When walking through a supermarket, many people are willing to pay more for the label "superfood" imported from abroad, believingit has medicinal propertiesand offers a variety of health benefits.
In reality, local Thai vegetables found at weekend markets are nutritional treasure troves with properties equal to or even better than those of imported vegetables, costing only ten or twenty baht per bundle.
Thairath Online would like to introduce Thai superfoodsthat come at a low price but offer benefits comparable to imported vegetables.These local greens provide health benefits just as well.
Even kale, well-known for its qualities, is outdone by “leiang leaves” and “kale cabbage.”
The green vegetable queen, kale, which costs hundreds of baht, can be perfectly replaced by local vegetables like leiang leaves and kale cabbage. These simple greens are packed with beta-carotene, calcium, and vitamin C at levels just as high. Stir-fried leiang leaves with egg or kale cabbage in a vegetable stir-fry not only saves multiple times the budget but also delivers a taste more appealing to Thai palates than enduring tough salad leaves.
No matter how popular quinoa is, try competing with “Thai Job’s tears.”
Chia seeds may be trendy, but they must give way to “basil seeds.”
Many pay a premium for chia seeds soaked in water for weight loss, but few realize basil seeds, costing only a few tens of baht per bag, swell in the stomach and effectively cleanse intestinal waste just as well. Basil seeds have very high dietary fiber, aiding digestion and appetite control powerfully. Just add them to soy milk or chilled red syrup drinks for a low-calorie beverage that’s both tasty and economical.
Popeye’s spinach can’t beat “Thai spinach” growing by the fence.
Spinach, often served in expensive baked cheese dishes, can be substituted with Thai spinach that grows easily in nature. Thai spinach is rich in iron, folic acid, and calcium, excellently nourishing blood and bones. Boiled with minced pork in clear soup or blanched for dipping in chili paste, it’s delicious and nutritionally complete without costing hundreds of baht.
Maintaining good health with quality food doesn’t always have to come with a high price tag. Simply turning attention to nearby local vegetables lets us enjoy world-class superfoods daily at affordable prices.