FOOD + DRINK
Surprising Superfoods
Coconut oil and quinoa ? Pah ; they ’ re so 2015 . From the moment black pudding was hailed as a nutritional powerhouse in January this year , all manner of unexpected superfoods have been pulled out from the back of the kitchen cupboards and encouraged to bask in all of their healthgiving glory . Once a buzzword reserved for only the greenest of greens ( preferably juiced ), the ‘ superfood ’ is now a term that encompasses some very unusual suspects . We ’ ve rounded up a list of foods set to soar on the health radar in summer 2016 .
Popcorn Not cinema popcorn smothered in butter , salt and sugar , of course , but popcorn - as a snack in its natural form - is actually really good for you . Studies in the US have concluded that a single serving of plain popcorn contains almost double the amount of antioxidants found in the equivalent portion of fruit and veg thanks to its surprisingly high levels of polyphenol , a group of micronutrients that make ( metaphorical ) mincemeat of pesky free radicals .
Beef liver Beef liver is a veritable powerhouse of life-giving goodness : a single 100g portion packs in seven times the recommended daily allowance of copper , twice the amount of riboflavin we need daily , and a whopping 12 times the recommended daily allowance of vitamin B12 . As if that wasn ’ t enough , it ’ s also bursting with calcium , potassium and phosphorous and , overall , contains more vitamins and minerals than almost any fruit or vegetable imaginable .
Oysters Often put into one of two camps – an aphrodisiac to get you in the mood , or a little bit lavish and best paired with champagne – oysters are in fact very beneficial to both body and mind and we should probably get shucking more readily . They ’ re rich in calcium , iron and selenium , and half a dozen provides three days our recommended daily intake of zinc – an essential mineral for both brain development and a healthy reproductive system . To boot , they ’ re also high in amino acids , which are essential for keeping stress levels under control .
Black pudding Even the most adventurous of eaters can be put off by black pudding ’ s other name : ‘ blood sausage ’, and then put off further still when they realise that , barring a handful of oats , it really is made from little else other than pig ’ s blood . If you can get past that though , you ’ ll find this low-carb friend of the fry up is an excellent source of protein as well as being rich in iron , potassium , calcium , magnesium and zinc .
Pork scratchings Regarded widely as the ultimate companion to a cold pint of beer , pork scratchings are not the first thing that spring to mind when considering your health . Fatty they may be , but two-thirds of that fat is actually a combination of mono and polyunsaturated fat , which is great for keeping hearts healthy . What ’ s more , a scratching is effectively a curl of concentrated collagen from skin , so it ’ s high in protein with added muscle- and bone-health benefits too .
Teff Move over quinoa , there ’ s another gluten-free grain in town and it scores massively on the superfood scale . A type of millet , teff is an Ethiopian staple and is a tiny grain that looks a bit like watercress when it first starts to sprout . High in resistant starch , which helps to keep blood sugar under control , it ’ s also a good source of magnesium , calcium , potassium and zinc , as well as being super high in protein . Unlike a lot of grains , teff packs a welcome flavour punch too with grains in white , brown and red that range from mild and nutty to sweet .
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