Monday, April 25, 2016

FOOD SPECIAL ......Superfoods of 2016


Superfoods of 2016


Quinoa and kale chips are so 2015, it's cringe-inducing.
Brace yourself for Bentonite clay, kohlrabi and teff

You made your peace with the semi-bitter aftertaste of kale
chips.You even adapted to the flaky bite of quinoa, for these
were the superfoods stacked high in the supermarket.
But like fashion, food trends need to come with an expiry
date, so that you're prepared for their eventual departure
from food aisles and your cupboards.While coconut oil and
chia seeds rocked diets last year, 2016 is all about the
underdog. Packed with that extra zing of health, black rice,
maca root and nigella sativa will headline mainstream
superfoods this year. So the next time you go grocery
shopping, here are some must-buys you need to include
in your list:

Kohlrabi
At a glance, kohlrabi looks like a cross between a turnip
and a radish, but its roots can be traced to the cabbage
family. The stout vegetable is native to German-speaking
countries and can be eaten raw or cooked. The texture is
similar of broccoli, but tastes mildly sweeter. The stem has
a crunchy aftertaste, like that of an apple. Kohlrabi suits
salads and blends with slaw. Its juicy flesh can be made
into fries, pie or risotto. Kohlrabi is a perfect diet food, as it
has almost no calories and is rich in fibre. It also satisfies the appetite, reducing the urge to snack in-between meals. Incidentally, kohlrabi has for long been a staple in
Kashmiri cuisine.

Black rice
Often called longevity rice or forbidden rice, black rice is
native to China and southeast Asia. Even though its brown
and red counterparts are wide ly popular, this lesser-known
variety is still shrouded in mystery. Black rice has
astonishing levels of anthocyanin antioxidants (even more
than blueberries). It's highly revered in China and was
set aside historically for royal consumption alone.
Its low yield makes it a premi um product. Black rice is
loaded with dietary fibre which helps prevent bloating,
constipation and other digestive issues. It is also gluten-free,
which slows down the absorption of sugar in the blood,
making it ideal for pre-diabetics.
The rice has a wild, nutty flavour and takes roughly the
same amount of time to cook as brown rice.;

Teff
The world's smallest food grain, is the size of a poppy grain.
About 1 gm of teff is about 3,000 grains. Native to Ethiopia
and Eritrea, the tiny, reddish brown grain is rich in dietary
fibre, iron, and also calcium. It is cooked like millets and its
granular form allows for speedy cooking and conserves
energy.
It can be also be ground as flour and used to bake pie crusts,
bread and cookies. It can also be eaten as a whole grain
and can be boiled or steamed. Its gluten-free nature makes
it ideal for people with gluten allergies.

Birch Water
Much has been written about the benefits of coconut water
and its life-saving abilities. But birch water -harvested from
 the bark of birch trees -is the new cool. The sap has a thin,
water-like consistency and is known to possess macronutrients,
potassium and electro lytes. Birch water regulars swear by
its rehydrating properties.
The water is a known diuretic that helps flush out toxins
from the body. Birch water contains saponin, which lowers
cholesterol.
It is colour less and odourless with a shelf life of about three
days.
Give the soda a miss, try birch water instead.

Avacado oil
Uniquely, this edible oil is not extracted from the seed of
an avocado, but rather obtained from the flesh of the
tropical fruit. The oil is loaded with potassium and vitamins
A and D, apart from a very high concentration of
monounsaturated fats.Though avocado oil is new to the
culinary world, it is ideal for cooking and frying as it has a
very high smoking point -about 249 degree Celsius. The oil
can also be used for salad dressings and as a condiment.
It is a healthier substitute to butter in baking and other
preparations. One can successfully treat heartburn and
indigestion by introducing avocado oil in one's diet.
The oil is rich in vitamin E, which is known to moisturise
and keep the skin looking youthful.

Sweet potato flour
Sweet potato flour is made after sweet potatoes are dried
and powdered. The resultant flour contains a hint of orange
or pink colour. The flour is very versatile and can be used
to make crepes, pancakes, cookies, cakes and bread.
It is also used to thicken soups, gravies and sauces.
And it works well with both sweet and savoury dishes.
Sweet potatoes are known for their high calorie and
starch content. But they do not contain any cholesterol,
making them a viable food option for people with heart
problems. It is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
It is also gluten-free and a great source of Vitamin A.

Maca root
Maca root can be traced to the Inca civilisation, where it
was used as an aphrodisiac. It was used to enhance sexual
stamina and performance.This brownish-yellow root is often
referred to as the Peruvian ginseng owing to its naturally
stimulating properties. The root is also known to provide
relief to menopausal women as it alleviates the symptoms of
hot flashes, mood swings, cramps and depression. It is known
to help athletes as it strengthens endurance, energy levels
and stamina. The native Peruvians ate it in baked or cooked
form. It can also be dried and consumed as a powder.

Bentonite clay
The grey-cream clay has been used since ancient times for
detoxing. The `healing' clay traps all the impurities in the
body -heavy metals, bacteria and antibodies -and flushes
them. It's loaded with magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron
and potassium. The clay also relieves constipation,
gastroenteritis and bloat ing. It should not be kept in a
metal container or used with a metal spoon, as the clay
will absorb the metal.

Nigella sativa
Native to south and southwest Asia, nigella is also known as
black cumin. Called kalonji in Hindi, it is a staple ingredient
in many Indian pickles and curries. The tiny black seeds
contain a bioactive agent -(thymoquinone), which benefits
people suffering from epilepsy, Type 2 diabetes and colon
cancer. These seeds also boost the immune system.
You can make them a part of your daily diet by using it to
temper a curry, or gulp it down with a hint of honey.

Lupin
These yellow beans are legume seeds native to the
Mediterranean and Latin America, where they are traditionally
eaten as a snack. They contain no starch whatsoever -a rarity
for any edible bean. The high alkaloid content results in a
slightly bitter taste. The beans are also high in plant protein
content -one bean packs in four times more protein than
whole wheat. Lupin beans are easy to digest apart from
being cholesterol-free. They should be soaked overnight
and rinsed for long in running water to make them fit for
consumption. They can be added to any salad, or be eaten
boiled as a standalone snack.
Ektaa Malik
MM10APR16


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