Story courtesy of Dr. Miranda Fellows

In our quest for eating healthier foods, we are advised to eat low saturated fat foods, less sodium, more fiber, more complex carbohydrates and lower calories. The foods that are most promoted are usually the imported ones since more is known about them than out local foods. We may therefore seek out whole grain cereals and breads, fruits such as the American apple, plum and grapes and vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. How do our local foods compare?

Most people know the adage: ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away!’ This is probably because the American apple has fiber to facilitate gut health and rid the body of waste. But do you know that one guava fruit has four times the amount of fiber, slightly more potassium and 19 times the amount of vitamin C as an American apple? In comparison to a whole bunch of grapes, one guava has 25 times more vitamin C, four times more fiber and about the same amount of potassium.

Likewise it would take 15 American apples to supply the vitamin C content of just one West Indian Cherry!

Cranberry juice has become very popular because of its benefits to bladder health. But have you considered the benefits of coconut water? Coconut water has less than half the calories, and with appreciably more potassium than cranberry juice. A glass of cranberry juice will provide about 150-200 calories, while the same glass of coconut water contains only 50 calories while giving 400mg potassium compared to the 60mg from cranberry juice.

For those of you concerned about the sodium content of coconut water, be assured that a single glass will provide only 60mg sodium compared to 700mg in V8 canned vegetable juice. Also, be assured that the coconut water has no fat.

The fat of the coconut resides in the jelly and will thus be found in coconut milk, but there is no cholesterol since the coconut is of plant origin and cholesterol is only found in foods of animal origin. This means that butter has in cholesterol, but coconut milk, like the vegetable margarines is free of cholesterol. Moreover, the traditional way of cooking with coconut milk for flavor is better than using margarine, which is often substituted in porridge, rice and peas and soups. A tablespoon of coconut milk has only 38 calories and 4g fat compared to 111 calories in the same amount of margarine and 11.5g of fat.

Also the fat in coconut is healthier for the body than margarine fats. Two other fats that are often mislabeled are the Ackee fruit and the avocado pear. Neither has in any cholesterol and the fat is monosaturated- the same type of fat that we pay so much for in the olive oil.

Admittedly, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts, like the other vegetables will provide vitamin C, minerals, flavonoids and other phytochemicals but they are no match for callaloo in terms of calcium, iron or vitamin beta carotene. Callaloo has more than four times the amount of iron with more than twice the vitamin A as the American vegetables. The whole grain cereals are indeed a good source of fiber but calorie for calorie our provisions are equally beneficial.

The Irish potato, whole wheat bread, and whole corn provide the least fiber per serving. Those of better value are whole brown rice, green banana and sweet potato providing 1.5g per serving of about 70 calories. Richer still is whole oats at 1.96g, but topping the list is our local breadfruit at 2.45g for a serving of four slices.

So next time you reach for the foreign goods on the shelf, don’t forget our local products are best. For you ex-pat folks, next time you see the Caribbean product, think about doing something different. It may be better for you. Not even considering the amount of toxic sprays, waxes and unnecessary plastic and polyestyrene wrapping that adds to polluting of bodies and our precious ecosystem respectively.

Take advantage of Carib Wellness 25% discount for 25 yrs of independence. Offer for Detox Footbath Cellular Cleanse Therapy! Call today for an appointment 466 WELL or 469 DTOX or 469 2147.