Unlocking optimal nutrition: Perfect pairings for daily meals
Some products are made for each other. Together, their nutritional power is even more significant, providing us with more vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it's worth knowing what to pair with what to improve our condition and get ill less often. Consider a few easy combinations to incorporate when preparing daily meals. This is much more beneficial than taking supplements.
How can you find the best food pairings? We have a few tips. These products, when eaten together, have even greater nutritional power. They involve popular ingredients in the diet, and there will be no difficulties in buying or incorporating them into meals. Interestingly, these tricks apply to dishes we often consume in the summer.
Something fatty with the salad
Salads are mainly enjoyed in the summer because they serve as an excellent base for a light meal. Their leaves contain many vitamins, but our bodies cannot always utilise them. Four of them, A, D, E, and K, only dissolve in fats. So, if you don't pair the salad with fat, it won’t be absorbed in the digestive tract. Usually, we do this anyway because oil or olive oil is used for dressings or to drizzle on vegetables. Nuts containing healthy unsaturated fatty acids are also a good idea. Walnuts are ideal and worth toasting in a pan beforehand.
Iron likes vitamin C
Want to enrich your diet with iron? You don't necessarily need to eat more meat. Opt for parsley, which is rich in this mineral. Additionally, if you pair it with fruits that contain vitamin C, the iron will be absorbed better and faster. How do we combine these two products? The method is very simple. Just prepare a smoothie combining parsley with apples, oranges, or lemons. Such a smoothie is an excellent idea for a mid-morning snack.
When coffee helps
Do you drink coffee with breakfast and not worry about calcium? Unfortunately, coffee consumed during a meal hinders the absorption of nutrients. Oxalates, anti-nutritional substances, are responsible as they often bind with calcium. The situation is different if you drink coffee at least an hour after the meal. Then, this beverage becomes a good source of antioxidants. And if you add milk to it, your diet will be enriched with calcium. You can also choose a plant-based drink; ensure it contains calcium.
Making porridge even healthier
Porridge is very healthy and nutritious. However, its benefits can be "boosted". Just add amaranth flakes to it. Together, they create a meal rich in amino acids. They are the building blocks of protein and positively impact the proper functioning of the liver and nervous system. They also play a role in the proper growth of the body. Adding fresh fruits to porridge is also a good idea. The vitamin C they contain will help the minerals in porridge, such as iron, magnesium, and potassium, be absorbed better.
Necessary soaking
Pulses are a great source of protein. However, a significant percentage of proteins are lectins, which, when consumed in excess, hinder the absorption of calcium and magnesium. You can quickly sort this by soaking the pulses (beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils) in water and then cooking them. Such preparation will prevent blocking calcium, iron, and magnesium absorption. It's also good to combine grains with tomatoes or peppers. These vegetables contain vitamin C, which also aids mineral absorption.
More calcium
Herring in cream is a delicious combination, but for nutritionists, there's more to it. , pairing fish with dairy products, especially cream or cheeses, is beneficial. In the company of vitamin D, calcium is absorbed better and strengthens the bones. You can find vitamin D in large quantities in fish and linseed oil.
