What has more fibre than oats, twice as much Vitamin E as kiwi fruit and more potassium than bananas, yet is practically unheard of? The answer is tiger nuts, an ancient superfood that is now poised for a comeback.

Tiger nuts, which are also called chufas or earth almonds, actually aren't nuts at all, but tubers that grow underground, just like peanuts. While they used to be part of our ancestors' staple diet, few people today are familiar with tiger nuts outside of West Africa and Spain, where they're grown. That's too bad, because there are many reasons why you should incorporate tiger nuts into your daily diet!

Tiger nuts are small and naturally sweet, and have a slightly chewy texture. They're a good source of minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc, as well as heart-healthy unsaturated fats. But it's the high content of prebiotic fibre that really gives the tiger nut its well-deserved superfood status. Prebiotic fibre consists of insoluble carbohydrates that pass through the stomach and small intestine without being digested, all the way to the colon, where they become food for good bacteria, or probiotics. Together, probiotics (which are prevalent in some yogurts and fermented foods like kimchi, tempeh and saurkraut) and prebiotics help diversify and boost your microbiome, essentially trillions of bacteria and fungi that researchers believe influence everything from your metabolism and body weight to your immune system, appetite and mood. Several studies have shown that a diverse and flourishing microbiome can reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity, allergy, inflammatory diseases and more.