Superfoods for beauty
A smoothie bar and vegan, gluten-free deli rolled into one: „Superfoods & Organic Liquids“ is a haven for vitamin-hungry Berliners. Founder Julia Puestow tells us which superfoods should be in every beauty regime, which vegetables are undervalued and her favourite recipe for a firm figure.
It’s the afternoon and already dark on this grey, wintry day in Berlin Mitte. We meet to talk with Julia Puestow in her urban minimalist health food paradise. Inside there’s a lovely lightness. Everything shines. The light-filled space, the colours of the juices and Julia herself. She stand behind the shiny silver bar, laughing and giving tips and fulfilling the various wishes of her health conscious customers. And there are lots of customers. While we chat about superfoods, New York and the food trends of the year, the door keeps opening. “It really surprised us how well the store was received from the outset. We immediately had regular customers, who are still coming,” she beams.
And we understand why: her smoothies, chia puddings and salads are prepared fresh, with love and care. In the metre long chillers there’s fresh matcha and mint ice tea alongside aloe vera shots and colourful cold-pressed juices. All the colours of the rainbow seem to be here. Gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free: nothing is impossible here. “If you prefer avocado in your smoothie instead of banana, we can do that for you. Anyone can directly specify what they have.” It’s a relief for people with intolerances.
“We want to help people discover an awareness of healthy nutrition and tasty alternatives.”
From the outset, freedom of choice was part of the vision. Transparency. A non-dogmatic approach. Instead of rules for healthy nutrition, Julia offers creative alternatives to white flour, sugar etc. She was inspired by the city where so many food trends have been born: New York. She loved its juice bars and deli concepts. Anything similar in Berlin? Nothing a few years ago. In 2015 she opened her own paradise: Superfoods & Organic Liquids. Supported by her friend Julian Liebich and health coach Nadine Hüttenrauch, they designed the menu, taste tested and refined it. Every dish highlights one superfood.
6 superfoods for beauty
What can we do to make ourselves feel better? She tells us. For an occasional vitamin boost, Julia recommends the Fatburner- one shot of lemon juice, maple syrup, filtered water and a pinch of cayenne. This little drink is cleansing and boosts the body’s immune system and fat burning. Ideal for before exercise. These six superfoods are her favourites for beauty, physical wellbeing and more energy for the adventures of the day.
Açai
“Acai is also known as Brazilian super berries. And the name fits. It comes from the rainforests of the Amazon region and has been revered there for centuries for its antioxidative, energy-giving properties. Brazilian women love it for keeping their skin beautiful and firm.”
Active carbon
“Active carbon is the trend of 2016! The fine, black powder is made from coconut shells and is the best thing for a pure complexion. Acne sufferers swear by its skin calming effect from the inside as a nutritional supplement or from the outside as a mask.
Aloe vera
“Aloe vera is best absorbed by the body as a gel. It refreshes the skin, stimulates the immune system, cleanses and increases the natural radiance of the skin. We offer it as a ‘Skin Purifying Shot’ with coconut water, lemon and cayenne.
Cucumber
An absolutely underestimated vegetable! Cucumber is purifying, supplies the body with lots of water. It’s ideal in smoothies and is unfairly neglected. Apart from that, cucumbers grow here, so it supports local food.
Kale
I find that kale in its pure, raw form has the most intense in flavour. It supplies lots of iron and potassium, reduces blood pressures and contains the trace element manganese, which is vital for strengthening bones. That’s why I consider kale one of the healthiest vegetables in the world, ideal for smoothies and salads.
Black rice
“Black rice is an absolute superfood. It’s gentler on the stomach than white rice, keeps you fuller for longer, is rich in nutrients, energising and gluten-free. It also has a wonderfully intense nutty flavour. We use organic rice from Piemont because it has the best aroma.