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Vegetable Powder – Going Beyond Greens
Vegetable powder is often overlooked in the search for superfood supplements, yet is a valuable addition to your superfood store cupboard. In the nutrition stakes, greens powder generally gets all the glory. Yet, whilst it may be true that green leafy veg are some of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet, the overall goal of nutrition is one of variety, and vegetable powder has a lot of good things to offer.
The power of veggie powder
Veggie powders are an excellent way to boost the nutrient content of your diet, especially if this is one area in which your diet is lacking. Despite increased nutritional knowledge, and the increase of interest in all things plant-based, many people do not get enough vegetables in their daily diet.
Vegetable powder is made of dehydrated vegetables that have been ground to a fine powder. They have a much longer shelf life than fresh produce, and retain their nutrient value for longer too. They take up less space and are also easy and convenient to use. Not only do they make a great addition to smoothies, but are also an excellent way of sneaking extra vegetable goodness into your cooking. Add to soups and stews, dips and dressings, or even cakes and breads.
Other than our popular greens powders we have two kinds of vegetable powder; beetroot, and carrot.
Nutrients in Greens
Green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and even broccoli, all share a basic nutritional profile although each does have it’s own special brand of magic.
These plants are all rich in the life essence chlorophyll and abundant in minerals; especially calcium, iron and sulphur. They are also excellent sources of vitamins C, and K, and are chock-full of anti inflammatory antioxidants.
Greens support bone health, provide major antioxidant support, help to lower cholesterol, and have anti-cancer properties.
Nutrients in Carrots
Carrots are well known for their starring role in promoting eye health. Rich in beta-carotene, as well as antioxidant lycopene and lutein, they help us to maintain good eyesight. But there is more to carrots than eye health.
High in the insoluble fibre pectin, that is also abundant in apples. It helps to regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down digestion and decreasing the uptake of sugars. It also decreases the absorption of cholesterol so is effective in helping to lower total cholesterol levels.
A good source of the mineral potassium, which is essential for the fluid balance within cells, carrots can also help to regulate blood pressure.
Carrots also contain silicon, for healthy skin and nails.
Nutrients in Beetroot
Beetroot contains a unique group of antioxidants known as betacyanins. Responsible for their deep purple colour, these protective pigments offer support to the liver, help to improve circulation, and purify the blood. Not just an old wives tale!
Along with iron, that feeds the red blood cells with oxygen, the antioxidants in beetroot detoxify the liver and purify the blood by promoting excretion of toxins.
Also rich in potassium, beetroot is highly effective at lowering blood pressure.
More Benefits of Vegetable Powders
Carrot powder and beetroot powder have another advantage over greens powder. They add sweetness. Not sugar-rush sweetness, but the sweet taste that is often needed to round out flavours and make food more palatable. Green smoothies aside, a spoonful of carrot powder will round out any residual bitterness in a tomato sauce way better than a pinch or two of sugar. Mix beetroot powder into cacao powder to add sweetness without sugar or sweeteners. This blend has tons of uses, but try dusting it over popcorn. It’s great!
Have you explored our range of store cupboard superfoods? Available to buy in bulk online now! Boost Nutrients vegetable powders are all made from 100% organic Australian grown produce.
This article was reproduced on this site with permission from Opera Foods the “Vegetable Powder Suppliers”.
See original article:- Vegetable Powder – Going Beyond Greens
What Does Protein Powder Do?
Protein powders are a nutritional supplement, once only favoured by bodybuilders and gym goers. But what does protein powder actually do? And why do so many people now include it as part of their daily regime?
Types of protein powder
Traditionally, protein powders were made from animal sources. They were made either from components of cows milk (whey or casein) or from egg white derivatives. Both of which are excellent sources of complete protein. Before they were taken up by the bodybuilding community, they would have been (and still are) widely used in hospital and healthcare settings as a nutritional supplement for those unable to eat, or that needed an extra boost.
Later arrivals on the scene were the plant-based protein powders. Also sources of complete protein, these are derived from plants such as peas, or hemp.
Why take protein powder?
Why take protein powder? Surely we can get protein from the food we eat?
For a start, protein powder can be pretty handy. It has a long shelf life, mixes into an easy to drink shake, and is fairly portable. It can also be added to cooking and baking for a bit of a protein boost.
But why would we need a protein boost in the first place?
Protein in the body
Most of us are well aware that the body needs protein. A vital component of bone, muscle, and skin, protein is crucial to all our life processes at the cellular level. Without the amino acids that are the building blocks of protein we can barely survive; let alone thrive.
There are 9 amino acids that we need to intake from food. Foods that contain all nine amino acids are known as complete proteins. Most animal sources of protein are complete, and we once believed that without these foods that our diet was somehow lacking. We now understand that we can obtain our full quota of amino acids from a range of food sources; including plants.
How much protein do we need?
Roughly speaking, between 10 to 35% of your calories should come from protein, depending on your level of activity. For the average diet of 2000kcal a day this is somewhere between 50 and 175g protein. The average, fairly sedentary adult generally aims for about 50g; a goal that is easily achievable on a diet that includes animal proteins. A bit of milk, an egg, plus a portion of fish or meat and you are pretty much there. On a plant based diet, still aiming for 50g, that looks like a cup of lentils, a cup of quinoa and several large handfuls of nuts. Also fairly doable.
But what if you need to aim higher? Long story short, it is a lot easier to maximise your protein intake with an animal based diet than it is with a plant based one. And what about those all essential amino acids? You need a really varied range of plant proteins to ensure an adequate intake.
In all likelihood, the surge in popularity of protein powders has come with increased interest (and uptake) of a plant-based diet.
Protein in plants
All plants contain protein in varying amounts, even the ones we don’t think of as protein foods. Yet only a handful are sources of complete protein; most are missing an amino acid or two. So not only is the challenge to get enough grams of protein, but also to get an adequate supply of all nine amino acids.
For many people this is not an issue an at all, and with a wide range of plant foods they cover these needs easily. But not everyone.
Why you might need to boost your protein on a plant based diet
- For active gym goers, to aid recovery and repair muscle fibre
- To replenish energy levels on the go
- To help stave off hunger and promote weight loss
- When you aren’t eating proper meals
Plant based protein powder
Plant based protein powder offers an efficient form of protein delivery. A single scoop offers about 25g of protein, with all nine essential amino acids. Blended up into a shake, with water or a non-dairy milk, it is possibly the simplest way to meet your protein needs.
The two most common types are made from isolated pea protein or hemp seed. Both are sources of complete protein, yet hemp has a whole host of extra nutritional benefits to offer.
Take a look at our hugely popular organic hemp protein powder.
Superfood powders are a convenient way to harness the exceptional nutritional power of superfoods. Discover just how superfood powders can help you to reach your nutritional goals, or if you need a nutrition primer our in depth article on superfoods has got you covered.
Take a look at our entire range of superfoods, available to buy online in bulk now, or head straight to our protein powders.
This article was reproduced on this site with permission from operafoods.com.au the “Superfoods Wholesales”.
See original article:- What Does Protein Powder Do?
A Guide to Superfood Powders
Superfood powders are an easy way to enhance the nutrient power of your diet and their scope goes way beyond just super greens. Fruit powder, vegetable powder, protein powder (and yes, greens powder) can all help you maximise your intake of superfood nutrients. In this article we explore the subject of superfood powders and look at some of these in more detail.
Before we begin, why not read our article on superfoods and nutrition first? It is a great nutrition primer and introduction to superfoods.
What is superfood powder?
Superfood powders are nutritionally dense foods, most often fruits and vegetables, that have been dehydrated and ground to a fine powder. Convenient, easy to use, and with a longer shelf life than fresh produce, they are an easy way to increase your nutrient intake.
Boost Nutrients superfood powders are made from high quality fruits, roots, leaves and seeds that, where possible, are organic and sourced from within Australia. We support minimal intervention, pesticide-free farming and try to reflect this in our products as much as we can.
Some superfood powders are blended, and are often targeted at specific concerns. They contain a range of different ingredients and provide an overall spectrum of nutrients. Some may ‘boost vitality’ whilst others are designed to ‘strengthen your immunity’. They may, not always, contain smaller amounts of the most expensive ingredients.
Here at Boost Nutrients we make pure superfood powders, made of a single ingredient, that gives you ultimate control. Each powder, fruit or vegetable, is a superfood in its own right, with its own unique nutrient profile. They range from the exotic, like maca root powder, to the down right boring, like kale. Sorry, kale.
How are superfood powders made?
Our powders are not freeze dried. Despite what a superficial search on the internet may tell you, current understanding actually shows that there are better ways to preserve nutrients in dehydrated fruit and vegetables. We make our superfood powders with a totally different technology, that retains a higher percentage of nutrients, flavour, aroma, and colour. The resulting powders form a crystalline structure that is also more easily dissolved for maximum efficiency. This process is called low temperature continuous evaporation. A low heat method of vacuum drying, it is considered to be ‘the ideal method for drying oxygen sensitive materials, such as fruits and vegetables’.
Is superfood powder good for you?
Superfood powders are a great addition to you diet, especially if it is lacking in fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables.
As we have seen, fresh produce deteriorates rapidly whilst powdered fruits and vegetables are processed as close to harvesting as possible. They are already ahead of the game when it comes to retention of vital nutrients.
The nutrient profile of a single ingredient powder is the same as the fruit from which it is made. As with whole produce, the best way to experience a wide range of benefits is to broaden your food choices and incorporate as much variety as possible in your daily diet. Mix it up!
One thing most superfood powders have in common is high levels of antioxidants.
Do superfood powders contain fibre?
The fibre present in fruits and vegetables is still there in powder form as the only thing that has been removed is the water. It has been broken down, so you do lose the mechanical benefits of fibre on digestion, but other than that the fibre remains.
Soluble fibre is often a contributor to superfood status, so produce that is high in insoluble fibre (such as the pectin in raspberries) will retain all of its nutritional benefit.
How to use superfood powder
Can you mix superfood powders?
Our pure, single ingredient, superfood powders are easy to mix together to come up with fresh tasting ideas or specific combinations of nutrients. Just be sure to stay within the individual dehydration guidelines for each specific powder. It is pretty impossible to overdose on fruits and vegetables but a little goes a long way.
How to make superfood powder taste good.
Many superfood powders taste great already. Fruits such as mango, or berries, taste pretty much the same as they do when fresh. Vegetable smoothies, especially green smoothies, can take a bit of getting used to even when made using fresh produce. Using a powder doesn’t change that, so you may need to get a little creative.
How much superfood powder in a smoothie?
It all depends whether you want to simply boost a smoothie that has been made with fresh produce, or reconstitute a larger amount of powder in order to substitute the fresh produce. Amounts vary depending on the powder in question so it is best to go by the individual guidelines.
Does superfood powder expire?
As a food product, all superfood powders will have a best before date. Whilst they don’t expire exactly, they will slowly degrade over time and their nutrient content will diminish, especially once opened. That said, they will be good for several months at least, just take care to reseal it well once open as the powders will absorb moisture and be exposed to oxidation.
On the flip side, fresh produce begins to lose its nutrient value the moment it is harvested. Even before it begins to break down and become inedible it has lost a good percentage of its vitamin and mineral content. A banana in the fruit bowl will probably last a week, max.
Fruit powders
The difference between fruit powders and fresh fruit
Although fruit powders retain many of their nutrients they have a very different composition to fresh fruit. Nothing can replace the sensation of biting into a ripe peach and juice dripping down your chin, or the scent of the seasons first strawberries. There are many reasons for enjoying food, and not all of them are nutritional.
But fruit powders do have certain advantages. They have a longer shelf life, for more convenience and less waste. They are also easy to prepare and exceptionally versatile.
What can you do with fruit powder?
- sprinkle on porridge
- mix into milk or yoghurt
- add to your homemade granola mix
- stir into your baking (including frosting)
- stir into ice cream
- mix into spice blends and dry rubs
- add to your herbal tea blends
- stir into salad dressing (mango is great)
and of course…smoothies!
Explore our range of fruit powders
Vegetable powders
Are powdered vegetables as good as fresh?
In the same way that there needs to be a place in the diet for whole fresh fruit, fresh vegetables should be making up a huge percentage of your daily meals. Yet, other than their shelf life and versatility, vegetable powders (especially greens) do have one huge advantage; many, many people quite literally will not eat their greens. Most people enjoy fruit as it is sweet, but there a lot of people that miss out on the nutrients that vegetables offer. It is all too easy to tell people to focus their meals around vegetables, but what if they don’t? Given a choice between beetroot powder baked into a chocolate muffin or no beetroot at all, we know which we would choose.
How to use vegetable powder
- sprinkle over popcorn
- add to soups, stews, curries and sauces
- add to salad dressing
- mix into your muffin and bread mixes (even cake)
- stir into dips
- create savoury spice blends
- stir into rice
- add to scrambled eggs and omelettes
Explore our range of vegetable powders
Greens powders
Greens powders come under the same category as vegetable powders but they deserve a special mention. Greens are the holy grail of the vegetable world, and quite often the one group of produce that we could all do with more of. Eating a bowl of berries is easy, or even a plate of carrot sticks, but working your way through a big plate of greens is another story entirely.
Many commercial greens powders are blends of highly nutritious green foods. Seaweed and algae are top of the ingredients list. A little goes a very long way, which is a good job as they generally taste vile.
Boost Nutrients greens powders are single ingredient powders made from good old Australian-grown greens. You can use them anywhere in your cooking that you might add a handful of greens, and in foods that maybe you wouldn’t. Throw them in a curry sauce, or a soup, or to make your fresh pasta dough green.
Don’t forget, matcha is a powerful green superfood powder too!
Protein powders
Protein powders are slightly different from superfood powders in that they are designed to provide little other than additional protein. Some foods are considered superfoods because of their levels of protein, or the amino acids they provide, but these are more likely to be part of a broad spectrum superfood powder than a protein powder.
However, protein powders are a valuable addition to the nutritional supplement arsenal. We do make protein powders (both dairy and vegan) but will not go into further detail in this particular article.
Why not explore our range of superfoods, and even save by buying in bulk today.
This article was reproduced on this site with permission from operafoods.com.au the “Superfoods powders suppliers”.
See original article:- A Guide to Superfood Powders