Your Workout
Nutrition
Summer can taste so good
We love exotic things, especially in the summer. But exotic superfoods often travel a long way to end up on our plates. We’ve already featured regional superfood alternatives in our spring series. In the second part of this series, find out which local alternatives can give you the perfect summer feeling.
Chia seeds vs. flax seeds: the benefits
Before they end up in our food, chia seeds come a long way from South America and from Mexico in particular. Flax seeds, on the other hand, are grown almost everywhere in the world. You don’t have to go very far from your front door to find them, because they’re grown in Thuringia, Saxony and parts of Bavaria in an absolutely regional and climate-friendly way; they’re harvested in July. If you have a green thumb, you can also try your hand at growing flax seeds yourself. All you need is a sheltered, sunny to semi-shaded spot and dry soil in your garden.
You don’t have to sacrifice much in life, because chia and flax seeds are said to have largely the same effects. They:
However, you should be careful if you are on blood thinners or have low blood pressure. Their stimulating effect on your cardiovascular system can lead to interaction with medications. Therefore, you shouldn’t consume more than 15 g of chia seeds per day, and you should talk to your doctor before consuming them for the first time.
Acai berries vs. blueberries
The Amazon region provides an ideal fertile ground for acai berries. Panama, Ecuador and Colombia are among the largest producers of these berries. Blueberries, however, are popular all over the world and are much closer to home. You can also find them in South America – but they’re just as good in Australia, Southern Europe and, don’t forget, right here in North America.
Blueberries are in no way inferior to other berries. They:
Quinoa vs. spelt/oats
Spelt and oats are becoming increasingly popular across Europe and Germany. Maybe it’s also because of the numerous health benefits they provide, which have been (re)discovered over time. After all, why travel all the way to the Andes region to ship quinoa from Peru or Bolivia when you can get a wide variety of grains close to where you live?
All 3 can be used to:
Spelt and oatmeal are true energy suppliers and, thanks to their high iron content, they help your body to better transport oxygen through your blood.
In conclusion:
We all like to travel in the summer – but we certainly don’t need to in order to enjoy superfoods. Because our home country also offers plenty of local, organic superfood alternatives that have the same effects as exotic products that are harder to come by. So, sometimes it’s worth considering nearby farms to support the region and its people and do something good for the environment at the same time. Who knows? You might just find some secret treasures to complement your diet even better than quinoa and its companions.