When walking through a supermarket, many people willingly pay a premium for so-called "superfoods" imported from abroad, believingthey have special propertiesand a variety of health benefits.
In fact, local vegetables found at Thai markets are nutritional treasures with benefits comparable to or even exceeding those of imported vegetables, costing only about ten or twenty baht per bunch.
Thairath Online would like to recommend Thai superfoods,which are affordable yet offer benefits equal to imported vegetables.These local foods have properties and benefits that are just as good.
Even kale, which is highly regarded, is outdone by “leiang leaves” and “kale.”
The green leafy queen kale, which costs hundreds of baht, can be perfectly substituted with local vegetables like leiang leaves and kale. These common greens are packed with beta-carotene, calcium, and high levels of vitamin C that rival kale. Stir-frying leiang leaves with eggs or making stir-fried kale dishes not only saves a lot of money but also offers flavors more appealing to Thai tastes than enduring tough leafy salads.
No matter how popular quinoa is, give Thai "Job's tears" a try.
This trendy imported grain that health enthusiasts keep on hand can be easily replaced by Thai Job's tears, which are much cheaper. Job's tears are rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, and excellent fiber that promote long-lasting fullness. They also have medicinal properties that help reduce blood cholesterol. Cooking them mixed with rice or boiling them with a little sugar makes a healthy, easy-to-eat, and budget-friendly dish.
Even the highly praised chia seeds have to give way to “basil seeds.”
Many people pay a premium for chia seeds soaked in water to aid weight loss, but basil seeds costing only a few tens of baht per bag swell in the stomach and effectively cleanse the intestines just as well. Basil seeds are extremely high in dietary fiber, aiding digestion and appetite control effectively. Just adding them to soy milk or iced red syrup creates a delicious, calorie-controlled drink that is also economical.
Popeye’s spinach can’t beat “Thai spinach” from the backyard.
Spinach, often found in expensive cheese-baked dishes, can be replaced with Thai spinach that grows naturally and easily. Thai spinach is rich in iron, folic acid, and calcium, which excellently nourish blood and bones. Boiling it in clear pork soup or blanching it to dip in chili paste offers delicious and complete nutrition without costing hundreds of baht.
Maintaining health with quality food does not always require a high price. By turning to local vegetables, we can enjoy world-class superfoods every day at affordable prices.