We share Sami wisdom | 4 Nordic superfoods you didn't know about

Here at Aarja Health, we love taking our ancestors' Sami knowledge and using it to create supplements that are unique, safe, and highly effective. If you take a quick look at our product page, you will notice a whole range of Nordic ingredients, such as lingonberries, blueberries, and Arctic chaga.

However, this is just a small part of the many amazing gifts that Nordic nature has given us. So, with Vegan January in mind, we would like to introduce some of the other fantastic plants that the Sami would have used in their diet while traveling.

Foraging for Food in Norway: Healthy Sami Superfoods

Arctic Chaga

Arctic chaga, although super healthy, is not very well known. Chaga is a fungus and is considered a superfood because of its many presumed benefits for human health. With vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and immune-modulating abilities, Arctic chaga truly has a wealth of health-supporting nutrients. Arctic chaga is beneficial for so many health aspects that it’s hard to count, from blood sugar and cholesterol to immune defense! Traditionally, the Sami are believed to have used chaga in strength tonics to treat a wide range of ailments and diseases. So next time you feel a bit tired and worn out, a little chaga might make you feel fresh and energetic again! If you don’t feel like searching for fresh chaga, Aarja Health’s Vitamin C with zinc and chaga is a fantastic alternative!

Feel free to read more here if you want to learn more about all the health benefits of eating berries as part of your diet.

Pine Bark

Pine bark is another Nordic element featured in our products. It is also one of the few resources the Sami would have had access to during the harsh Nordic winters. In fact, pine bark is believed to have been common in the Sami diet and probably used in teas and stews, or dried and ground into flour and used for bread.

Pine bark might not be the first thing you think of 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 the immune system, boost antioxidant status, and is also good for the skin. Because of its antimicrobial properties, the Sami even used pine bark to treat wounds! Shall we say more? If you want to add a little more bark to your diet, our Collagen with pine bark is a fantastic choice for skin, joints, and all your antioxidant needs.

Cloudberries

Lingonberries and blueberries are favorite ingredients here at Aarja Health, but have you heard of cloudberries? In addition to fungi and bark, berries were a staple food for the Sami. Cloudberries are very nutritious and can be used to make stews, soups, juices, and bread! They contain vitamins A and C as well as iron, calcium, magnesium, and even omega-3 and -6 fatty acids – a nutrient rarely found in berries. Vegans, take note – cloudberries are a plant-based source of these healthy fats! Despite the fun shape of the cloudberry, it has a range of health benefits.

Chanterelles

The nomadic nature of the Sami meant they were constantly traveling through the Nordic wilderness and making food from what nature was kind enough to provide. On their journeys to gather pine bark, they probably also came across chanterelles (another type of mushroom) often found around trees. The traditional Sami dish known as reindeer shavings contains these tasty forest treats along with frozen reindeer meat – a dish that over the years has been adapted into a modern stew perfect for a cold winter day.

When it comes to health, chanterelles are truly beneficial in the polysaccharide department. Don’t know what that is? No problem! Polysaccharides are one of the most abundant types of carbohydrates found in foods, but certain ones like chitin and chitosan – of which chanterelles are an excellent source – have some impressive health benefits. Chitin and chitosan are believed to have immune-modulating properties, meaning they can stimulate immune cells that may help reduce inflammation and even lower the risk of certain cancers!

The beauty of Sami knowledge is that even before modern science, they were both appreciative and understanding of nature’s wonders. Their diet was filled with food from nature and often consisted of what we would now consider superfoods. No wonder the Sami genes come with health benefits for current generations as well!

If you are ready to embrace the wisdom of the Sami people, you are in the right place! Whether you are just joining us for Vegan January and want to add healthy plant foods to your diet, or are looking for the perfect supplement to complement your needs, Aarja Health has what you need. Our entire product line is created and bred from the Sami’s lost secrets to help you feel fresh and energetic all year round. So get started today by taking a look in our store and find the products that perfectly suit your lifestyle, plant-based or other!