HEALTH + WELLNESS
ALL HAIL THE SUPERFOOD cont.
Tiger nuts
The tiger nut is nothing to do with neither tigers nor nuts and is, in fact, a small root vegetable and traditional food that has been grown and eaten for centuries across the Mediterranean and Africa. Commonly found in the form of tiger nut flour – a great glutenfree, grain-free alternative flour that can be used in baking or cooking – it’ s suitable for all types of diets from vegan to Paleo and nutfree. High in fibre and rich in calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium, you can expect to see tiger nuts emerge as the dieter’ s best friend this year as they’ re great for the digestive system and are said to aid weight loss.
Super spices
2017 is the undisputed year of the super spice, the king of which is bright yellow turmeric. Why? Turmeric contains curcumin, which has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, plays a role in cancer prevention and protects against heart disease, and has also been shown to help relieve the pain of arthritis, injuries and even dental procedures. Other spice royalty includes cinnamon, a nutritional dynamo that keeps cells safe from oxidative stress and dangerous free radicals; saffron, as little as a tenth of a teaspoon of which has been shown to help improve cognitive performance and mood; and cayenne pepper, the capsaicin in which helps fight weight gain and obesity. If you’ re trying to detox before the summer season hits full swing, spice up your dishes with this little lot and you’ ll get a far bigger boost than you’ d hoped for.
Goat meat
Goat meat is a staple North African and Middle Eastern cuisine, although it rarely makes it onto the dinner table in the UK. There have been whispers that both Waitrose and Sainsbury’ s are going to stock their shelves with goat meat this year, however, having taken note of its health benefits. It’ s low in fat and high in protein, and is also higher in iron than beef, pork or lamb. Crucially, eating goat meat is an ethically sound choice too.
Currently, goats are farmed primarily for their milk and so, sadly, most male goats are killed at birth. Creating a market for goat meat will allow the male goats( billy goats) to live a decent life as they’ re reared; just make sure you buy organic and cruelty free.
Purple foods
The future’ s bright, the future’ s... purple? That’ s correct – purple foods pack a powerful disease-prevention punch and are the choice of today’ s health-conscious eater. Purple kale, purple carrots, purple cauliflower, purple broccoli and the purple potato are all amazingly rich in anthocyanins( the antioxidant responsible for their purple colour) and have amazing disease-fighting properties. They can soothe inflammation as well as boost immune function and have also been shown to improve memory and brain function.
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