FOOD & CUISINE
Here are Anti-Aging Foods To Cling To Once You Turn 40-and-Beyond
Here are Anti-Aging Foods To Cling To Once You Turn 40-and-Beyond. Beautiful, glowing skin starts with how we eat, but these anti-aging foods can also help with more than that.
When we pack our diet with vibrant foods loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats, water, and essential nutrients, our body will show its appreciation through its largest organ: our skin. After all, the skin is often the first part of our body to show internal trouble, and there’s only so much that lotions, creams, masks, and serums can do before we need to take a closer look at what’s fueling us.
Researchers have even concludedTrusted Source that eating fruits and veggies is the safest and healthiest way to combat dull complexions and fine lines. Ready to glow? Here are 10 of the best anti-aging foods to nourish your body for a glow that comes from within.
The health benefits of watercress don’t disappoint! This nutrient-dense hydrating leafy green is a great source of:
- calcium
- potassium
- manganese
- phosphorus
- vitamins A, C, K, B-1, and B-2
Watercress acts as an internal skin antiseptic and increases the circulation and delivery of mineralsTrusted Source to all cells of the body, resulting in enhanced oxygenation of the skin. Packed with vitamins A and C, the antioxidants in watercressTrusted Source may neutralize harmful free radicals, helping to keep fine lines and wrinkles away.
To try: Add a handful of this flavorful green to your salad today for glowing skin and overall improved health!
OTHER YOUTHFUL BENEFITSThis delicious green may also boost immunityTrusted Source (as seen in trouts), aid digestion (in one cell study), and provide thyroid support due to its iodine content.
Red bell peppers are loaded with antioxidantsTrusted Source which reign supreme when it comes to anti-aging. In addition to their high content of vitamin C — which is good for collagen production — red bell peppers contain powerful antioxidants called carotenoids.
Carotenoids are plant pigments responsible for the bright red, yellow, and orange colors you see in many fruits and vegetables. They have a variety of anti-inflammatory propertiesTrusted Source and may help protect skin from sun damageTrusted Source, pollution, and environmental toxins.
To try: Slice bell peppers and dip them in hummus as a snack, add them into a raw salad, or cook them up in a stir-fry.
This delicious superfood is rich in a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that may help to improveTrusted Source skin elasticity and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. These include:
- vitamins A, C, K, and E
- calcium
- potassium
- magnesium
- phosphorus
- B vitamins
The wide range of antioxidants in papaya helps to fight free radical damage and may delay signs of agingTrusted Source. Papaya also contains an enzyme called papain, which provides additional anti-aging benefits by working as one of nature’s best anti-inflammatory agents. It’s also found in many exfoliating products.
So yes, eating papaya (or using products containing papain) may help your body shed dead skin cells, leaving you with glowing, vibrant skin!
To try: Drizzle fresh lime juice over a big plate of papaya as part of your breakfast or make a papaya mask at home for your next night in!
Blueberries are rich in vitamins A and C, as well as an age-defying antioxidant called anthocyanin. This is what gives blueberries their deep, beautiful blue color.
These powerful antioxidantsTrusted Source may help protect skin from damage due to the sun, stress, and pollution by moderating the inflammatory response and preventing collagen lossTrusted Source.
To try: Throw this delicious, low-sugar fruit into a morning smoothie or fruit bowl, and let it provide a beautifying punch!
Broccoli is an anti-inflammatory, anti-aging powerhouse packed with:
- vitamins C and K
- a variety of antioxidants
- fiber
- folate
- lutein
- calcium
Your body needs vitamin C for the production of collagen, the main protein in skin that gives it strength and elasticity.
To try: You can eat broccoli raw for a quick snack, but if you have the time, gently steam before eating. From charred bites to pesto sauces, cooking broccoli actually helps release more health benefits for your body.
Spinach is super hydrating and packed with antioxidants that help to oxygenate and replenish the entire body. It’s also rich in:
- vitamins A, C, E, and K
- magnesium
- plant-based heme iron
- lutein
This versatile leafy green’s high vitamin C content enhances collagen production to keep skin firm and smooth. But that’s not all. The vitamin A it provides may promote strong, shiny hair, while vitamin K has been shownTrusted Source to help reduce inflammation in cells.
To try: Add handfuls of spinach to a smoothie, salad, or sauté.
Many nuts (especially almonds) are a great source of vitamin E, which may help repair skin tissue, retain skin moisture, and protect skin from damaging UV rays. Walnuts even containTrusted Source anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids that may help:
- strengthen skin cell membranes
- protect against sun damage
- give skin a beautiful glow by preserving its natural oil barrier
To try: Sprinkle a mix of nuts on top of your salads, or eat a handful as a snack. Don’t remove the skin, either, as studies show that 50 percent or moreTrusted Source of the antioxidants are lost without the skin.
Avocados are high in inflammation-fighting fatty acids that promote smooth, supple skin. They also contain a variety of essential nutrients that may prevent the negative effects of agingTrusted Source, including:
- vitamins K, C, E, and A
- B vitamins
- potassium
The high content of vitamin A in avocados can help us shed dead skin cells, leaving us with gorgeous, glowing skin. Their carotenoid content may also assist in blocking toxins and damage from the sun’s rays and also help to protect against skin cancers.
To try: Throw some avocado into a salad, smoothie, or just eat it with a spoon. You can also try it topically as an incredible moisturizing mask to fight inflammation, reduce redness, and help prevent wrinkles!
The orange color of the sweet potato comes from an antioxidant called beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A. Vitamin ATrusted Source may help restore skin elasticity, promote skin cell turnover, and ultimately contribute to soft, youthful-looking skin.
This delicious root vegetable is also a great source of vitamins C and E — both of which may protect our skin from harmful free radicals and keep our complexion radiant.
Pomegranates have been used for centuries as a healing medicinal fruit. High in vitamin C and a variety of potent antioxidantsTrusted Source, pomegranates may protect our body from free radical damage and reduce levels of inflammation in our system.
These healthy fruits also contain a compound called punicalagins, which may help to preserve collagen in the skin, slowing signs of aging.
To try: Sprinkle these sweet little jewels onto a baby spinach walnut salad for an anti-aging treat!
OTHER YOUTHFUL BENEFITSResearch has also shown that a compound called urolithin ATrusted Source, which is produced when pomegranates interact with gut bacteria, may rejuvenate mitochondria. It was even seen to reverse muscle agingTrusted Source in rat studies.
By nourishing ourselves with these anti-aging foods, we can gain fuel to look and feel our best.
If you’re looking for more delicious plants to try, choose fruits and vegetables deep in color. The rich shades are usually a sign of stronger radical fighting abilities to keep your skin healthy and vibrant. The more colors you can fit on your plate, the better.
It’s time to slow down signs of aging and truly glow from within!
Today we are looking at most expensive hotels in Nigeria and their price range. This is a resource to help you know where youll be laying your head when next you are in Nigeria. For those already within 9ja, this shows you where to go and splurge.
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1. Transcorp Hilton Abuja – ₦714,922
Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja is the most expensive hotel in Nigeria in the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria. The hotel is located at Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria, while it has one branch in Calabar.
It has over 667 well expensively decorated guest rooms, suites and executive rooms made available purposely for customers that want to live their luxury life to the fullest.
These guest rooms have different price tags per night depending on the one you want to lodge in; they include:
- The King Guest rooms ₦90,725
- Twin Guest rooms ₦83,172
- King Deluxe rooms ₦97,422
- King Executive room ₦134,472
- Royal room ₦144,922
- King Executive Royal Room ₦188,622
- King Executive Deluxe rooms ₦137,322
- Family Connecting Room ₦135,433
- Twin Executive rooms ₦125,922.
The suites in Transcorp Hilton and their prices are
- Business Suite ₦160,122
- Royal Suite ₦190,047
- Executive Royal Suite ₦267,472
- Business Executive Suite ₦200,972
- Ambassador Suite ₦346,797
- Executive Ambassador Suite ₦377,672
- Executive Presidential Suite ₦714,922
- Presidential suite ₦523,497.
As the most expensive Hotel in Nigeria, the largest room setup in Transcorp Hilton is 823square metres, a well comfortable space to match its price. It is also rated as the number one best hotel in Nigeria.
Transcorp Hilton is the only hotel with 20 different meeting rooms with perfect setups matching its high price. Its largest event room has a space of over 2,505square metres, a criterion that has helped it become the most expensive hotel in Nigeria.
It has one of the most amazing dining rooms you can think of eating in, including Bukka Restaurant, where you can dine on traditional Nigerian cuisine, Capital Bar, Fulani Pool Bar with its traditional thatched roofing, mats and statues reflecting on Fulani’s culture.
Other additional dinings in Transcorp Hilton hotel are Oriental Restaurant, Pastry Shop where you relax with your tea or coffee, Piano Lounge and Zuma Restaurant, all of which can give you the taste of what you want.
Transcorp Hilton hotel has many other beautiful places for its customers, such as Banquets, conference halls, theatre, reception and many more.
To make your stay in Transcorp Hilton hotel an unforgettable one, the hotel has so many amenities that have made them the most expensive hotel in Nigeria, including A tennis court, places to play golf, a business centre, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre.
2. Sheraton Hotel Abuja – ₦629,296
Sheraton Hotel Abuja is the second most expensive hotel among the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria owing to its fine structure, rooms and excellent services from its workers.
The hotel has beautiful and expensive guest rooms you would want to visit with different air conditions and comfortable bathrooms.
The guest rooms in Sheraton Hotel Abuja are of different types and price tags, depending on your choice; the rooms are:
- Classic King room ₦73,479.5
- Superior King ₦102,625
- Deluxe King ₦122,739.5
- Club King ₦142,854.
- Junior Suite ₦155,990
- Club Suite ₦164,610.5
- Club Executive Suite ₦198,271.5
- Club Diplomatic Suite ₦321,421.5
- Club Ambassadorial Suite ₦458,939
- Presidential Suite ₦629,296.5
It is located at Ladi Kwali Way, Abuja, Nigeria. The second most expensive hotel in Nigeria, Sheraton Hotel Abuja, has different suites with mountain views from private balconies.
Any guest in Sheraton Hotel would enjoy signature beds, flat-screen TVs, jetted tubs, free Wi-Fi, and 24-hour room service, criteria that made it become one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria. Sheraton Hotel is also the sixth-best hotel in Nigeria.
The most expensive rooms in Sheraton Hotel gives its users access to its fitness centre, including club-level rooms and suites.
Sheraton Hotel has different types of expensive dining. You could eat some of the best meals you can think of in Sheraton’s dining, either in the Pool Bar & Restaurant, Luigi’s Restaurant or Papillon Restaurant.
3. The George Lagos Hotel – ₦600,000
The George Hotel is the third most expensive hotel in Nigeria in the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria. The highest fee for a guest room in the hotel is ₦600,000. The George Hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels in Nigeria where you can live your luxury life to the fullest.
The hotel was established in July 2015 at number 30 Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. It is also the 5th best hotel in Nigeria.
The George is accessible from different places in Lagos, including Alfred Rewane (Kingsway Road) and Mobolaji Johnson. It is also 10 minutes away from Victoria Island Lagos and 40 minutes away from Muritala Muhammed International Airport through Third Mainland Bridge.
The Goerge hotel has over 61 expensive and well-furnished guest rooms including:
- Classic rooms ₦153,000
- Classic Studio Room ₦183,000
- Executive Room ₦205,000
- Classic suite 9 ₦230,000
- 1 Bedroom Penthouse Suite ₦305,000
- 2 Bedroom Penthouse Suite ₦600,000.00.
As one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria, The George Hotel also has many places for your events and meetings, such as business meetings.
They include Otium Terrace for your dinner parties and exhibitions, Private Dining Room, Bellini Meeting Room, Raphael Boardroom, Antonello meeting room and Titian Lounge.
A reminder to you that you do not have to worry about going out searching for a meal while at George Hotel; they will provide you with the best meals of your choice.
4. Legend Hotel Lagos – ₦543,912
Legend Hotel Lagos is the fourth most expensive hotel in Nigeria in Nigeria’s top ten most expensive hotels. The most expensive guest room in the hotel is ₦543,912.5 per night. It is located less than 4Km away from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. Legend Hotel Lagos Airport is
The hotel offers private and public dining for its customers, where you can eat one of the most delicious meals ever. Some of the dinings are with airport views while some are not depending on your choice.
Being one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria, The Legend Hotel has 54 guest rooms with different prices depending on your choice; the rooms include:
- King Deluxe Room ₦110,835
- King Deluxe Suite ₦153,937.5
- King Business Suite ₦173,231
- Presidential Suite ₦543,912.5
The Legend Hotel also has an indoor pool with an adjoining terrace bar, a fitness centre, and a steam room, making it expensive and ranked as the fourth most expensive hotel in Nigeria.
Anyone planning for any event can check The Lagend Hotel’s event rooms, which are four different types; some can accommodate over 120 guests while others can only accommodate 50 persons.
5. Southern Sun Ikoyi – ₦510,251
Southern Sun Ikoyi is the 5th most expensive hotel among the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria.
As one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria, the hotel has taxes that pick its customer down to the hotel, especially people arriving from Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja Lagos.
Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel has comfortable guest rooms of different types and price tags with Air-conditioning, comfy great-sleep beds, en-suite bathrooms with a shower, bath, blackout curtains, sound-softened windows, free uncapped WiFi, and flat-screen with DStv; the rooms include:
- Standard Room Queen Bed at the rate of ₦71,016.5 per night
- Standard Wheelchair Room ₦71,016.5
- Executive King ₦81,279
- Executive Room ₦81,279
- Junior Suite ₦188,009
- Standard Suite ₦231,111.5
- Executive Suite ₦510, 251.5.
Being one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria, Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel has a business centre, 8 best-in-class conference venues with space for 10 to 100, a pool and a 24-hour gym with a personal trainer for its customers.
The amazing thing about Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel’s poolside is the availability of an awesome menu of all-day favourites like finger-licking sticky ribs and flame-grilled sliders, fresh and seasonal salads and sundowner cocktails.
All these have contributed to it being among the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria.
6. The Wheatbaker Hotel – ₦429,383
The Wheatbaker Hotel is the sixth most expensive hotel in Nigeria in the list of top most expensive hotels in Nigeria. The Wheatbaker Hotel is a beautiful hotel that is located at the heart of lkoyi Lagos, Nigeria. Specifically at number 4 Onitolo Road Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
It is also located close to the Lagos business districts of lkoyi and Victoria Island and 35 km away from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria. The Wheatbaker Hotel is also the third-best hotel in Nigeria.
Being among the most expensive hotel in Nigeria, The Wheatbaker Hotel has many beautiful facilities for travellers and other customers to live a comfortable and good luxury life.
It has a well comfortable swimming pool where you can stay and relax your mind. The Wheatbaker Hotel also provides a delicious meal for you if you do not want to go out.
The hotel has many expensive and beautifully well-decorated guest rooms of different types and price tags for its customers, including:
- Executive suites ₦429,383
- Standard queen rooms ₦139,570
- Luxury king rooms ₦139,570
- Executive king rooms ₦153,527.
One of the most amazing things about The Wheatbaker hotel that has made it be among the most expensive hotels in Nigeria is its SPA facial therapies aimed at helping its customer have a relaxed mind and body for healthy living, including Full body exfoliation and Scalp treatment.
The hotel also has three different comfortable and beautiful dining for your eateries, including The Saraya Deli for your buffet lunch and breakfast, The Grill Room Bar for your drinks and the Bars.
As one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria, The Wheatbaker hotel has different conference halls for your meetings and events of any kind.
7. Sheraton Lagos Hotel – ₦412,552.5
Sheraton Lagos Hotel is the seventh most expensive hotel in Nigeria in the list of top most expensive hotels in Nigeria. Sheraton Hotel is a 5-star hotel situated 3.1 km away from Ndubuisi Kanu’s Park Oregun Lagos and 1.8 km away from Opebi.
It is one of the most beautiful and well-furnished hotels you might want to visit in Nigeria. Sheraton Hotel is also the sixth-best hotel in Nigeria.
Being one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria, Sheraton Hotel has over 337 well-furnished expensive guest rooms filled with the required equipment for its customers, such as coffee and tea making equipment.
The beautiful guest rooms in Sheraton Hotel are of different types and price tags, including:
- The Club King Room ₦92,362.5
- Standard Twin Guest Room ₦79, 226.5
- Standard King Room ₦79,226.5
- Club Twin Room ₦92,362.5.
- Business Suite ₦190,882.5King Suite
- Diplomatic Suite ₦328,400
- Presidential Suite ₦412,552.5.
Owning to its expensiveness, the hotel also has some beautiful places for meetings and events: they provide you with wedding services if you need services for your event.
Sheraton hotel also has leisure facilities for its customers to relax their mind after a hectic day at work or business to maintain your healthy life such as an outdoor swimming pool, Casino, Night club, Entertainment, BBQ facilities, tennis court and fitness centre.
Being one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria, Sheraton Hotel has a review platform for its customers to share their experience, both positive and negative, after vising the hotel.
This review platform in Sheraton Hotel Lagos aims to maintain its spot in the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria by solving its customers’ problems stipulated in its review platform.
8. Fraser Suites Abuja – ₦389,975
Fraser Suites Abuja is the 8th most expensive hotel among the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria. The hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels you might want to visit at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
It is located at Plot 294, Leventis Close, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria, just 30 minutes from Abuja International Airport.
As one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria, Fraser Suites has made beautiful and well-furnished rooms available for its customer.
It has four different types of luxury apartments that are well-decorated to satisfy its customers, including:
- Studio Deluxe ₦114,940
- Studio Executive ₦131,360
- Studio Premier ₦143,675
- One Bedroom Executive ₦180,620
- Two-Bedroom Deluxe ₦377,660
- Two-Bedroom Executive ₦389,975
The hotel has one of the most beautiful dinings in Nigeria, including The Dining Room, The Gazebo and The Café. This has helped it to be ranked in the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria.
The hotel also has many comfortable spaces for meetings and events of any kind. It has sectioned these spaces into two conference rooms, two boardrooms and four breakaway rooms very well suitable for any event or meeting.
The event halls in Fraser Hotel have over 250 capacity, a huge space for any event you want to host. Its event room is one of the biggest event rooms in Nigeria.
Being concerned about the health and wellness of its customers, Fraser Hotel has set up a gym and swimming pool that will help its customers maintain their fitness and well being.
All these properties have made Fraser Suites the 8th most expensive hotel in Nigeria. Fraser Suite is also the 9th best hotel in Nigeria.
9. Radisson Blu Hotel – Suite ₦311,704.
Radisson Blu Hotel is the 19th most expensive hotel in Nigeria in the list of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria. The hotel is located at Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria, 5km away from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Radisson Blu Hotel is regarded as the 10th best hotel in Nigeria among the top ten best hotels in Nigeria.
Radisson Blu hotel has over 155 well-balanced expensive guest rooms for its customers, including:
- Superior Rooms ₦109,151.95
- Executive Room ₦120,407.86
- Premium Room ₦120,407.86
- Suite ₦276,069.46
- Presidential Suite ₦311,704.
It also has three good and lovely restaurants, one of the best in Nigeria, including Cut Steakhouse, Iyeru Okin and Rbar & Lounge criteria which have made it to be among the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria.
For meetings of any kind or your expensive events, Radisson Blu has a 2,047 square meters space that can accommodate over 400 people.
To enjoy your luxury life in the Radisson Blu hotel, visit its Amani Spa that has eight multi-functional treatment rooms including a couple’s suites, Nail Salon, a Flotation Pool, grand Rasul, separate Men and Women’s steam room and a relaxation area.
As one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria, Radisson Blu also has a review platform where its customers can share their experience after visiting the hotel to fix the unavailable equipment needed by its customers.
10. Four Point Hotel By Sheraton – ₦120,687
Four Point Hotel By Sheraton is the 10th most expensive hotel in Nigeria in the list of top most expensive hotels in Nigeria. The hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels you can check on in Nigeria.
The Four Point Hotel is rated among the top ten best hotels in Nigeria.
Four Point Hotel is located at Plot 9/10 Block 2 Oniru Chieftaincy Estate, Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria. It has many features that have helped it become one of the most expensive hotels in Nigeria.
Being among the top ten most expensive hotels in Nigeria, Four Point Hotel has over 231 well-decorated guest rooms and suites with different prices tags per night, including:
- Superior Room ₦115,761
- Standard Room ₦114,940
- Standard Twin ₦96,467.5
- Preferred King Guest Room ₦119,045.
- Executive Deluxe ₦120,687
- Executive King ₦109,603.5, Executive Twin
- King Suite ₦119,455.5.
One of the things that made Four Point Hotel unique is its multiple dining with different setups and good meals, including Brazzerie, The Office, Chocolat Royal, Arabesque Restaurant, Smokey Bones Restaurant, Shiro Restaurant & Bar and Indigo Indian Restaurant.
Four Point Hotel also has a fitness centre to exercise in your free time and an indoor swimming pool for your relaxation for healthy living.
If you are planning for any event, you can check out the meeting and event centres in Four Point Hotel; the hotel has eight different events halls with Maximum Breakout Rooms of seven.
Now that you have our list of the Most expensive hotels in Nigeria and their price range, we believe that even though most may be pricey, the ambience and services experienced are enough to keep you working hard enough to experience these.
This common vegetable sometimes gets a bad reputation but we are here to give it a face lift. Broccoli is durable and flavor filled, especially when paired with cheese. It is delicious, nutritious and is packed with several health benefits. From helping to promote a healthy heart to keeping your brain sharp, here are four more reasons to enjoy the crunchiness of broccoli today.
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Broccoli Nutrition
Broccoli is packed with several vitamins and nutrients but there are a few worth calling out. One serving provides more than the daily recommended amount of vitamins C and K, which help keep your immune system healthy and your blood pressure balanced and intact respectively. It is also a good source of folate and vitamin A, which are important nutrients for pregnant women. The nutrition for 1 cup of raw broccoli is as follows:
- Calories: 30
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 6g
- Sugars: 2g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sodium: 29mg
Health Benefits of Broccoli; From head to gut, here are some of the reasons why broccoli is worth a place in your plate.
Boosts Brain Health
To stay sharp, munch on broccoli. One 2015 study found that those who ate one to two servings of dark leafy green vegetables had the mental abilities of those over a decade younger. Talk about the fountain of youth. More recent studies done in mice have found similar results on broccoli’s anti-aging and neuro-protective effect.
Helps Your Heart
It is probably no surprise that there is ample evidence supporting vegetables as heart-healthy foods. However, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are in a league of their own when it comes to heart health. Broccoli has a ton of nutrients and antioxidants packed into a small serving, meaning you don’t need to eat much to get the nutrients your heart needs. It is also a great source of vitamin K, which is important for a healthy blood pressure and healthy blood clotting (as in, vitamin K helps stop the bleeding when you cut yourself). A study published in 2020 found that vegetables like broccoli and brussels sprouts can help prevent CVD(cardiovascular disease) and also protects the overall chances against stroke, heart attack or even death.
Protects Against Cancer
A healthy, balanced diet is one of the best ways to prevent diseases like heart disease and diabetes—and even some types of cancer. Certain foods, like broccoli, are particularly beneficial in that arena. A recent study in Cancer Treatments Review found that broccoli and other dark leafy green vegetables release secondary plant products that have anti-cancer potential in our bodies. Other recent reviews have found that a potential mechanism of this is that the compounds found in broccoli can neutralize carcinogens and prevent cancer cells from growing and spreading.
Protect the eyes
Broccoli, like many cruciferous vegetables, is packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants protect cells from damage and stress that creates inflammation and increases chronic disease risk over time. A recent study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics found that women who ate more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli had lower levels of inflammation in their blood. it also protect the eyes from blindness due to sun ultraviolet light.
Bottom Line
Regardless of if you like it chopped in our Mediterranean Broccoli Pasta Salad or roasted with ample amounts of Parmesan, broccoli is a food you can feel good about eating regularly. It has countless health benefits from protecting against cancer to fighting inflammation, and is packed with vitamins and nutrients. As an added bonus, broccoli is super multifunctional and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.
This was our first post ever, we hope to write more
Thank you for reading.
A group of 45 farmers in Rusitu Valley in Chipinge, a district in Zimbabwean eastern province of Manicaland have from December 2021 started exporting nearly 50 tonnes of their pineapples to the Netherlands.
These farmers were victims of Cyclone Idai, a tropical cyclone which hit their home area of Chipinge and Chimanimani in 2019, killing over 180 people, destroying 7,000 households and infrastructure and leaving 4,000 people food insecure. During this time, their pineapple crops were not destroyed.
Most of Zimbabwe’s prime farming areas incur heavy post-harvest losses because their produce often rots by the roadside as they struggle to secure markets and transport for their produce.
These challenges saw the the 1,300 Chipinge farmers establish the Rusitu Fruit Growers and Marketing Trust, that engaged with the country’s export promotion body, Zimtrade. Here, the farmers were offered training and technical expertise on how to grow pineapples organically and export to overseas markets.
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What is Pho, and Why Is it So Famous?
In Vietnam, pho is more than just a soup served in households, street stalls, and restaurants countrywide. Some international menus are starting to boast of the meal as well. It holds a special place in the country’s cultural identity. Considered the most famous national dish of Vietnam, pho at its most basic consists of a clear beef- or chicken-based broth, rice noodles, herbs, and thinly sliced meats. It may also be served with bean sprouts, fresh herbs, limes or lemons, chiles, and other garnishes. What’s in a bowl of Pho?
IS PHO HEALTHY?
Broth made from animal bones can help build strength in your own bones. It’s also a great source of other minerals and vitamins that keep your body functioning to the best of its ability. Many pho recipes are teeming with nutrient-packed herbs and veggies and typically includes some sort of meat that is rich in proteins. It is gluten-free as it uses rice noodles. Benefits aside, you shouldn’t overdo it.
Sweetener & Spices in Traditional Pho Recipe
THE ORIGINS OF PHO
It is believed that pho surfaced in northern Vietnam during the French colonization of Hanoi in the mid to late 1880s, suggesting that it could be a Vietnamese rendition of the French beef stew soup pot-au-feu. Many Hanoians explain that the word pho derives from French soldiers’ ordering “feu” (fire), referring to both the steam rising from a bowl of pho and the wood fire seen glowing in the evening.
Up until that point, the Vietnamese ate very little red meat. The French’s appetite changed things and red meat slowly started making its way into the city’s markets and kitchens. As bifteks were carved off the bones to satisfy the upper classes’ newfound taste buds, cooks started simmering the leftover oxtail and shinbones to create a clear consommé. Influenced by the cooking style of the French, they added charred onions to this nourishing broth and served it with slices of raw and cooked beef.
The French were not the only ones to make their mark. The introduction of ingredients such as rice noodles, ginger and anise came from Vietnam’s neighbors in the north. Fusing together these foreign influences, the Vietnamese added their own fish sauce (nuoc mam) and created something wholly unique and native.
Reviews of Vietnamese literature have found that pho entered the mainstream sometime in the 1910s. The traditional home of pho is reputed to be in Nam Định Province, southeast of Hanoi. Originally, pho was often sold at dawn and dusk by wandering street vendors who would shoulder mobile kitchens on carrying poles. Today, pho stalls spill out across the sidewalk of nearly every street in Hanoi.
After the division of the country in 1954, the traditionally northern recipe migrated south to Saigon, when the country was split in two and nearly a million Vietnamese moved south to escape the communist north. Once pho hit the streets of Saigon, it morphed. It became customizable with sauces and herbs. No longer confined to northern culinary traditions, variations in meat and broth appeared, and additional garnishes such as lime, bean sprouts, culantro, basil, hoisin sauce, and hot chili sauce became standard.
Globalization
Pho — especially the southern-style — gained popularity around the world after the fall of Saigon in 1975, as hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees fled their country taking with them their hopes and dreams of a better life. They also brought their cultures and cuisine and introduced it to other countries, of which pho has become the most popular among Americans.
In 1980, the first of hundreds of pho restaurants opened in the Little Saigon in Orange County, California. Pho began to enter the mainstream during the 1990s, as relations between the U.S. and Vietnam improved. Today there are almost 2,000 pho restaurants spread across the United States in Texas, California, and the East Coast as well as Canada.
The sweetener is the most crucial ingredient in the pho recipe. It should not be too sweet or too sour, but just right to make your taste buds dance with joy.
The traditional way of making noodles for Pho is also pretty straightforward. Making Pho noodles by yourself is easy!
How to Eat a Bowl of Pho the Vietnamese Way
Pho is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup that people eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. There are many different ways to enjoy this dish.
It’s important to remember that the bowl of Pho is not just for eating the noodles but to enjoy the flavors of all the different components. If you’ve never had Pho before, now might be a good time to try it. And don’t worry about getting it wrong! There are plenty of people who share your enthusiasm for this unique dish and will be eager to help you out.
INGREDIENTS AND PREPARATION
Pho is served in a bowl with rice noodles in clear beef broth, with thin cuts of beef (steak, fatty flank, lean flank, brisket). Variations feature slow-cooked tendon, tripe, or meatballs. Chicken pho is made using the same spices as beef, but the broth is made using chicken bones and meat.
Noodles
The thick dried rice noodle that is usually used is called bánh phở, but some versions may be made with bánh phở tươi (fresh pho noodles). The pho noodles are usually medium-width. However, people from different regions of Vietnam will prefer different widths.
Broth
The soup for beef pho is generally made by simmering beef bones, oxtails, flank steak, and spices. The spices, wrapped in cheesecloth or a soaking bag, usually contain cloves, star anise, coriander seed, fennel seed, Saigon cinnamon, and black cardamom. Onion and ginger are often charred over an open fire for about a minute before adding them to the stock to bring out their full flavor. Charred ginger can be omitted, since its function in beef pho is to subdue the strong smell of beef.
For a more intense flavor, the bones may still have beef on them. Chicken bones also produce a similar broth, which takes several hours to make. Impurities that float to the top while cooking are often skimmed; this is the key to a clear broth. Nước mắm (fish sauce) is added toward the end.
Garnishes
Vietnamese dishes are typically served with many greens, herbs, vegetables, and various other accompaniments, such as dipping sauces, spicy chili sauces such as sriracha, and hoisin sauce. The dish is garnished with ingredients such as green onions, white onions, Thai basil, fresh Thai chili peppers or jalapeno, lemon or lime wedges, bean sprouts, cilantro (coriander leaves), or culantro.
Several ingredients not generally served with pho may be ordered by request. Extra-fatty broth (nước béo) can be ordered and comes with scallions to sweeten it. A popular side dish ordered upon request is hành dấm, or vinegared white onions.
Adapted from https://www.soupply.com/
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