Superfoods
By, Beverly Bateman
Every year we get hit with the latest in Superfood list. It usually includes things we’ve never heard about before. Here’s my list for you. The first five were on the 2015 list and are back again. The others are new this year. Are they really super foods? I’ll leave that for you to decide.
1. Black Rice- The Whole Grains Council says it has an antioxidant amount six times higher other varieties, and similar to the amount of antioxidants in blueberries, and is good for heart health.
2. Coconut Flour is gluten-free and studies show it’s higher in fiber and lower on the glycemic index than other flours. It may help those trying to lose weight and for individuals with diabetes.
3. Matcha tea is dried green tea leaves ground into a powder. Before the leaves hit the ground they are shaded for 30 days to increase their chlorophyll production. With Matcha, you drink the tea leaves and all the healthy chlorophyll contained in it. Drink it plain because adding milk slightly decreases the antioxidant capacity.
4. And my favorite, dark chocolate. The health benefits are endless: the antioxidants in cacao have been shown to boost heart health, fight diabetes, protect against UV damage and even soothe stress. Plus, a little piece of dark chocolate after your meal helps curb cravings so you don’t overindulge on the sweets.
5. Moringa (Horseradish Tree) It has edible leaves, seeds, and pods. Depending on the part of the plant, it contains as much calcium as milk, more potassium than a banana, two and a half times the Vitamin C as an orange, 4 times more Vitamin A than carrots and each ounce of leaves contains three grams of protein. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects, helps detoxify liver, and is beneficial for the digestive system.
6. Pitaya (Dragon Fruit) The bold fuchsia color means that it’s bursting with phytonutrients, including lycopene, which may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. It’s also rich in vitamin C, fiber, and magnesium. One small dragon fruit is about 60 calories and is perfect in a smoothie or eaten raw.
7. Freekeh is one of the ancient grains, along with quinoa, farro, amarantha, kañiwa and teff. Freekeh, a roasted green wheat with a nutty, chewy texture that originated in Northern African and the Middle East. A cooked half-cup of the whole grain contains 10 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein. That’s about six times as much fiber and four times as much protein as the same amount of brown rice. The only downside is it’s wheat, so not gluten-free.
8. Tiger Nuts. They are a small root vegetable, discovered around 4000 years and the nut milk made from it is sometimes used to make horchata. There are approximately 120 calories in fifty tiger nuts, plus 10 grams of fiber and 215 mg of potassium. It’s a great snack.
9. Baobab - This African super fruit looks like a slender watermelon on the outside. Inside it contains a powdery pulp that has a pear-like flavor that works well in smoothies, juices, and baked goods. It contains nearly six times as much vitamin C as oranges and twice as much calcium as milk and one 10 gram serving has 4.7 grams of fiber.
10. Cruciferous veggies like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli sprouts. Cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamin C and may contain phyto-chemicals which help the body detox excess estrogen. Broccoli sprouts are high in enzymes that help fight against cancer and is also a great replacement for potato if you’re trying to follow a low-carb diet.
Reference:
Top 10 Superfoods 2015
Beach Body Blog: Superfoods 2016
Beverley Bateman lives in the Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada among vineyards, orchards, lakes and mountains with her Shiba Inu dogs. She sits on her deck, sips a local wine and pens her latest romantic suspense. Hunted, Missing and the newest – Targeted are part of her Montana series. She also has her Holly Devine series; A Cruise to Remember, and a Murder to Forget. Don’t Go is her darker romantic suspense.
You can connect with Beverley online here:
Blog Website
After and eleven-year absence Janna Kincaid inherits a ranch and is forced to return to a town she only remembers with unhappiness, a man to whom she was briefly married and never wants to see again, and someone is trying to kill her.
Kye Hawkins has loved Janna since he first met her. They were married, but a few weeks later she ran away without an explanation. He still hasn’t figured out why. Now she’s coming back. Does she still love him? Can he rekindle the romance and also prevent her from being killed?
Janna doesn’t want Kye’s help in anyway, yet he always seems to be there when she’s in trouble. Can they work together to find a killer, save the native burial ground and home of the spirits, and find romance again?
Beverley, thank you for guesting today and sharing with us about Superfoods and your book.
Hope you all can stay for a bit to chat with Beverley. Feel free to post your comments below.