These superfood power couples will make your meal more nutritious, as components of certain foods work well together and produce health-promoting results that far outweigh what you would normally get from eating either food alone.
1. Avocado & Carrot
For: Better Vision, Skin, & Immunity
Researches show that the healthy fat in avocado will help your body absorb the carotenoids, and enhance their conversion into an active form of vitamin A (the nutrient that is healthy for your vision, skin, immunity, and more) by 6.6 times.
(Photo from A Sharp Knife & Salt. Find the recipe here)
2. Peanut Butter & Banana
For: Muscle Recovery After Workout
This pairing of protein from peanut butter and potassium & healthy carb from banana is undoubtedly a post-workout snack winner. The power couple helps with muscle recovery, and replenishes amino acids that are depleted during workout. A quick & easy way is to top banana slices with peanut butter. A fancier way is to make banana & peanut butter smoothie!
(Photo fromChef Savvy. Find the recipe here)
3. Turmeric & Black Pepper
For: Happier Moods, Better Skin & Immunity, Preventing Cancer
Turmeric is one of the most effective nutritional supplements. It contains a pigment called cur cumin, which provides many health benefits, including;
- prevents cancer
- promotes better sleep and mood
- improves skin, immunity, and digestion
However, the problem is that the human gut has a hard time absorbing it. Luckily, researchers found the way to help with cur cumin absorption. By adding ‘piperine’ – a compound found in black pepper to turmeric, it can improve the bioavailability of cur cumin by 2000% (meaning the compound becomes easier for the body to absorb).
Try this Turmeric Tea Latte to enjoy the power duo!
4. Garlic & Whole Grain Rice
For: Better Zinc & Iron Absorption in Plant-Based Diet
5. Green Tea & Lemon
Catechins in green tea are powerful antioxidants that prevent the growth of cancer cells, and boost production of enzymes that is crucial to the body’s defense against cancer-causing chemicals and toxins. Nevertheless, they are not that easy to be absorbed, as only around 20% survive the digestive process. According to a research by Purdue University, adding lemon or lime juice to green tea can reduce the breakdown of its catechins in our digestive system by 13 times, and make them more easy to be absorbed by the body.
(Photo from: Green Tea Source)
Why Tea is Healthy For You (and Why Loose Leaf Tea is Best) – Farm Girl Organic
February 22, 2018 at 9:29 am[…] To boost more health benefits of green tea, try drinking green tea with lemon as lemon or lime can reduce the breakdown of catechins in our digestive system, and make them […]