HEALTH + WELLNESS
OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW cont .
SUPER SPICES
If 2016 was the year of the superfood , 2017 is the 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 this month , 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 . The grapevine suggests 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 .
SUNFLOWER PROTEIN POWDERS
With more and more people going vegan , plant-based protein powders have already started flying of the shelves and we humans need protein for many reasons , not just to grow and support muscle tissue . It ’ s also required for building , healing and repairing most of the other tissues in our body , as well as producing a range of vital substances such as antibodies and hormones . For optimal wellbeing , an adult needs a minimum of around 0.8 to 1g of protein per kilo of ‘ ideal ’ bodyweight per day , so if your healthy bodyweight is 60kg , you ’ ll need around 50 to 60 grams of protein per day and you may need more if you ’ re very active , or trying to build strength . The richest sources of protein are animal foods , so vegetarians and especially vegans may struggle to get enough protein , which is where sunflower protein powder comes in handy ; easily blended into shakes and smoothies and mixed with digestive enzymes to make it easier on the tummy , it tastes as good as it does .
100