Like many of us, you may have taken on the 5:2 guide in a bid to lose 5 kilos in two weeks, but not seen the results you were searching for.
That’s because, while exercise is certainly important for your health and wellbeing, so is what you eat.
Here, Fiona Tuck, Nutritional Medicine Practitioner, shares her insight into upcoming superfood trends of 2017 that can diversify your diet and spice up your cooking routine.
Tigernuts
Contrary to its name, tigernuts are not actually a nut. In fact, they are a tiny tuber (root) vegetable, the same vegetable family as potatoes and sweet potatoes.
These mini vegetables are nutritional powerhouses, high in fibre, protein, vitamins C and E, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium and good fats.
The added bonus is that they are gluten, nut and dairy free. They can be eaten as a tasty snack or made into a nutritious drink.
Don’t be deceived by their name; tigernuts are, in fact, part of the root vegetable family.
Inulin prebiotics
We’ve all heard of adding ‘probiotics’ (good gut bacteria) to our diet in order for our gut flora to flourish. However, in order for probiotics to thrive, we should be incorporating PREbiotics first.
Inulin, a soluble fibre, is gut prebiotic and boasts an array of wonderful health benefits. Inulin is a fructan which is indigestible by our body, but is critical for the maximising the good bacteria in our gut.
As our body cannot digest the fructans, inulin has little or no impact on blood sugar or insulin making it ideal for those with blood sugar imbalances. Health benefits include enhanced immune system function, heart health and improved absorption of minerals in the body.
Inulin helps satiate the appetite aiding weight loss and aids digestion, and is most often sourced from Jerusalem artichokes and chicory.
Pair your blanched chicory with confit ocean trout for a refreshing Sunday lunch – we know we will be.
Gelatin
We are not talking the sugar laden, artificially coloured jelly or yester year but super healthy wellness jelly. From bone broth based dessert jellies, healthy gut healing gummies to gelatin infused smoothies and juices, the humble gelatin is making a comeback.
Grass fed gelatin is being used in a variety of health foods and drinks for its gut healing, skin boosting, hair shining and nail strengthening properties.
Gelatin can be added to soups, stews, juices and desserts to enhance the cell strengthening properties.
Gelatin is a key component in jelly, making this deliciously wobbly cranberry dessert OK for us to indulge, right?
Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is regular charcoal that has been treated with gas to create to multiple tiny internal spaces within the charcoal. These tiny spaces within the activated charcoal ‘trap’ toxins and chemicals almost like a sponge.
Activated charcoal is used in medicine, primarily to treat poisonings such as alcohol poisoning, but is also used in water filters to purify water, and in tablet or powder form to help reduce flatulence, and alleviate symptoms of traveller’s tummy bugs and dysentery.
2017 is set to see activated charcoal becoming a huge trend and we will see it being added to a variety of health foods, smoothies, juices and skincare for its detoxifying benefits.
Beware, however, as activated charcoal is so good at trapping chemicals it does this with the majority of substances it comes into contact with not just poisons.
This means that the current detox trend of adding activated charcoal to juices, smoothies or food negates the nutrient content of the food!
Known for it’s toxin-eliminating powers, activated charcoal is set to soar on this year’s list of superfoods.
If you’re thinking of changing your diet in any way, be sure to chat with your GP or nutritionist first.
