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Since international travel is still impossible at this point in time, we can only dream about our passport seeing the light of day again and going to all the places in our bucket list.
Our only solace now is to reminisce on our travel photos from the past or dine at a restaurant that serves international cuisines. Better yet, we can also cook our own meals inspired by food from another country, like Italy.
Now, Italian cuisine is interestingly a big part of food culture in Malaysia. We’ve all had pizza and pasta multiple times, and we even have local versions of them. It also happens to be an important part of the Mediterranean diet.
But did you know that Italian food can good for your health? Here’s why:
They use natural ingredients that fight diseases
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Italian cuisine uses a lot of natural ingredients like olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Compared to other cooking oils, it has the ability to fight chronic and degenerative diseases because of the potent polyphenol compounds found in extra virgin olive oil. It’s also loaded with powerful antioxidants to fight inflammation and improve cholesterol levels.
On top of that, balsamic vinegar retains most of the nutrients present in the parent grapes and comprises nutrients like iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus in adequate amounts. So incorporating this in your meals can also reduce risks of heart diseases, slow down the aging process, control diabetes, help digestion, and more.
They have tons of veggies
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Some of the best Italian food is made from fresh vegetables, which includes leafy greens and of course, tomatoes. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K, and folate. Lycopene, an abundant plant compound found in tomatoes, can also be found in the highest concentrations in tomato products, like ketchup, paste, sauce, and juice. This compound helps improve heart health, prevent cancer, and protect against sunburn.
They are high in protein
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Many Italian dishes use healthier white meat and fish, which contain high amounts of protein and low levels of fat as compared to red meats. Cheese is also one of our favourite components of Italian food and it offers high amounts of protein.
Make sure you go for natural cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano instead, which has more protein than most other cheeses. It’s also rich in vitamins and minerals like calcium, vitamin A, vitamins B6 and B12, phosphorus, zinc, and copper.
They consume more grains
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Italian food incorporates a lot of legumes and cereal, a source of healthy eating pattern that’s found often in the Mediterranean. They’re rich in fiber and vitamin B, and can also be a good replacement for meat as a source of plant-based protein.
When you mix legume and cereal the way you would have pasta and beans or pasta and chickpeas, you get a combination of essential amino acids that are comparable to what you find in meat. This is a better diet option that’s good for your gut health and free of cholesterol. It’s also considered anti-inflammatory because it helps control the insulin response in the body.
So let’s start taking notes from Italian cuisine and incorporate the same ingredients into our daily meals. To get authentic ‘Made in Italy’ products in Malaysia, you can find them at HappyFresh!
Through their ‘Eat Healthy, Taste Italy’ campaign, you can get genuine Italian products that’s perfect for those who are interested in the Mediterranean diet as well as Italian food enthusiasts.
Shop for these quality products from the comfort of your own homes now and enjoy the help of a personal shopper, same day delivery, discounts and more.
Download the HappyFresh app now and start stocking up! For more info, visit here.