The Health Benefits of Indian Chutneys
When our forebears crafted recipes, they weren't simply throwing together ingredients that were on hand. They were following ancestral wisdom that had a deeper understanding of food than we do today. Each and every ingredient in our Indian cooking has a purpose beyond just taste. From their individual properties to the way they interact with each other, our food has been carefully prepared to nourish and protect our bodies. And of course, to make sure we lick our plates clean, it helps that our food is incomparably delicious and is carefully handed down from one generation to the next. When we think about good, clean, and wholesome diets, we often overlook the health benefits of Indian chutneys. We're here to shed some light on the unsung goodness of our favourite condiments - chutneys! To begin with, let's look at the health benefits of the various chutneys we enjoy every day.
Mint Chutney Benefits: We most often pair mint chutney with fried foods. Do you know why? That's because mint leaves are invaluable for promoting digestion, lowering inflammation, and relaxing the stomach. What's more, it also helps increase appetite and remedy ailments like nausea.
Coriander Chutney Benefits: Fresh, flavourful and packed with essential Vitamin C, Vitamin K and rich in antioxidants, coriander chutney is great for people with diabetes. It helps decrease blood sugar levels, promote insulin secretion, and also aid with digestion.
Garlic Chutney Benefits: It's easy to partake in a healthy diet when you're fond of Garlic chutney. Its indulgent flavours also contain a variety of nutritional properties. Garlic is rich in antioxidants, which are known to lower the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Garlic chutney is typically also made with coconut, peanuts, and red peppers, which intensifies the flavour and brings more essential nutrients to the table.
Tomato Chutney Benefits: Behind that playful, tangy flavour, there's a lot more depth to the tomato chutney. It contains a bioactive substance called lycopene that plays a vital role in preventing diseases. It acts as a shield, protecting cells from damage. What's more, tomatoes are also rich in vitamins C, B, and E and minerals like potassium. Wholesome in every way!
Coconut Chutney Benefits: There's a reason why coconut chutney is widely prevalent throughout the southern states. Apart from being plentiful, coconuts are rich in fibre, copper, manganese, iron, selenium, and phosphorus. And more importantly, they contain essential healthy fats - medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are significantly healthier than saturated fats found in animal products. So, while not as vitamin-rich as other chutneys, coconut chutney is extremely nutritious. Talk about being a staple!
Peanut Chutney Benefits: Although peanuts are high in calories, they are also high in plant proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Peanut chutney is a low-carb meal option that is prepared with a variety of nutrition-rich vegetables like tomatoes, onions, and garlic. This makes it more filling, nutrient dense, and easier to indulge in!
Ginger Chutney Benefits: Ginger is widely known for its numerous health benefits. A common natural remedy for allergies, asthma, respiratory illnesses, and alleviating all kinds of nausea. Ginger chutney is a great way to enjoy its potent anti-inflammatory properties, which help promote digestion, ease menstrual cramps, and fight the symptoms of arthritis. What's more, it's great for your bones too.
Beetroot Chutney Benefits: As bright and colourful as it is, beetroot chutney doesn’t simply look and taste good, it does a whole lot more for your heart, energy levels, and metabolism. It contains almost all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients we require for a balanced diet. Beetroots play an important role in development, so chutney is a great way to get kids to eat it!
In caseyou don't know how to make chutneys, or don't have time to make them, you can always get authentic 5-Second chutneys from our website!
