Flaxseed, walnuts and berries
Goji berries, chia seeds: these new stars are making a career as ‘superfood’. But that doesn’t mean old favorites deserve to be forgotten. Think oatmeal, blueberries and walnuts. What makes them so healthy?
Everyone is talking about it these days. Chia seed, mangosteen, Goji berries, baobab: they can all count themselves among the select club of superfood, or power food. But that doesn’t mean we can ignore Grandma’s locker, because its contents are more interesting than you think.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal, is that power food? Of course. In America, a pack of oatmeal can say that it is good for the cholesterol level. In Europe it can be mentioned that oatmeal ensures that the blood glucose rises less after a meal. That’s because of the healthy beta-glucans that occur naturally in oats. Delicious in muesli or as porridge in the morning.
Blueberries
Superberries are also grown here: the blueberry from the south of the country. Blueberries are rich in the blue dye anthocyanin, which helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels. In addition, they contain antioxidants and magnesium.
raspberries
Summer fruit is of course healthy anyway. But only raspberries are packed with ellagitannins (an antioxidant). They help protect the body against disease and prevent aging. Available fresh in the summer months and frozen all year round.
Sardines
Sardines contain loads of healthy fish fats, which protect us against cardiovascular disease. And we eat far too little of those healthy fats. Good idea: occasionally sardines on the barbecue or grill.
Flax seed
It has traditionally been recommended to bowel movements to improve. But the tiny seeds are also very rich in alpha-linolenic acid, a healthy fatty acid from the omega-3 family.
walnuts
Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and you can easily eat a handful of them, in between or with yogurt and honey. A claim has even been approved for walnuts: the packaging may state that they improve the elasticity of the blood vessels if you eat 30 grams of them daily.
Olive oil
With all the fuss about coconut oil nowadays you would almost forget how healthy olive oil is. And that may not have been in the cupboard of a Dutch grandmother, but it has been used in southern European kitchens for years. The popularity of the Mediterranean diet is partly due to this. Olive oil is rich in healthy fats and vitamin E. Delicious in salads, a dash through the cooked pasta or as a dip for bread.
Sources):
- Plus Magazine
