Have you recovered from your chocolate Easter egg induced coma yet? At Diana’s we love our food as much as anyone in Wellingborough, but sometimes we need to remind ourselves that the tastiest foods can also be the healthiest!
Have you heard the buzzword ‘superfoods’ recently? While there’s no official scientific classification of a superfood, it is a group of foods which contain high levels of vitamins and minerals to keep our bodies healthy and happy! They can be source of antioxidants to shield our bodies from damage and disease.
While many common ingredients provide these nutrients, including salmon and kale, we want to take a look at some more exotic foods that are worth getting to know.
Goji berries
Move over blueberries, there’s a new super berry in town! Goji berries are slowly becoming more popular on our supermarket shelves because they contain a lot of Vitamin C.
The orangey berries are said to help improve circulation and boost the immune system – what’s not to like!
Cocoa powder
Add cocoa powder to your post work-out smoothies for a chocolaty taste with all the health benefits. Flavonoids in cocoa powder help to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to your brain and heart.
With fewer than 15 calories per tablespoon, what’s stopping you treating yourself?
Seaweed
Embrace your inner merperson by incorporating seaweed into your recipes, as it’s rich in omega-3 acids which help to prevent cardiovascular attacks and strokes.
Seaweed is also packed full of important minerals, including calcium and magnesium, to maintain your strong bones.
Chia seeds
If you’re not a fan of fish or seaweed, another way to get omega-3 into your diet is with chia seeds. As well as omega-3, the nutrient-rich seeds are packed with fibre and calcium.
If you’re already a fan of chai lattes, you’ll enjoy the crunchy and nutty flavour which you can add to porridge, salads or stir-fries.
Black garlic
Don’t be put off by the smell, black garlic has long been acclaimed for its health benefits but it’s only just reaching western markets.
Black garlic is created by fermenting raw garlic and is a source of important probiotics and it’s sulphuric components are key to keeping a healthy heart.
Black beans
Give yourself an energy boost after your fitness class or swim with a dose of black beans. One cup of these super beans contains 15 grams of protein without the saturated fat found in meat – imagine your muscles…
What can you make with black beans? From salads to pasta and even brownies, the list is endless!