A Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!
Why do we wish people a Happy and Healthy New Year? Perhaps because we are thinking of the year ahead and hoping for the best. But why is the Happy and Healthy salutation reserved for the New Year? How about a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving?! Believe it or not, it is possible to enjoy the day and the meal and still be healthy! The next three blogs will present some simple ideas to add some delicious nutrition to your food-filled day!
Since the day usually begins with appetizers, let’s start there!
Perhaps the most boring appetizer needs some sprucing up! The veggie platter with raw carrots, celery, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, etc. may not be the most exciting but it is most nutritious. Raw vegetables retain their stores of vitamins and minerals and are great sources of fiber. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, and have a decent share of Vitamin K and Vitamin C. Celery is rich in Vitamin K. The antioxidant properties of broccoli and tomatoes are considerable, as are their shares of vitamins and minerals. But if these wonders of nature are then dipped into a mayonnaise-based dressing, all bets are off!
So, as an alternative to traditional dressings and dips, try sprucing up your raw veggies with Hummus! Hummus is a middle eastern dip which is loaded with nutrients from Garbanzo beans (chick peas), tahini (ground sesame seeds), olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. Each ingredient has its health benefits so every bite is nutritious and delicious!
Besides being a great source of plant-based protein, garbanzo beans are digested and metabolized to produce short-chain fatty acids – notably butyric acid, which is thought to be a main source of energy in the GI. Chick peas and tahini are also a great source of fiber which leads to the GI motility necessary to process a Thanksgiving dinner!
Combine the chick peas and tahini with olive oil, a monounsaturated fat with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. And then raw garlic. While we could go on and on about the benefits of garlic, suffice it to say that it is one the most potent natural immune support vegetables that there is. It has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties which provide immune support during the dry and cold winter months. Garlic’s cardiovascular and skeletal support properties are also notable.
This is but one suggestion to get your creative juices flowing, along with the gravy! Step outside the box and think of other ways to approach Thanksgiving with a Happy and Healthy attitude. Next week we will take a look at side dishes and perhaps suggest some minor adjustments which will add delicious nutrition to your day.
We at ZyCal are thinking of your health this Thanksgiving and with that in mind, no better time to highlight Gastrotene®, developed to support and maintain gastrointestinal tract integrity and promote peak function.* It is the only GI health support product that contains 2-Beta Coxatene®, a new class of nutritional ingredient. This all-natural growth factor & herbal blend ingredient provides the right balance and support for healthy immune signaling and stem cell activation, helping support your body’s ability to create new epithelial lining for a healthy gut.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.