Last Updated on 26 December 2024 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Each month we explore interesting and lesser-known or used plant-based foods from around the world. This months focus is the Middle East.
Home of vegetarian favourites like falafel, tabouli and hummus, cuisine from the Middle East enriches plant-based eating with fresh ingredients and refreshing flavours. This month we focus on carob, sumac and pomegranate, which all have a level of intensity that makes for being star ingredients in a recipe. Carob is truly the answer to cacao in the Middle East, with an equally impressive nutritional profile and less need for sweetening. Simultaneously, Sumac is a spice that takes any savoury dish to the next flavour level. Pomegranate has a long history and scientists have placed it in the first five positions in the list of the oldest cultivated fruits, along with the olive, grape, date palm and fig. (1) The most versatile of the three ingredients, which can be utilised in savoury or sweet dishes, it is also the most well researched for its medicinal qualities.
Make sure you check out this month’s featured Middle Eastern recipe here and feel inspired to add these ingredients to your pantry essentials.
Carob
Carob is commercially available as a chocolate alternative mixed with cocoa butter and also found in powdered form. Carob pods are an excellent source of dietary fibre and polyphenols and contain low amounts of fat. An ideal cocoa and cacao substitute since the pods do not contain caffeine and theobromine; they are also an excellent potassium and calcium source. (2) There are many different health benefits associated with carob, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and antidiarrhoeal.
The high proportion of polyphenols present in carob fibre differentiates it from other dietary fibre sources and its high polyphenol content carob stands out as a predominantly insoluble and practically non-fermentable dietary fibre. Add the powder to smoothies, bliss balls, use cacao in recipes and enjoy as a chocolate alternative.
Sumac
Sumac in its natural state is actually a fruit, and just like the majority of spices, the berries are used in powdered form. (3) Widely used as a condiment, it can be used on its own or in combination with other spices,(4) such as the popular spice mix za’atar, and sometimes in dukkah. (5) The berries’ bioactive compound has been shown to have a long list of therapeutic properties including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiemetic antidiarrhoeal, antiviral and hypoglycaemic potential. (4, 5)
This versatile spice is widely used in rice and vegetable dishes as well as in salads (like fattoush) and even desserts and the spice is so popular and versatile that sumac is even used like salt and pepper are consumed in the West(5) as an addition to the meal when serving. To get started using sumac in your household, try a fattoush salad where the sumac shines in the dressing.
Pomegranate
You may have tried pomegranate in some form such as the fruit (arils) or juice, but the chances are that it doesn’t frequently feature in your diet. Apart from fruit and juice, pomegranate is available in various forms such as molasses and as an ingredient in jams, jellies, sauces, salad dressings, and vinegar kinds. Anardana, which is the powdered form of pomegranate seed, is used as a form of spice. (6) Here is all the encouragement you need to get inspired to use pomegranate and given the therapeutic values it displays, with good reason.
Pomegranate is a potent antioxidant, so is it any wonder that it displays several health benefits including preventing and treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol, oxidative stress and hyperglycemia. (6) It is demonstrated that certain components of pomegranate such as polyphenols have potential anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic (anti-cancer) effects.(6)
Pomegranate is beneficial to the reproductive system(6) and in many religions and cultures is thought to be an auspicious symbol of fertility. (4) Consumption of pomegranate juice could increase sperm concentration and motility and other parameters associated with improved male reproductive health. (6)
Nutrition Fruition (Middle East)
A healthy plant-based diet incorporates various foods that provide real nutritional value, versatility and medicinal virtues. Sourcing new ingredients and trying new recipes takes a little effort. Still, the fruits of your labour will result in full-flavoured food to enjoy time and again – that new recipe today could become a family favourite tomorrow!
Want to learn more? We have these Blogs that may also interest you. Click HERE or HERE or HERE
Our Amazing Naturopaths at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Shella Hall (Sunshine Coast and online)
Amy Angus (Wavell Heights and online)
Jen Strachan (Cannon Hill and online)
Nicole Odlum (Wavell Heights and online)
Dominique Johanson (Wavell Heights and online)
Locations We Service – Naturopathy
Naturopath Caloundra
Naturopath Wavell Heights
Naturopath Cannon Hill
Naturopath Sunshine Coast
Naturopath Brisbane Northside
Naturopath Brisbane
Naturopaths Brisbane
Brisbane Naturopaths
Naturopathy Brisbane
Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopath Near Me
Relevant Naturopath links
Why You May Wish to Consult a Naturopath
Gut Health
- Gut Health
- Solving Gut Issues by Treating SIBO
- SIBO Test Brisbane
- Daily Ritual Gut Health
- 6 Digestive Problems that Cause Weight Gain
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 1: Digestive Markers
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 2: Microbial Markers
- Gut Health with Parasite Cleanse
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Controlling Constipation and Bloating
- How Stool Testing Helps Find the Causes of IBS and Other Digestive Health Problems
- Gut Health Brisbane
- Gut Health Specialist Brisbane
Hormone Health and Thyroid Issues
- Hormonal Health and Thyroid Issues
- PCOS and the Insulin Connection
- Identifying Insulin Resistance
- Looking at Luteal Phase Deficiency
- Experiencing Painful Periods? Here’s What Might Be Causing It
- When You Suspect You Have Thyroid Issues
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism: When You Suspect You Have a Thyroid Issue
- Thyroid Disorders from a Naturopathic Aspect
- Thyroid Health for the Winter Months
- Thyroid Disease: A Brief Guide to Common Disorders
- Naturopathic Thyroid Specialist Near Me
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
- Thyroid
- Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease
Detox and Cleansing
- Heavy Metal Toxicity: Strategies for Detoxing
- Detoxing Your Lifestyle, Not Just Your Body
- Heavy Metal Detox for Kids
- Naturopathic Detox Cleanse
- Naturopath Detox
- Do I Need a Heavy Metal Detox?
- Heavy Metal Detox Australia
Insomnia and Sleep Health
- Save Your Sleep with What You Eat
- Insomnia Linked to Mineral Deficiency
- Solving Insomnia: Naturopathy’s Five-Step Solution
- 5 Ways Insomnia Can Affect Your Life and What You Can Do About It
- Natural Treatment for Insomnia
- Naturopathic Remedies for Insomnia
Autoimmune Conditions
Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Treating Depression with Naturopathy: What You Should Consider
- A Naturopath’s Guide to Improving Mental Health
- Naturopathic Anxiety Medication
- Naturopath Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): How a Naturopath Helps
- Pyrrole Disorder
Women’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Naturopath Women’s Health
- Women’s Health Week: It’s All About Women’s Wellness and Wellbeing
- Treating Vaginal Thrush the Natural Way
- The Lowdown on Low Libido
- Regulating Menstrual Cycles with Chaste Tree
- Painful Periods and Naturopathy
- Preventing Post-Pill Acne
Fertility and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Pre-Pregnancy Fertility Care with Naturopathic Nutrition
- Fertility Naturopath Brisbane
- Acupuncture and Naturopathy for Pre-Conception Care
- Pregnancy Care and Naturopathy
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Getting Quality Sleep in the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Wellbeing and Naturopathy are Great Partners
- Naturopathy for the Management of Constipation During Pregnancy
- Prenatal Naturopath
- Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
- Keeping Calm About Colic
Men’s Health
- Men’s Health
- The Sperm Health Decline
- Better Prostate Health with Natural Medicine
- Naturopathy and Men’s Health
- Support Your Thyroid Health Naturally
DNA Testing
- DNA Testing & Personalised Medicine
- DNA Testing Brisbane
- DNA Testing Brisbane, Australia
- Methylation Test Near Me
- Testing Functional Medicine
- Genetic Methylation Test Brisbane
- DUTCH Test Providers Near Me
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Food Intolerances and Allergies
- 7 Useful Strategies for Overcoming Food Intolerance
- Hayfever and the Gastrointestinal Immune System
- Food Intolerance, Hypersensitivity, and Allergies Explained
- Everything You Need to Know About Food Intolerance
- Food Allergy Testing Near Me
- Food Intolerance Testing Brisbane
- Food Allergy Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing Package
Weight Loss
- Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome Cause Weight Gain? (IBS)
- Naturopathy for Weight Loss
- Natural Weight Loss for Summer
- A Naturopathic Approach to Achieving an Ideal and Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Weight Loss Naturopath
- Kick-Start Weight Loss: 5 Science-Backed Tips
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Naturopath’s Weight Loss Programme
Nutrition and Mineral Deficiencies
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Optimising Nutrition for Skin Health
- The Seriousness of Sugar
- The Importance of Mindfulness and Meditation in Natural Medicine
- Nutrition Deficiency: Visible Body Look Signs
- Helping Cardiovascular Disease in Women
- Sports Nutrition and Your Ideal Protein Requirements
- Creating a Healthy Diet for Good Health and Wellbeing
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Iron Deficiency and Anaemia: When Things Go from Bad to Worse
- Naturopathic Medicine: What You Need to Know
- National Herbal Medicine Week
- The Role of Nutrition and Naturopathy in Wellbeing
