Keep up with latest in food and beverages, find out how to make a time-honoured breakfast favourite and learn how to eat your way to better hydration.
Words: Chitra Santhinathan
HYDRATE FOR HEALTH
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How much water is enough to keep us sufficiently hydrated? The old rule of eight glasses a day is a good guide, but it does not refer to just drinking plain H2O. In fact, because water is a dietary component present in foods and beverages, it is possible to boost hydration from a variety of sources. The amount of water each person needs depends on individual body size, levels of physical activity and other factors, including age and nutritional requirements. To boost your water and vitamin intake, fill up on these hydrating fruits and vegetables, rated by their percentage of water content.
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CUCUMBER Weighing in with an extremely high water content is the humble cucumber. Eat it plain or blitz it with yoghurt, mint sprigs and ice cubes for a cool cucumber soup. Cucumbers also contain vitamin K, which helps boost bone strength.
ICEBERG LETTUCE While not as nutritionally dense as its darker cousins, iceberg lettuce is great for hydration. Use it in salads or sandwiches. If you can’t get your hands on iceberg lettuce, butterhead and romaine lettuce are close substitutes.
TOMATO Toss raw tomatoes in salads, use them to make sauces or soups, or pop them in your mouth as an excellent hydrating snack. These juicy fruits contain the cancer-fighting antioxidant lycopene.
CAULIFLOWER This cruciferous vegetable is not only high in water but also packed with vitamins and phytonutrients, which studies suggest may have cholesterol-lowering and cancer-fighting properties.
WATERMELON Cited in a 2009 study by the University of Aberdeen Medical School as being able to hydrate more effectively than water due to its essential rehydration salts (calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium), watermelon is also a rich source of lycopene.
Source: www.health.com; www.europeanhydrationinstitute.com
QUENCH YOUR THIRST
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Guests onboard Malaysia AirAsia flights can now enjoy healthy fruit juices and sports drinks that contain no artificial flavours, colouring or preservatives. The beverages – produced by Dubai based beverage manufacturer SunBlast – include SunBlast’s 100 per cent orange and 100 per cent apple juices from the brand’s Organic range and Hello Kitty Apple Strawberry juice packs for kids, as well as sports drinks like Rehydrate (Grapefruit & Lime) and Recharge (Blueberry & Raspberry) that are naturally sweetened with fructose. www.airasia.com
MORE THAN A GROCER
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Besides the usual fresh fare you’d expect to find in a grocery store, Jaya Grocer’s new store at gateway@klia2 (adjoining Malaysia’s klia2 airport) stocks ready-to-eat meals, from mee goreng (fried noodles) and pasta to salads and sandwiches. Equally enticing are the offerings at its in-house restaurant, Fresco, where shoppers can have their in-store purchases – be it succulent seafood or juicy meats – cooked on the spot! Jaya Grocer gateway@klia2 opens daily from 6.00am to midnight. www.jayagrocer.com
SEE ALSO: Live To Eat!
FOR NEW MOMS AND MOMS-TO-BE
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BetterBump is a dietician-designed maternal nutrition bar for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Each delicious bar is packed with nutrients essential for expectant and nursing mothers, which include a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fibre, as well as prebiotic and folic acid. With a low glycemic index and no added sugar, this convenient treat is a nutritious snack for women at any stage of their pregnancy and even after giving birth. www.betterbump.com.au
MUCH ADO ABOUT MUESLI
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Ever wondered about the origins of Bircher muesli? This breakfast staple – now an ubiquitous offering at hotel breakfast buffets – dates back to the turn of the 20th century. Bircher muesli was created by Swiss physician and whole foods pioneer Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner at a time when meat was regarded as the predominant source of nutrition. Going against the flow, Dr. Bircher-Benner championed the benefits of a diet rich in cereals, fruits and vegetables. Among his prescriptions for good health was Bircher muesli – a concoction of oats, milk, grated apples and lemon juice. The pre-packaged muesli that many of us grew up with was, in fact, inspired by Dr. Bircher-Benner’s original creation! Try your hand at making Bircher muesli with a contemporary twist by experimenting with different ingredients.
SEE ALSO: A Fresh Foodie Start
LANGKAWI TROPICAL BIRCHER MUESLI
INGREDIENTS
- 200 grams plain full cream yoghurt
- 200 ml fresh coconut milk
- 100 grams freshly ground hazelnut powder
- 100 grams finely chopped macadamia nuts
- 100 grams finely chopped walnuts
- 100 grams finely diced fresh pineapple
- 10 grams rolled oats
- 2 soup spoons pure honey brown sugar to taste
METHOD
1) Mix all the ingredients together.
2) Refrigerate the mixture for a couple of hours or overnight in an empty coconut that has been prepped for the purpose and serve with a wedge of lime. Note: Divide into smaller portions and chill in small bowls if desired.
*Recipe courtesy of Chef Hans Gorsler, Executive Chef at the Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, Malaysia
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