The importance of eating natural and healthy products and why couscous is one of them

Nutrition has a tremendous impact on overall health. As more people try to stay healthy and maintain their wellbeing, they become aware of the importance of eating natural and healthy products and why couscous is one of them.

If you’ve been a Martino reader for a while, you know that we’re not a fan of grains, sugars and starches, or processed foods and recommend removing them from your diet.

Real food is food that is as close to its natural state as possible.

Real food is packed with antioxidants and nutrients that support heart health, including magnesium and healthy fats.

Eating a diet rich in nutritious, unprocessed foods may also help reduce inflammation, which is considered one of the major drivers of heart disease. Couscous should be part of the diet of everyone because it is a lighter, more nutritional-rich alternative to the popular pasta. It is just as filling but contains half the calories and delivers a number of essential nutrients and minerals. Couscous is a good food for the diet, it is free of harmful substances and increases the sense of satiety: thanks to the high absorption of water, couscous contains little fat and is recommended for those who do sports.

Health Benefits Of Couscous

Including couscous in your diet provides several health benefits. A 1 cup serving of couscous provides 43 mcg of selenium, or 61% of the 70 mcg daily value as well as 91mg of potassium, or 39% of the 3,500 mg of the FDA recommended daily intake. Both minerals are essential to the metabolism of your body and regulate important functions that keep you healthy, balanced and feeling well.

Couscous has multiple health benefits, which we’ll go into further detail below.

Healthy Cardiovascular System

Selenium is one of the most important components of couscous. This element is an integral part of many of the health benefits that are explained here. As a trace mineral that is very difficult to find in food sources, selenium is still essential to the human body. A single serving of couscous has more than 60% of the daily suggested intake of selenium, which means it is one of the richest sources of selenium. Its powerful antioxidant functions help the blood vessels reduce the buildup of plaque and dangerous LDL cholesterol on artery and vein walls. Regularly including couscous in your diet reduces the risk of developing dangerous and life-threatening conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

As mentioned previously, couscous is a good source of potassium, which is another essential nutrient. Potassium plays a part in reducing the contraction of blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure and benefiting patients that are at high risk for various cardiovascular diseases.

Weight Loss Aid

Perhaps the best known-quality of couscous is its low calorie count, which makes it an ideal dietary food. People on diets are often looking for low-calorie substitutes to the food they love, and grains are often turned to because they are filling, relatively easy to cook, and low in calories. Couscous is actually superior to rice and quinoa when it comes to grains as it has less than 200 calories in each cup, which is less than 10% of the daily calorie intake suggested for adults. This makes it the perfect alternative for people trying to lose weight mainly through dieting.

At the same time, the extra protein that couscous provides also makes it a powerful boost for muscle development. Couscous is also very low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat, all of which work against weight loss attempts.

The rich fibre content of couscous acts as a deterrent to the secretion of ghrelin, which is the hormone responsible for the feelings of hunger. A reduction in that hormone means reducing the chances of overeating, which is a common problem for people who live stressful, fast-paced lives and attempting to lose weight.

Antibacterial Properties

Not a lot of people know that couscous has the ability to boost the immune system and has a proven quality as an antibacterial and antiviral agent. It has been shown as a solid deterrent against the herpes virus, cancer cells, cold sores and shingles.

Making couscous part of your diet encourages healthy eating as well as healthy living in general. Turning to low calorie substitutes of your favourite pasta and rice without sacrificing flavour may have seemed impossible in the past, but now there is a way to make that next meal a delicious, better-for-you hit.

Couscous is not only tasty and easy to prepare, but it also offers an abundance of nutrients. This is especially true for couscous that is certified and of high quality with long traditions in how it is milled as with the family-owned Martino company. Because the key to consuming healthy food choices is the way in which the food is prepared, it is important to be able to trace your food back to its humble beginnings. Add one of the couscous products of Martino to your diet today and see if you notice a difference in your weight and health.

Just try a tasty these three couscous recipes and start seeing the difference in your wellbeing:

Creamed broccoli with crunchy couscous and anchovy: very easy to prepare and ideal to serve as a first course, or a delicious aperitif.

Couscous hamburger: made with very few and simple ingredients, ready for your lunch pack every morning.

Couscous cake with Greek yogurt and berries: definitely ideal for the spring days and summer evenings!