Superfood Sunday – Lemons and How to Make the Perfect Hummus

November 10, 2013

 

Did you know that just 1 lemon has more than 100 per cent of your daily intake of Vitamin C?

Yup! Lemons are so underestimated when it comes to nature’s superfoods. They are  a true powerhouse! Rich in potassium, folate, Vitamin B6, thiamin, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous and vitamins A and E – sure enough lemons offer so many amazing health benefits!

 

Why you should start your day with lemon and warm water?

I always start my day by adding ¼ lemon to a glass of warm water and sipping slowly, followed by a glass of room temperature water. I have been doing this for years now, and it really is one of the best ways to start my day. It’s funny how such a simple routine can make me feel so awake, refreshed and energised!

 

 

Here’s a few other reasons why its so good for you:

1. Alleviates inflammation: the vitamin C in lemons helps promotes healing and reduces inflammation in the body and is an important nutrient in maintaining healthy bones, tissue and cartilage. So good for anyone with Crohns or Colitis!
2. Supports the immune system. so rich in Vitamin C, lemons help the body fight colds and flus (which is so important if you, like me, have taken any type of immunosuppressant medication in the past) and also helps the body’s ability to absorb iron.
3. Balance pH levels: lemons are one of the most alkalising foods for the body and a good pH level is essential as too much acidity in the body can be inflammatory and wreak havoc in your body.
4. Aids digestion: lemon water helps cleanse the bowel by flushing out waste more efficiently and stimulates the release of gastric juices, which aid digestion.
5. Antioxidants: lemons are high in antioxidants and help combat free radical damage and also create collagen synthesis which is so great for combating skin ageing!
6. Reduce appetite:  lemons contain pectin, a soluble fibre commonly found in citrus fruits which helps suppress hunger cravings.
7. Detoxifies the liver: lemon water acts as a liver cleanser by assisting in detoxification by purifying and stimulating the liver by encouraging the production of bile, an acid required for digestion.

 

 

How to Make the Perfect Hummus

I am obsessed with hummus. I always use to buy pre-packaged store-bought hummus, but was getting increasingly frustrated with the amount of preservatives contained in each container. So one day I decided to make my own. I was beyond surprised with how easy it was to make and how good it tasted! Better than the pre-packaged variety if I do say so myself 🙂  I also love knowing exactly what goes into it, and I control how much of ingredient to my liking! It’s also so much cheaper to make it yourself – win!

I hope you like this recipe as much as I do. It makes the perfect snack with chopped vegetable sticks, or spread over rice cakes. You can even add it to salads or quinoa for the perfect flavour-enhancer!

 

INGREDIENTS (makes 1 small bowl)

400g soaked organic chickpeas (1 tin)

juice of 1/2 lemon

2 Tbps olive oil

1 Tbsp tahini

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 tsp paprika

5 basil leaves

2 Tbps water (depending on how creamy you like it)

Salt and pepper to taste

Simply place all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth. It’s that simple!

Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

 

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