Those who have eaten hummus know it is a wonderfully delicious dip. It’s also a fantastic healthy food that is made with fresh ingredients, including chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans), sesame seeds, tahini, fresh lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil. So, what are some of the benefits of this type of healthy eating?

It Regulates Digestion

You can get 50% of your daily fiber from one cup of chickpeas. Getting a sufficient amount of fiber means that you can regulate your digestive tract, so this is a great food for anyone who suffers from digestive issues. Additionally, fresh lemon juice seems to be helpful in aiding healthier digestion since it is so rich in Vitamin C.

It’s a Good Source of Antioxidants

This dip contains a significant amount of antioxidants. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants, which makes it a healthy food for those dealing with bodily inflammation. Eating plenty of antioxidant-rich food might even lead to the preventing of inflammatory diseases like heart disease.

Garlic is also rich in antioxidants. In fact, studies show that garlic works to reduce high cholesterol, prevent heart disease, and reduces the risk of getting dementia later in life. Garlic also works to protect against cell damage from free radicals that get ingested when we inhale oxygen into our bodies.

It Helps to Strengthen Bones

Made from ground sesame seeds, tahini is high in calcium. One tablespoon of tahini constitutes 6% (or 64 mg) of your daily calcium intake. A hummus recipe generally requires somewhere around 1/4 of a cup of tahini. Tahini is also rich in phytoestrogens, which have been shown to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Fresh lemon juice is another ingredient that helps with bone strength. It is rich in Vitamin C, which helps the body absorb calcium. Similarly to tahini, lemon juice has been shown to be effective in helping to prevent osteoporosis.

It’s Allergy-friendly!

If you have rampant food allergies or sensitivities, chances are that you will be able to consume this amazing dip without a problem. If you cannot eat gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, nuts and peanuts, or fish and shellfish, don’t worry! You will not find any of those pesky allergens in this food. Although some packaged dip might contain allergens and cross-contaminates, this dip can be made at home with totally allergen-free ingredients, and you will not have to worry about any possible cross-contamination when you prepare it at home.

Additionally, a lot of the foods that can be dipped are also allergy-friendly, such as carrots, cucumbers, black bean chips, and sugar snap peas all taste great when dipped. Also, salsa (which, too, is naturally gluten- and dairy-free) mixes well as a dip.

If you enjoy healthy eating, try making your hummus at home with these fresh ingredients. It’s easy to do, and there are many recipes available online that you can follow. You might find yourself somewhat addicted to this wildly popular and super-healthy scrumptious dip!

At Aladdin Cafe, we love a good meal and enjoy seeing others savoring Middle Eastern food and vegan food. We also understand the benefits of eating healthy.

Managing a healthy diet isn’t about limiting food or staying thin. It’s balancing that pizza with foods that maximize energy, improve mood and minimize health risk. What we eat has a significant influence on not just our physical but our emotional and mental well being.

Healthy choices doesn’t necessarily mean giving up foods. It means being aware of what goes in our bodies. We know it’s not as easy as it sounds. We love to eat as much as the next guy. But we also think about healthy eating, such as adding one salad a day to our diet. You’ll find once you get in the habit of making healthy choices, you’ll see the results and be more conscious of making healthy choices.

Here are a few tips to help with that.

Get in the habit of reading labels. Manufacturers know most consumers don’t. Consumers have no idea of the huge amounts of sugar and unhealthy fats these companies put into packaged foods.
Eat more foods with fewer trans fats. It doesn’t always have to be fried chicken. From time to time, go with grilled fish seasoned to taste. Be aware of the refined carbs you ingest. These are infamous contributors to risks like heart disease and so many of us consume them beyond healthy boundaries.

We spend too much time concerned with calories, obsessively counting them to the decimal point so that we can eat a donut. We’ve come to believe that’s healthy, when truthfully, denying ourselves regular portions of food isn’t always the best option if you haven’t been advised by a doctor. Instead of counting calories, simply make healthier choices. Look at foods in terms of variety, freshness and color. Avoid processed and packaged foods.
This cannot be stressed enough: drink water. Water is natural and flushes the system of all the toxins and waste that otherwise gestate. Low energy, headaches and consistent lethargy can be symptoms of dehydration. On top of this, many people often see thirst as hunger and end up eating unnecessarily. If you find yourself hungry — especially if you’ve eaten within the last two hours — drink a glass of water and see if the desire passes.

Be aware of your mood after you eat. Consumption of junk food might feel satisfying, but it can drain you of energy and make you uncomfortable and nauseous. Healthy foods won’t do this. Aladdin Cafe is all about healthy, fresh and premium quality meals. Whenever you eat with us, you make a healthy choice.

If you are looking to stay fit and healthy, then you probably know the importance of having well-balanced meals at lunchtime. However, most of us lack the option of healthy food, with many of us resorting to highly processed or unhealthy fast food. Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant in San Diego, California is one of the few restaurants in the area that understands the importance of having healthy dietary options when it comes to a healthy diet.

Meals at lunchtime are significantly important because the type of food you eat during this time will have a direct impact on your overall health. Eating unhealthy food such as processed and greasy food predisposes you to lifestyle diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Studies have found that skipping meals during lunch time to lose weight will ultimately have the opposite effect for a majority of people. Having healthy, balanced meals during the day is more effective for weight loss and improving overall health. The meals at Aladdin are prepared with this in mind and the chefs are always looking to add healthy options to the menu.

Aladdin’s main offering is Middle Eastern food, which is one of the main dishes that make up the famous Mediterranean Diet. These types of food normally consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and other foods rich in calories and healthy fats. The food at Aladdin is also specially prepared with healthy herbs and spices instead of salt, which helps manage blood pressure.

Many nutritionists emphasize the importance of having a healthy lunch that offers a balance between the five major food groups: lean proteins, grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. At Aladdin Cafe, the menu is designed to accommodate these food groups to ensure you eat healthily. One of the menu items at Aladdin, the famous hummus topped with either lamb or chicken shawerma, offers the largest proportion of healthy food groups in the restaurant. The meal incorporates beans tahini, fresh lemon and garlic, olive oil, and chicken or lamb. When served with one of Aladdin’s freshly made in-house salads or desserts, this meal is bound to leave your taste buds thoroughly satisfied.

Apart from the hummus, Aladdin also offers other options for a healthy lunch. You can choose from different types of wood-fired pizzas, exotic rice plates, sandwiches, and up to twelve different types of entrees. These can be accompanied by lentil soup, herbal tea, or a variety of regular or sugar-free drinks for refreshment.

Aladdin also serves healthy vegetarian food for customers that have specific dietary restrictions. The restaurant also prepares vegan food on request, with the chefs at Aladdin always keen to ensure vegan and vegetarian meals are healthy. If you would like to deliveries made at home or for your office, Aladdin offers catering services to ensure you can still enjoy a healthy lunch outside its premises. Corporate catering is also offered for clients that would like to have meals served during meetings or other corporate events.

When planning your meals, always ensure to eat a healthy, balanced diet for meals during lunchtime.