Superfoods -what are they, and where does Hommus fit in!
What is the definition of a superfood, and why does everyone rave about them?
So the disappointing news is that scientifically there is no such thing as a superfood. Technically it is a term that was developed by marketers to try and make whole foods more attractive. Wow did it work! The last 5 years has seen all sorts of foods be dubbed as a superfood.
The standard definition is that a food deemed to be super should contain some or all of the following attributes:
Nutrients: such as antioxidants, believed to ward off cancer and slow heart disease
Healthy Fats: thought to prevent heart disease
Fibre: Assists in the prevention of diabetes and aids digestion and promotes good gut health
Phytochemicals: protect plants from cell damage and appear to have a similar effect in humans
Vitamins and Minerals: These are essential for the function and healthy growth of our bodies.
Lastly what ideally makes a superfood is one that is easily accessible for people, and therefore can be easily incorporated into their standard diet ideally in their wholefood form.
We know that consuming foods packed with nutrients can have numerous health benefits. Research has clearly shown that an ideal diet is largely plant based, focusing on eating a wide range of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, good fats and healthy animal products. Aiming to eat a rainbow of colours on your plate at each meal will greatly assist with getting a balanced diet.
So SSS Foods Hommus contains the following ingredients: Chickpeas, Tahina (Sesame Seed Paste), Garlic, Lemon Juice, Sea Salt. A very basic recipe done well!
Let’s look at each of these in terms of their nutritional benefit to us so that we can be happy in the knowledge that now only is hommus delicious but that it is a ‘superfood’ and can be consumed readily in our daily diet!
Chickpeas are part of a family called pulses. You can read more about them here: https://sssfoods.com.au/blogs/posts/history-and-origin-of-chickpeas-and-hommus
The key facts we learnt from our earlier blog is that Pulses are superfoods both for us but also as they are so full of phytochemicals, they help fix damaged soil while growing as well. Chickpeas are packed with protein and fibre which helps you feel full for longer, boosts digestion, keeps blood sugar levels stable and increases protection against disease. They then also are packed with high levels of iron, zinc, folate, phosphorus, and B vitamins, all of which are especially important for vegetarians and vegans who may be lacking in these essential nutrients due to avoiding animal products.
Tahina or Sesame Seed Paste is rich in fibre, plant protein and our good friends’ healthy fats. The Tahina is what provides the richness to our Hommus, with no added oil, it lends the healthy fats and delicious toasted flavour. Being full of fibre and plant protein it will help in the prevention of diabetes and assist with maintaining good gut health, while also keeping us full for longer thanks to the combo of fibre, protein and fats. They also contain various plant compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help with fatigue and swelling and make us generally feel good.
Garlic is a very popular culinary ingredient but is also highly regarded as a herbal medicine for the immune system. It provides a distinct flavour to dishes, but is also a good source of manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B6, selenium and fibre. Research has shown that garlic can assist with reducing cholesterol and blood pressure and supports immune function.
Lemon Juice as we know is very high in Vitamin C -with the juice of 1 lemon equalling 51% of our daily intake requirement. Vitamin C is an immune boosting vitamin and helps stave off colds and flus, but also we need vitamin C to help us absorb iron, therefore complimenting the iron in chickpeas perfectly to get maximum benefits.
Sea Salt contains over 90 trace minerals, and are a great source of electrolytes, which we need to maintain regulate the fluid balance in our body so we can maintain good blood flow.
We can see that each component in the SSS Foods Hommus is in itself a superfood, and therefore together is a tasty and healthful combination!
Find us at Woolworths nationally from 1st September 2020.
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