Pictures: Supplied
Gia Kramer, seasoned cook and owner of Gia’s Kitchen’s list of superfoods containing nutrients, vitamins, fibre and antioxidants to benefit your overall health during this unprecedented time.
Spinach
Remember Popeye the sailor and his famous can of spinach? Many viewed this as a wacky cartoon gimmick, but there is definitely some truth behind it. Okay, it won’t give you superpowers but it will certainly boost your immune system. Eating spinach also benefits your eyes and it helps prevent cancer - pretty cool, right? This leafy green can be prepared in many ways. You can buy it canned or fresh and eat it cooked or raw. It’s delicious on its own or in other dishes like pasta and vegetable soup.
Garlic
When it comes to superfoods, garlic is definitely at the top of the list. Not only is it great for spreading all over your pita bread or dipping in your hummus spread, it is also extremely healthy for you. Like spinach, garlic is another vegetable which helps prevent cancer from forming in our bodies. Its antioxidants and antibacterial properties also help clear up your skin from acne. Garlic has also long been known to help fight all kinds of infections in our bodies, there is a reason why the ancient stories used it to get rid of evil.
Broccoli
When we think about green vegetables to include in our diet, broccoli is more often than not the first veggie which comes to mind. It’s also considered as one of the most nutritious vegetables around because of its numerous vitamins and minerals - which is great for immunity. Broccoli is the vegetable we reach for when we need a little something extra to round out a meal. It can be served as a steamed side dish, in a stir-fry or as an important ingredient in a number of cheesy pasta dishes.
Carrots
Carrots. They’re crunchy, tasty and delicious with almost every cooked meal. They also contain a variety of nutrients and antioxidants, along with vitamin C, that will boost your immune system. Carrots also help flush toxins out of the body. They also contain properties that break down fat and bile in the liver. So, be sure to add this orange veggie to your meals as often as you can.
Ginger
People have turned to ginger for its health benefits since the beginning of time. Reason being it is a good source of vitamins A, B, C and E as well as minerals including calcium and iron. Ginger is also known to decrease inflammation, which can help reduce flu-like symptoms. Other than its amazing health benefits, ginger is a one-of-a-kind ingredient which can be used for desserts like ginger biscotti and pumpkin bread pudding.
