insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 23 - January 2017 | Page 58

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

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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.