My Healthy Kitchen

CHIA SEEDS: Chia literally means ‘strength’ in Mayan. The Aztecs prized chia more highly than gold. The sacred seeds were used as both medicine and for supernatural powers. I am just in love with these tiny seeds! They are one of the most nutrient-dense foods that are very high in Omega 3, fibre, all 9 essential amino-acids and antioxidants. The great thing is that they are super easy to add to your diet. I soak them in homemade almond milk, with oats overnight and place the mixture in a glass jar in my fridge. The milk gets soaked up by the oats and chia seeds and the next morning I have a delicious ready to eat breakfast waiting for me. I also add them in my freshly made smoothies, make chia pudding with them or grind them and sprinkle them on my salad.

I tend to eat about 20 grams (about 1.5 tablespoons) of chia seeds, twice per day.

SPIRULINA POWDER: Spirulina is a blue-green algae that grows in fresh and salt water. It is also considered as one of the most nutrient dense Super foods to be found on the planet with over a 100 type of nutrients and anti-aging skin nourishing and revitalizing properties. But Oh Spirulina, if you are so good for me, why do you taste so bad?!Joke aside, the taste is quite strong and very salty so personally, I prefer to take it in tablet form.

I take 4 tablets daily of @solgarsa Spirulina 750mg with breakfast and lunch with a large glass of water.

HUMMUS: This has become my absolute favorite chickpea-based ‘Dip’ from the moment I lived in the Emirates! I use inverted commas because after living in Dubai for 8 years, I have learned to consider hummus as a dish rather than a dip. It is a great source of fiber, and is packed with plant-based proteins and good fat because of its olive oil and sesame seed content. Click here to see the recipe. I love to use it as a healthy dip with carrots, cucumbers, red peppers, celery etc. or as a salad dressing or pasta sauce.

AVOCADO:

I have to admit, I can’t live without avocado. It is not only delicious but as it turns out, this amazingly versatile fruit is loaded with good fat, the monounsaturated fatty acids, over 20 vitamins and minerals like vitamin C & E, many of the B vitamins, magnesium and potassium that can help keep you healthy.If I could pick only one source of fat for the rest of my life it would have to be avocado. The healthy fat in them helps keep me feeling fullfor longer, slows down my digestion and can help me get rid of those love handles. Check our avocado salsa recipe or our avocado toast recipe for ideas.

I aim for half an avocado a day, and I max out at one. 

RAW CACOA:

Last but not list in this month top 5 favourite Superfoods is THE Superfood of all Superfoods! If eaten in its raw, natural form, -this means that the cacao has gone through a roasting process at low temperatures below 45oC- it is one of the highest sources of magnesium in nature, full of antioxidants, calcium, zinc, copper and selenium. Cacao contains more antioxidants per gram than blueberries, goji berries, red wine, raisins and even pomegranates. These fight free radicals that can cause damage in the body. Research suggests that raw cacao may boost vascular health by lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the brain and heart and making platelets less sticky and able to clot.

Did you know that the flavonols in dark chocolate can also protect the skin against sun damage? Though this is no excuse not to still slap on some sun cream even when it is cloudy!