Article by Bioglan Superfoods
Let’s face it, the nationwide shift to country lockdown and the imposed working from home, has brought about many life disadvantages, however, there is one thing that has worked in favour and that is many of us have gained back vital time in our day.
Previously we would have been feeling the strain of our morning commute and with them comes the feelings of rushed time and stress. Most of us are all too familiar with that feeling of arriving at our desk off-balance because we’ve been jostled on the tube, held up in traffic or most likely, been rained on.
A recent survey by nutritional supplement brand Bioglan Superfoods considered the change in breakfast habits since the UK’s lockdown response to Covid-19 and 83% of participants recognised that they have more time in the mornings since the shift to working from home and staying in.
With many gaining back this precious time, there was also an increase in numbers of those who ate breakfast. Those who chose to eat breakfast every day increased by 5% and there was a 10% increase in those who chose to eat breakfast a few times a week as opposed to occasionally or never at all.
For years, experts have told us that eating breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but only 62% of those surveyed admitted that they did this whilst at work. With so many of us previously skipping this vital meal as a result of time constraints, discovering new recipes and ensuring that all-important first meal of the day is nutritious and delicious is never more important.
And it seems that’s exactly what many have been doing, as almost one in four noted that their breakfasts in the past week, since lockdown, has been different to the breakfast they would have had during a normal working week, with cooked breakfasts (including pancakes, eggs and fry ups) and smoothies, now most in favour.
With more of us now having the time to enjoy breakfast, there’s never been a better time to think carefully about what we’re eating and how it supports our bodies’ normal function through key nutrients. Adding a sprinkle of superfoods to your meal can make all the difference, and Bioglan Superfoods has been formulated to offer us an easy and versatile way to supplement our meals with even more essential nutrients to help us all throughout the day.
It can be as simple as pimping your smoothie, porridge or pancakes with added berries to give yourself a natural high-fibre morning energy boost whilst also working to support the immune system, giving our bodies a helping hand.
Some of the essential nutrients that are important to wellbeing include:
Vitamin C – Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is often viewed as a common cold superhero. While we don’t know its effect on helping fight of Covid-19, it’s never a bad thing to be totally topped up on this one. Found in a variety of foods from berries to oranges to broccoli, it’s an essential nutrient for contributing to the normal function of the immune system and nervous system, as well as contributing to collagen formation in the skin.
We need around 40g of Vitamin C every day, and unlike some nutrients, Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body. Topping up on Vitamin C every day is the only way this vitamin will be of benefit to our immune system.
Manganese – Manganese has strong antioxidant properties which can help to reduce disease risk by protecting against free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage to cells in the body, speeding up ageing, making us prone to heart disease and some cancers. It’s clear to see how this micronutrient is important, but it also plays a fundamental role in helping the body to metabolise nutrients so we can feel the most benefit. After all, we want every bite we eat to boost our bodies.
Folate – More commonly known as Vitamin B9, not only helps to maintain a healthy immune system but is also key in helping to make healthy red blood cells which carry all-important oxygen from the lungs to the bodies tissue. With this, Folate helps keep a healthy heart and its ability to convert carbs to energy fights fatigue so that we can feel our best selves.
The team at Bioglan Superfoods have incorporated these key nutrients into their delicious Superberries powder which can be added to smoothies, recipes and bakes for a nutritional boost.
Recipe: Protein Waffles with Superberries Sauce With Beauty Protein and Superberries
Serves 4
30 Minutes
Ingredients
For the waffles:
• 225g plain flour
• 25g Beauty Protein
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 50g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 320ml of milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Superberries sauce:
• 250g mixed fresh or frozen berries
• 1 tbsp Superberries
• 1 tbsp icing sugar
Method
1. Start by preheating your waffle maker. Stir together the flour, Beauty Protein, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl until well combined.
2. In a separate bowl or jug, beat the eggs and add the milk and vanilla extract. Pour this into the dry ingredients and whisk until you have a smooth batter. Set aside.
3. For the Superberries sauce, add the berries to a small pan and cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes until the berries have broken down and you have a thick syrup. Add the icing sugar and Superberries and stir until dissolved.
4. To cook the waffles, ladle some of the mixture into the machine and cook until golden brown. Once cooked, serve immediately with some of the Superberries sauce poured on top.
The full range can be found at www.bioglansuperfoods.co.uk along with a whole host of recipe ideas.
