SuperRecipes: How to Get Your Daily Dose of Superfoods in Abu Dhabi

Posted on Apr 10, 2013 by Amy Knapp (G+)  | Filed Under: UAE, Health Trends, Abu Dhabi, Superfoods, Health Food in Abu Dhabi, Superfood Recipes, Healthy Recipes

Superfoods come with an array of healthy benefits and are definitely worth trying! Not sure where to get your superfoods or what to do with them? Try these easy tricks.

The term “superfood” doesn’t carry the same weight it once did. A lot of foods are touted as superfoods, and it seems to have started with blueberries. Why blueberries? Who knows. But the superfood craze just kept on going. And going.

Almost any fresh fruit, vegetable, seed or spice can be deemed a “superfood” when viewed through the microscope. Far more important than knowing which superfood is trending this week or why that superfood is up-and-coming in the world of nutritional advice is knowing which foods you actually like and how to use them on a day to day basis.

Check out these how simple superfoods are easily incorporated into the daily diet.

Hemp Seeds

Much healthier for the body that flax or soy, a half-pound of hemp seed gives the body all the protein, dietary fiber and essential fatty acids it needs for an entire week. This magic food helps fight coronary heart disease and certain types of cancer, and even symptoms of depression.

For a long time hemp seeds had a bad rap. Aren’t they illegal? Not so. Though they do come from the same family as the marijuana plant, the hemps seeds sold in stores do not contain THC.

Hemp seeds, hemp protein and hemp powder are absolutely one hundred percent legal in the UAE. Finding them, on the other, may prove challenging. Try your local bulk store. If they don’t have it, ask them to order it. Better yet, provide the shopkeeper with a list of suppliers to make it easier. Check the dry goods section of your local grocery store. As a last resort, buy online.

Goji Berries

This little Himalayan berry has about fifty times more vitamin C than most varieties of oranges, and more beta-carotene than carrots. Used to treat a range of diseases from diabetes to hypertension to malaria, they’re remarkably easy to incorporate into the daily diet.

Snack on them raw to keep the energy flowing all day long. Add a handful to a breakfast cereal or smoothie, toss them into a salad, or drop a couple into a hot cup of green tea for a little added sweetness.

HINT: Look for gogi berries at Organic Foods and Cafe in Khalifa City 'A,' opposite Presidential Flight, Abu Dhabi, +971-2-5571406

Cacao Nibs

A red hot favorite among superfoods, these babies are one hundred percent pure chocolate. Like our friend the goji berry, the cacao nib is a powerful antioxidant and chock full of iron, vitamin C and essential fatty acids.

Trying to give up coffee? Cacao nibs are a great replacer if you’re looking for that extra kick in the morning, and make for another great addition to cereals or smoothies.

Mix hemp seeds, goji berries and cacao nibs together to make a “superbreakfast.” This superfood trifecta makes for an unforgettably delicious cereal or smoothie. Start by preparing an easy hemp milk. Toss three cups of distilled water, half a cup of hemp seeds, a little salt and a little sweetener into a high-powered blender. Strain the mixture through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth and toss the pulp.

Use it anywhere regular milk is called for. Pour it in your smoothie or add it to your favourite cereal topped with goji berries and cacao nibs.

Foods you can buy anywhere

Can’t stand the thought of trekking all the way across the city for a packet of cacao nibs? Some of the foods we eat every day, with a little tweaking, also have the potential to be superfoods.  The big bonus is they’re available at your local supermarket. Too easy.

Apples

This simple but powerful food is too often overlooked on fad superfood hotlists. Did you know just one a day provides a quarter of the daily recommended vitamin C intake?

Apples are also a great source of soluble fibre, meaning they keep your digestive system on track and regulate blood cholesterol levels.  Their low glycemic index rating mean they’re digested slow, giving your system lots of time to soak up all that nutritious goodness.

Some studies have shown apples may help with weight control, making them an excellent choice for sufferers of type 2 diabetes.

Rhubarb

This powerful plant has been used medicinally in China for thousands of years. Often thought to be a fruit, rhubarb is a vegetable belonging to the same family as sorrel and buckwheat.

A great source of potassium, vitamin C and dietary fiber, rhubarb’s estrogen-like properties are known to relieve hot flashes in perimenopausal women. No wonder they call it a superfood.

Rhubarb’s chewy sweetness make it a natural choice for jams, spreads and pies. When boiled, its juice makes a delicious sorbet, ice cream or punch. Consult a doctor before taking it in pill form since this potent little plant is known to cause severe stomach pains and should be avoided by children and pregnant or lactating women. 

Buy rhubarb fresh at your local grocery store in April or May, when it’s in season.

Hint: For a sinful take on the superfood, try the sticky toffee pudding and apple rhubarb crumble at the Rodeo Grill (Ground Floor, Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, Street # 10, Tourist Club).

Cinnamon

This powerful spice was once considered more precious than gold and even used as a currency in ancient times. A mixture of cinnamon and honey can be used topically to cure acne, or ingested with water to heal bladder infections, aid digestion and prevent gas.

Aim to ingest one to six grams a day to experience the full benefits. Sprinkle it on toast with butter and honey for another super breakfast. Cinnamon also goes well with almost any pie or dessert, or you can add a couple sticks to boiling water for a delicious and comforting cinnamon tea.

Buy organic cinnamon whenever possible, since the non-organic version is often irradiated and does not have the same healing properties. For a quick superfood fix, bake apple, rhubarb, cinnamon and a little sweetener in an oven proof dish for about twenty-five minutes. Throw on some yogurt and enjoy.

Add more superfoods to your diet by trying out some new recipes. Can’t find these items in your local grocery store? Remember, all fresh fruits and vegetables are superfoods. Eat fresh, living food, and eat it often.