Your health

Cumin is a warming spice that has been used medicinally in many parts of the world for some years. Research has found that cumin may have benefits such as improving blood sugar control and cholesterol.

This quick and healthy recipe is a fantastic source of protein, carbohydrate, fibre and nutrients.

Each serving of this delicious recipe contains 5 1/2 serves of vegetables. Instead of beef, you could also use tempeh, cut into strips. Tempeh is fermented soy bean cake that looks similar to hard tofu. It has a firm texture and nutty flavour, and all the goodness and health benefits of soy foods including isoflavones to help look after the heart.

For such a tiny seed, chia is quite high in healthy fats boasting more Omega-3 fatty acids than salmon. Omega-3s work to protect the heart by lowering blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and inflammation. Inflammation can put strain on blood vessels and cause heart disease.

A high intake of vegetables (raw or cooked) is the cornerstone of a healthy diet – you literally can’t eat well without them.

Of all the macronutrients, protein is the one that hasn’t received much negative press. It’s loved by all. And for good reason. Protein is the building blocks of almost all our major body tissues – including the heart – and should be consumed daily for overall good health, growth and repair.

Due to the popular low-fat diets of the 80s and 90s, combined with the even more popular high-fat diets of the 2000s (Atkins and later paleo), many people are confused by this hotly debated nutrient: fat.

There is a lot of confusion about carbohydrates and their effect on our health, especially surrounding their consumption and subsequent effect on weight loss, body fat and a person’s risk of developing heart disease. So here is what we really know about carbohydrates, and how they can be incorporated into a healthy diet.

Experts recommend getting in five serves a day, and hitting that daily intake is one of the best things you can do for your long-term health – and your heart.