Three Little Super Foods to Eat in August

Welcome to a new month! We love August here at Little Soap HQ because it is literally bursting with beautiful fresh organic produce to try. Fruits, vegetables and herbs are all in their prime right now and if you have a garden of your own at home, you’re probably feeling a little overrun with amazing crops at the moment! Ok, so the weather has been less than great just lately, but we truly believe that Mother Nature knows what she’s doing- and never more so when it comes to fantastic seasonal goodies. So without further ado, here are three little super foods to eat in August – enjoy!

Garlic

Three Little Super Foods to Eat in August_LittleSoapCompany.co.ukGarlic has raised a bit of a stink in the past (sorry!) and it’s often rejected by those who are anxious to avoid bad breath after eating it. But did you know that garlic is one of the most underrated super foods out there? It’s in season right now too, so adding a bulb or two of fresh garlic to your shopping basket is one thing we cannot recommend highly enough. Along with adding a depth of flavour to almost any dish in the kitchen, there are some amazing health benefits too. And you can counteract the potency of potentially lingering breath odour with raw apples, mint or lettuce too. We think the health benefits far out weight the negatives though- and we think you might agree!

Garlic has the power to:

  • Help lower the risk of cancer
  • Help lower cholesterol levels
  • Act as a powerful anti-inflammatory
  • Improve insulin sensitivity
  • Maintain the health of hair
  • Stabilise the body’s metabolism
  • Improve heart health
  • Help fight the common cold

Pretty amazing stuff! While garlic is best eaten raw if you want the full range of health benefits, not many of us are able to consume it this way due to the strength of flavour. But that’s fine! Small amounts of raw garlic can be added to salad dressings etc, but larger amounts can be added to food during cooking to enhance their super powers too. Try this beautiful garlic hummus recipe today. All you need is:

  • One tin of chick peas, rinsed and drained
  • Two large cloves of garlic, crushed
  • Two tablespoons of tahini
  • Two tablespoons of olive oil
  • Quarter of a cup of water
  • Half a teaspoon of cumin
  • Half a teaspoon of sea salt
  • One tablespoon of  hot sauce
  • One tomato, chopped
  • One handful of fresh coriander, chopped

To make it, simply add the garlic and the chickpeas to a blender and blend until roughly chopped. Then add the tahini, olive oil, water, and seasonings then blend again until smooth. Add more water if you need to. Serve with chopped tomatoes and coriander as garnish. And enjoy!

Sweetcorn

Nothing beats corn on the cob on the barbecue! Just go easy on the butter! – with it so fresh and full of flavour you don’t need so much! Sweetcorn is beautiful right now and it’s actually another rather underrated vegetable bang in season right now. Sweetcorn is packed with beta-carotene and lutein, which helps to prevent eye disease, together with certain B vitamins plus vitamin C too. Not only that, but sweetcorn is also low in sugar, high in fibre and gluten free and can be used to make gluten free pasta. Grill it lightly on the cob and enjoy!

Radishes

Who doesn’t love home grown radish to create a salad with a kick! My granddad used to dip them in salt and eat them on their own, but we think there are many more ways to enjoy them! Radishes are an excellent source of some pretty powerful health benefits, including:

  • Three Little Super Foods to Eat in August_LittleSoapCompany.co.ukHelping to maintain liver health – making them great for detox days. Radishes can help to purify the blood and provide it with fresh oxygen, whilst at the same time eliminating toxins and waste.
  • Aiding digestion and maintaining gut health
  • Protecting the kidneys from infection and acting as an anti-inflammatory
  • Aiding in weight loss – radishes are low in calories but high in fibre, helping the body to feel full for longer
  • Protecting heart health
  • Helping to lower blood pressure
  • Helping to fight skin conditions and improve the hydration of the skin
  • Helping to protect the immune system

Pretty super, huh? So how to eat radishes? In a summery salad, of course! Or, you could try them roasted with chives? All you need is:

  • One bunch of red radishes – cleaned and with the greens chopped off
  • One tablespoon of chopped chives (fresh is best!)
  • One tablespoon of coconut oil
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste

To make this delicious snack, all you need to do is coat the radishes in coconut oil and season with salt and pepper. Then roast in the oven for about 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately and enjoy!

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