Recently a friend asked me if it was ok to eat bananas. So here is a bit more info about them. We can find bananas everywhere these days, but they originally come from Southeast Asia. They vary in colour but the ones we are most familiar with here in Europe are yellow. They are high in carbs: as starch when unripe, which converts into sugars when ripe. They also contain pectin, another source of fibre. This combination means that bananas are low GI (glycaemic index), meaning they raise blood sugars moderately. Bananas also contain potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, B6, C, ...

Aubergines are part of the nightshade family of plants, as are tomatoes, peppers & potatoes. They are also called eggplants or brinjal in certain regions of the world. Like tomatoes, they are in fact a fruit but most of us associate & use them as a vegetable. They vary in size & colour but the most common one is a dark skin one, almost black. They have a rich & meaty texture & as such are often used as a meat alternative. They are an excellent addition to our diet as they are rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, fibre, low in ...

What is kefir? Some of you may not know it. Kefir is a fermented milk drink (usually cow’s, sheep’s or goat’s milk) where kefir grains - a starter culture of yeast & lactic acid - are added to milk. Over time, these grains ferment turning the milk into kefir. The grains can be re-used again & you can find easy ways to make it yourself by checking videos on the internet. Kefir has a sour taste and is rich in nutrient (protein, healthy fat & carbs, vitamin B2 & 12, K2, D, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus) & probiotics, especially Lactobacillus kefiri ...

This is the time of the year to enjoy this wonderful fruit (yes, it is a fruit despite being generally considered and cooked as a vegetable) at its best. Summer conveys images of juicy, sweet & colourful (red, orange, yellow, green, purple) tomato salads, sprinkled with olive oil and basil or simply prepared as a sauce for a delicious pasta dish. Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family & originated in South America. They are rich in water, fibre, vitamins (B, C, K), minerals (potassium, folate/B9) & antioxidants (lycopene, beta carotene, naringenin, chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll, lutein, zeaxanthin). However, it is important ...

One of the things I really enjoy about the summer is the wonderful array of fruits available & one of my favourite are peaches. These little round fruits are sweet & juicy & come in yellow or white. I admit to having a preference for white ones, especially the flat ones, but both are delicious & perfect when combined into a salad together. Thought to come from China, peaches are stone fruits & belong to the rose family, hence their lovely smell. They are very nutritious with healthy amounts of vitamins (A, B, C, E, K), minerals (potassium, manganese, fluoride, ...

Eggs are packed with healthy nutrients such as B vitamins, choline, iodine, vitamin A, D, E, K, calcium, zinc, selenium & phosphorus. They are an excellent source of protein & healthy fats & contain carotenes such as lutein & zeaxanthin which are powerful antioxidants. Organic or omega-3 enriched eggs are best. The most common eggs are chicken but you can also find others such as quail, duck or goose. What are the benefits of eggs? Eggs are good for: Eye health Heart health Brain health Weight loss Bone health Muscle health & recovery In the past, eggs got bad publicity ...

Haddock is a saltwater fish found mostly in the North Atlantic ocean. It has a white, flaky & tender flesh. It is a great source of protein, low in carbohydrates & fat. It is rich in B-vitamins (B1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 & 12), vitamin D & minerals (magnesium, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, sodium) & is also a great source of anti-inflammatory omega-3. It can also come in smoked form where it appears as light or darker yellow depending on the amount of dye used in the smoking process. When smoked, haddock comes with a very strong tasty flavour: not ...

Believed to originate from the Mediterranean region, celery is a vegetable that is well known as a great low-calorie snack. It can easily be munched on, making it an ideal addition to your list of healthy on-the-go food. It comes in green stalk or seed forms. Celery is mostly made of water (95%) & therefore extremely low in calories. In addition, it is low on the glycaemic index and can therefore assist with blood sugar balance. It is high in antioxidants (vitamin C, flavonoids, lunularin, bergapten, beta carotene), vitamin A & K, minerals (folate, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron), fibre & ...

Clementines are small, juicy fruits, part of the citrus family. They are small & easy to peel, making them an ideal on-the-go sweet item & a great way to boost daily fruit consumption. There are many varieties, with or without seeds & they are hybrid of oranges & mandarins. They contain high levels of antioxidants such as vitamin C, beta carotene, hesperidin, narirutin; water, B6, folate, thiamine, calcium, magnesium, fibre & flavonoids. Some of the benefits of clementines Anti-inflammatory (prevention of many chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity or heart diseases) Supporting gut health Immune support Eye health ...

Apples come in myriads of varieties around the world & are used in countless recipes. They come in many shapes, colours & textures & are the ultimate on-the-go, ready-to-eat snack & are packed with healthy goodness as the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” states. They are nutrient-rich, providing healthy amounts of fibre (mostly in the skin), vitamin C, B vitamins (B1, B6), antioxidant polyphenols (quercetin & phloridzin), & are low in calories. They can help with: Gut health support: they contain pectin, a type of fibre that acts as a prebiotic thus feeding our “good’ ...