FOOD + DRINK
2024 ’ s Surprising Superfoods cont ...
CACAO Listed in the prestigious Whole Foods ’ top 10 food trends for 2024 , cacao is not only the fruit from which your favourite chocolate bar evolves and is therefore instantly sacred , it also scores high on sustainability and has a long list of nutritional benefits containing powerful antioxidants , electrolytes , polyphenols ( improve blood flow to your brain and brain function ), flavanols ( ease symptoms of type 2 diabetes ), and all manner of vitamins and minerals including magnesium , calcium , iron , zinc , copper , potassium and manganese . The seed is what becomes chocolate , but the pulp is used for juices and jams , and the shell can be ground into flour .
MICROGREENS An increasingly popular hobby amongst windowsill gardeners , it appears microgreens are far more than just decorative leaves and shoots you may have seen upmarket chefs painstakingly tweeze onto their dishes . Yes , that delicate bouquet of super young and tender leafy greens that most vegetables , grains and herbs produce and that are often dismissed as mere ‘ garnish ’ in fact has higher concentrations of phytochemicals and antioxidants like betacarotene than leaves harvested from mature plants . They ’ re also safer than sprouts ( which often carry the risk of foodborne illness ) because they ’ re grown in less moist environments , and they can be easily grown indoors , so they ’ re sustainable to boot .
MORINGA Move over matcha , there ’ s a new powdered leaf in town and this one is caffeine-free . Known as the ‘ miracle tree ’, moringa , a plant native to Africa and southern Asia with a bright green colour and grassy taste , not only helps caffeine-sensitive types avoid the jitters , but contains a staggering lineup of minerals including calcium , potassium , zinc , magnesium , iron and copper , alongside vitamins A , B , C , D and E , fibre , and plant compounds that support cognitive function , help tame inflammation , promote stable blood sugar levels and healthy blood pressure , and smooth digestion . If that ’ s not a superfood , we ’ re not sure what is .
BONE BROTH OK , we understand neither ‘ bone ’ nor ‘ broth ’ sound particularly appetising , let alone filling , but the suggestion – and one that ’ s been consistently speeding its way up the superfood list since the Paleo craze exploded onto the scene – is that broth made with chicken ( or beef ) bones contains a whole gamut of salubrious properties . It ’ s great for the gut because the gelatin found in joints heals holes in the intestine ; chondroitin sulphate wards off osteoarthritis ; it ’ s full of collagen , which plumps skin for a more youthful appearance ; and glycine helps promote sleep and improve memory . Plus , it ’ s a bargain ; all you have to do is grab all the boniest bones you can find – oxtail , feet , neck and knuckles – put them in a saucepan with vegetables and herbs , and boil for a couple of days .
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