Sindy Says: Grounding Foods and Warming Spices for Winter

Care of Sindy Ng, nutritionist in Toronto The weather is getting cooler as the months go by, and I’m sure many of us shift our eating habits along with the seasons. Long, cold winters can pose challenges for some who want to maintain a vegan lifestyle, but there’s lots of foods we can still enjoy. Bananas are widely available year-round and are a staple for me. Enjoy them as a snack on their own, in your smoothies, muffins, pancakes, and so much more! Sweet potatoes, potatoes, and winter squash are also easy to find in the winter. I love incorporating these vegetables into soups or baked goods, and who doesn’t love a warming soup in the winter? Potatoes, sweet potatoes and winter squash contain high amounts of the antioxidant beta-carotene, which is responsible for the bright red and orange colour of many fruits and vegetables. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body. This nutrient has been shown to protect cells against oxidative damage, as well as help to prevent certain cancers, cataracts, heart disease, and age-related macular degeneration. Potatoes are a good source of vitamin A and C. Potatoes are by far… Read More

---

Filed under: Eat Veg News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Nutrition Uncategorised

Food of the Month: Turmeric is Tur-Mendous

Care of Laura Wright The bright yellow powder derived from fresh turmeric roots is most commonly recognized in curry powder blends and bright yellow American mustard. It is most often accessible in powdered form, but did you know that it belongs to a perennial family of plants similar to ginger? Fresh roots of this rhizomatous plant look alarmingly similar to the popular tea time staple. It certainly leaves its mark everywhere, a vibrant and deep yellow hue. In the realm of healthy and virtuous living, it leaves a distinctive mark as well. It’s a highly effective and totally natural disease fighting agent, mostly due to the presence of more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds. Curcumin, an antioxidant that also fights inflammation, gives the spice its saturated yellow appearance. Because of the antioxidant’s content in the spice, regular consumption may aid in prevention of heart disease and arthritis. It’s also applied as a salve for wounds in some parts of the world. At one time, bandages were saturated with the spice in India to speed up the healing process. Consumption of this wonder spice may prove to be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease as well. In India, where turmeric… Read More

---

Filed under: Eat Veg elifelines Food of the Month Nutrition