[wcc_switcher]

Spinach & Sweet Potato Salsa

Sweet Potato Spinach and Salsa
Easy Print

Nothing is healthier than an all vegetable meal full of greens, antioxidants, and warming herbs. This is another simple 30-minute meal that uses Sweet Potato once again. Delicious and filling with a warm Chili flavor.

Serves 2 people

Ingredients:

  • 2 large carrots
  • 2 medium (or 1 large) sweet potato (Kumara)
  • Large Handful of spinach leaves

Cut sweet potato and carrots into wedges and pan fry or roast until cooked. While these are cooking prepare the salsa as below. Once the root vegetables are cooked, serve on a bed of fresh spinach leaves and cover with salsa. You can add a little feta if you’re on a one-month plan.

sweet_potato_salsa.jpg

Salsa:

  • A swirl of olive oil in a pan
  • 1/2 red capsicum
  • 1 onion
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 3 x pureed tomatoes (or a 400g can) See Brett’s Tomato Base Recipe Here
  • 50ml of tomato sauce or tomato paste (use my tomato base recipe)
  • 1 tsp mixed herbs
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or 6 chopped fresh chilies)
  • Dash of soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon of honey

Stir-fry Garlic, onions until soft then mix in herbs and spices. Add capsicum, soy sauce, tomato paste, honey, and puree. Mix until thick and hot.

Spinach Superfood
It is well known that spinach is a superfood because of its very high levels of many nutrients. The cartoon character Popeye was seen to get big muscles whenever he ate spinach! A recent study has shown that Nitrates may, in fact, increase muscle strength. (1) This explains the mechanism behind the theory, so if you want to hit the gym during your health program eat more spinach.

Perfect for:

 

References:

(1) The Journal of Physiology, Dietary nitrate increases tetanic [Ca2+]i and contractile force in mouse fast-twitch muscle http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/jphysiol.2012.232777/full

More To Explore

Cabbage Health Benefits

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) Health Benfits

2 days ago4Minutes1252Words8ViewsCabbage, a cruciferous vegetable, offers numerous gut health benefits, largely due to its rich nutritional profile. It provides dietary fiber, antioxidants, and important vitamins that contribute to maintaining a healthy digestive system. Here’s an overview of the key gut health benefits of cabbage, along with the role of glutamine: 1. Rich in Dietary Fiber Cabbage is an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Fiber plays a crucial role in supporting gut health by: Promoting healthy digestion: Insoluble fiber helps bulk up stool and move it through the intestines, preventing constipation and ensuring regular bowel movements. Supporting beneficial gut bacteria: Soluble fiber is fermented by gut bacteria, which produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate. These SCFAs fuel the cells of the colon, promoting a healthy gut lining and reducing inflammation. 2. Antioxidants and Anti-inflammatory Properties Cabbage contains antioxidants such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, and flavonoids, which help reduce oxidative stress in the gut. This is important because chronic inflammation in the gut can lead to digestive disorders like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Cabbage’s anti-inflammatory properties help soothe the gut lining and maintain a healthy gut environment. 3. Supports Gut Lining and Mucosal Health Cabbage, especially when consumed in its raw form, contains glutamine, an amino acid that has been shown to support gut health. Glutamine is essential for maintaining the integrity of the intestinal lining. It helps to: Repair the gut lining: Glutamine supports the epithelial cells of the intestines, aiding in their repair and regeneration. This is especially important for those with leaky gut syndrome or those suffering from inflammation-related digestive disorders. Enhance gut permeability: Glutamine aids in maintaining the balance of the gut’s permeability, ensuring that nutrients pass through properly while preventing harmful substances from entering the bloodstream. 4. Helps in Digestive Enzyme Production Cabbage contains a significant amount of vitamin U (also known as S-methylmethionine), which can help boost the production of digestive enzymes. These enzymes aid in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, which is vital for optimal digestive health. 5. Supports Detoxification Cabbage, particularly the variety known as sauerkraut, supports detoxification through its high content of glucosinolate compounds. These compounds help activate detoxifying enzymes in the liver, which supports the overall health of the digestive system by helping the body eliminate waste more efficiently. Role of Glutamine in Gut Health from Cabbage: Cabbage as a Glutamine Source: While glutamine is found in various foods, including meat, fish, and dairy, cabbage is one of the plant-based sources that can contribute to its intake. Glutamine in cabbage supports gut cells and helps to maintain a healthy mucosal layer in the intestines. This, in turn, protects the gut from irritants and helps heal the gut lining after it has been damaged by inflammation or stress. Intestinal Health: Glutamine is the preferred fuel for intestinal cells (enterocytes), which helps maintain the integrity of the gut barrier. This function is critical for individuals suffering from gut disorders like IBS, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, as glutamine helps reduce gut permeability and improve overall digestive function. Conclusion Including cabbage in your diet, whether raw, cooked, or fermented, offers numerous benefits for gut health. It provides dietary fiber, antioxidants, and glutamine, which help support healthy digestion, reduce inflammation, repair the gut lining, and maintain optimal gut barrier function. This makes cabbage a powerful ally for anyone looking to improve their digestive health naturally. Would you like more information on how to incorporate cabbage into your diet for gut health, or perhaps explore additional glutamine-rich foods? Try this Recipe:Mung Bean Coleslaw 10% Off BodiClenz – Ultimate Herbal DETOX Drink $152.10 – $259.00 View Info 10% Off Ultimate Herbal DETOX Body Cleanse Program $195.75 – $197.10 View Info Digezaid Digestive Support 120 Capsules $59.00 View Info 10% Off BodiTune Detox n Slim 500g or 1kg Pot $116.10 – $197.10 View Info No products found

Using Heat To Encourage Detoxification

Super Hot Winter Detox

The balance between our inner and outer environments play a major role when considering health from the holisitc standpoint, and can be why we become more susceptible to certain ailments at different times of year.
Let’s explore some of the key reasons to use heat as part of a mid-winter detox.