In this article, we’re introducing some seasonal delicacies in food. These goodies might be a little less familiar than the usual fare but are often packed with nutrients that make them worth the extra work to find.
1. Morels. Mushrooms appear after the winter freeze, and morels are among fungi foragers’ favorites. These hard-to-find mushrooms typically grow near ash, aspen, elm and oak trees. They’re recognizable by their distinctive honeycomb-like head and hollow stem. Morels are also easy to cook. They can be sautéed, grilled, pan-fried — however you prefer to eat them. Stuffed morels are also a popular dish, since their stems are hollow and easy to fill.
Nutrition: A cup of fresh morels packs about 60 calories, high in amine acids.
2. Okra. Summer is a great time to take advantage of fresh okra. While it looks like a ridged pepper, okra belongs to the same family as hibiscus and cotton. Okra is appealing for its tender fruit and leaves. That sticky agent makes it a popular ingredient in gumbos and soups where it acts as a thickener, but if it’s not to your liking, some cooks recommend quick-frying sliced okra in a saute pan with some cornmeal.
Nutrition: Packed with fibers that can help to lower cholesterol, okra also contains nearly 10% of daily recommended levels of vitamin B6 and folic acid. One cup of okra is only 33 calories and contains a number of vitamins and mineral salts, including calcium. Okra seeds and pulp are high in the antioxidants catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1 and B2, quercetin and rutin that can fight the damage caused to cells by stress and other environmental factors. Studies have linked some of okra’s carbohydrates to a range of physiologic effects, including: antidiabetic properties, controlling lipid levels, protecting brain neurons.
3. Seaweed. Seaweed can be cooked raw, with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. It has evolved from sushi-roll staple to everyday snack. It is served to us in soup on our birthday and given to women for three weeks after childbirth.
Nutrition: Seaweeds offer a tremendous range of therapeutic possibilities. It does indeed contain a wide variety of vitamins and nutrients that could prevent disease. Some of the proteins in seaweed could serve as better sources of bioactive peptides than those in milk products. These reduce blood pressure, and boost heart health. Seaweed also has an impressive amount of nutrients like vitamins A, B-6 and C as well as iodine and fiber. And that low calorie count is definitely legitimate: ten sheets of Nori have just 22 calories. Seaweed is a nice food for keeping fit, sometimes, you can also seek extra support from natural fruta plata, which can help you to stay in good shape without causing any side effects on your health.