Are you looking for a delicious and nutritious food to add variety to your diet? If so, heart of palm might be what you’re looking for! This unique ingredient is the edible inner core of the stem of various palm species. It is most often found canned in salads or cooked as a side vegetable.
Heart of palm offers many nutritional benefits that can improve overall health and well-being, while bringing great flavors and textures to plates around the world. In this article, we are going to tell you why heart of palm is good for you and all the health benefits it can offer. Read on to learn more about this amazing plant-based delight!
The heart of palm: its nutritional value.
100 g of heart of palm provide:
- 48 calories.
- 1g of protein.
- 0.2 g fat.
- 11.2g of carbohydrates.
- 2.8g fiber.
This can be an important dietary source of essential minerals like: potassium, phosphorus, iron and zinc, all necessary for normal growth and development as well as maintaining a healthy immune system.
Palm heart is also rich in vitamins A, C and B-complex, such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, which act as cofactors in the body’s metabolic processes. Plus, it contains carotenoids such as beta-carotene, which help convert vitamin A in the body, a nutrient needed for eye health and vision.
Finally, hearts of palm contain phytonutrients that have been linked to a decreased risk of chronic diseases, including certain types of cancer. All of these elements make this vegetable a nutrient powerhouse packed with essential nutrients that can help promote overall well-being while adding delicious flavor to any dish!
Here are the top reasons to eat hearts of palm every day.
-
To promote weight loss.
Regular consumption of hearts of palm can support weight loss efforts due to its low calorie content and rich nutrient profile. 50 g of hearts of palm contains only 15 calories, but more than 3 g of dietary fibre. Which keeps you full longer between meals, while curbing the cravings that typically lead to overeating or unhealthy snacking habits throughout the day. This makes it an ideal snack for anyone looking for ways to manage weight without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.
-
To support your heart health.
Consuming hearts of palm daily may help improve heart health thanks to its impressive nutrient profile and healthy fat content. This vegetable contains more than 10% monounsaturated fat, 3% polyunsaturated fat, 0% trans fat, as well as important omega-3 fatty acids which play a key role in promoting cardiovascular health by reducing the rate of cholesterol and improving circulation throughout the body.
-
For preparing a variety of dishes.
With its mild flavor, versatility and practical benefits – hearts of palm can be eaten raw as a snack or added to salads, or even cooked in various dishes such as soups and stews. It’s no wonder so many people incorporate this superfood into their daily diet!
-
For better intestinal and digestive health.
Regular consumption of heart of palm helps regulate digestion by increasing stool bulk and regulating intestinal transit time so that food passes through the intestines faster and more efficiently. Additionally, it helps normalize the balance of healthy gut bacteria by replenishing beneficial gut bacteria to maintain balance in the colon.
Finally, its high dietary fiber content acts as a prebiotic, increasing the absorption of important micronutrients for your body’s needs and creating healthy fatty acids for optimal energy use during activities like exercise.
-
To fight anemia.
Heart of palm is an excellent food for people with anemia due to its high mineral content. It can help increase the number of red blood cells in the body and replace lost iron levels, thereby boosting your energy levels.
Research suggests all of the minerals in heart of palm help to boost the immune system and build resistance to fight off anemia-related infections. Also, the high amount of complex carbohydrates found in heart of palm help maintain a healthy digestive system, which aids in the absorption of nutrients that help prevent and manage anemia-related issues.
Remember: always consume the heart of palm with a source of vitamin C.
One of the most important nutrients provided by heart of palm is iron. This mineral plays an important role in the transport of oxygen throughout the body and helps reduce the feeling of fatigue. By consuming heart of palm with a source of vitamin C, such as citrus fruits or bell peppers, your body will be able to absorb iron more easily, allowing you to reap all the benefits of this food. In addition, vitamin C also plays a role in maintaining the health of the cardiovascular system. So you can take advantage of the combined effect of these two nutrients to improve your overall health.
