Amy Sue's Tasty Bites

Most of us try and eat healthy by choosing a salad over the french fries or maybe salmon instead of a rib roast.  But even though we think we might eat healthy, we could be doing a better job.  What am I talking about you say?  Pairing certain foods together helps our bodies naturally absorb the vitamins easier.  Studies have shown that when you interact certain vegetables with either protein, olive oil, or other foods, it helps your body absorb more of the vitamins.

Take for example chickpeas.  We all know that these beans are a great source of protein and iron, being low in fat and cholesterol. We throw them into salads, eat them as hummus, and saute them with herbs for an easy tapas.  But if you combine the chickpeas with red peppers, your body will process more iron.  How’s that?  Well,

     “The kind of iron that comes from plant foods is difficult for our bodies to absorb,” says Heather Mangieri, R.D., owner of Nutrition CheckUp in Pittsburgh.” -Women’s Health

The vitamin C in the red peppers (when digested),  allows your body’s blood cells easier access to the iron in the chickpeas. Eating more chickpeas for more iron won’t work, but pairing it with red peppers will.   So next time you reach for the hummus at your local grocery store or food market, make sure it’s roasted red pepper hummus, your body will have more energy and thank you!

*Note:  To read more on which food pairings gives your body an extra boost, visit my What’s New? – NEWS page.  http://amysuestastybites.com/page-8/news/

“Eating is Believing!”

xoxo,

amy sue

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