin. Because of its antimicrobial properties, the Sami would even use pine bark to treat wounds! Dare we say more? If you want to incorporate a little more bark into your life, our Pine Bark Collagen is a great choice for skin, joints and all your antioxidant needs.
Cloudberry
Lingonberries and blueberries are favorite ingredients here at Aarja Health, but have you heard of cloudberries? In addition to mushrooms and bark, var/is bears a Sami staple food. Commonly used to make stews, soups, juices and breads, blackberries are nutrient dense! Vitamins 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 - cloudberries are a plant-based source of these healthy fats! Despite its funny shape, the staghorn 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 treks to collect pine bark, they probably also encountered chanterelles (another type of mushroom) that 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's in the polysaccharide department that chanterelles really shine. If you don't know what that is, no problem! Polysaccharides are one of the most common types of carbohydrates found in foods, but some of them like chitin and chitosan — of which chanterelles are an excellent source — have some impressive health benefits. Chitin and chitosan are believed to have immunomodulatory properties, meaning 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 land and often consisted of what we would now consider superfoods. It is no wonder that the Sami genes have health benefits even generations to come!
If you're ready to absorb the wisdom of the Sami, you've come to the right place! Our entire range of products has been born and developed from the lost secrets of the Sami people to help you feel your absolute best all year round. So get started today by browsing our online store to find the perfect fit for your lifestyle, plant-based or not!
