Cyprus traditional food & Health Benefits
If you ever eaten dishes prepared in many Asian countries, you will perceive that there are something spectacular about Cyprus traditional foods.
Cyprus traditional foods are flavourful, tasty and possess abundance of nutrients as well as phytochemicals owing to the fresh ingredients, herbs and spices obtain locally.
It is believed that Cyprus dishes are heavily influenced by Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern cuisines.
Whether you consume a whole bowl or a serving of Cyprus traditional foods, they provide enormous benefits to the body such as immune Boosting, heart health, energy production etc.
This article will explain Cyprus traditional food & Health Benefits
1. Halloumi
Image source: flickr
Halloumi is a cheese prepared with a mixture of goat’s and sheep’s milk. Halloumi has a salty taste and an unmatched texture that enables it to be grilled.
However, you can serve Halloumi as an appetizer or use in preparing other dishes.
You stand to obtain vital nutrients if you consume Halloumi adequately. Examples of nutrients in Halloumi are calcium, phosphorus, protein, iron, selenium, zinc, copper, vitamin E, vitamin D.
2. Souvlaki
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Souvlaki is traditional food, made from a marinated pork, chicken, or lamb. It gives an aromatic flavour because souvlaki is seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs.
Some indigenes of Cyprus eat souvlaki with pita bread, tzatziki sauce and salad, tomatoes and onions. Tzatziki sauce is made yogurt, cucumber and garlic.
Souvlaki contains various nutrients and bioactive
compounds such as protein, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, selenium, lycopene, flavonoids, quercetin, fat soluble vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A.
3. Kleftiko
Image source: flickr
Kleftiko is a popular Cypriot food prepared with lamb. The lamb is marinated with garlic, lemon juice, and various herbs.
Kleftiko is known for numerous medicinal benefits owing to the nutrients and phytochemicals in it. This includes, iron, protein, calcium, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, selenium, zinc.
4. Moussaka
Image source: flickr
Moussaka is a baked food made with eggplant, lamb, tomatoes, onions, as well as béchamel sauce.
Moussaka is power house of nutrients and phytochemical such as B vitamins, lycopene, flavonoids, iron, selenium, potassium, magnesium, dietary fiber.
5. Tzatziki
Image source: flickr
Tzatziki is a popular sauce in Cypriot cuisine. It is extensively consumed in other regions because of it’s taste and cultural beliefs.
Tzatziki is made from yogurt, grated, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, and herbs like mint or dill. You Mey also eat Tzatziki with grilled meat.
A serving of Tzatziki earn you a substantial amount of nutrients like dietary fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, Vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, selenium among others.
Cyprus traditional food Health Benefits
Promote heart health: people diagnosed with health related problems may add some Cyprus foods as they contain antioxidant, omega-3 fatty, vitamin E which help moderate heart health. Ingredients like garlic, onions, turmeric, lemon juice, and herbs are source of these nutrients.
Maintains Eye care: Many of Cyprus foods features carrots, dark green vegetables, which offers you huge amount of Beta-carotenoid, a precursor of vitamin A. Vitamin A is recognised for it role at preventing and treatment of eye defects.
Reduce growth of cancer: Opting for Cyprus traditional food helps inhibit cancerous growth, owing to their natural compounds such capsaicin, flavonoid, quercetin and selenium.
Enhence skin & Hair Health: As an excellent source of antioxidant and protein help control and eliminate acne, blemish, dark spot among others. Some ingredients used in making Cyprus dishes like saffron, turmeric, chicken, goat, serve as anti aging agent.
Energy generation: people consume Cyprus dishes to obtain energy for daily activities. Energy is required for walking, writing, speaking, hence consumption of Cyprus traditional food earn you substantial amount of calories.
Promote Immune Boosting: They serve as immune booster owing to the abundance of nutrients and phytochemical such as dietary fibre, protein, vitamin A, Vitamin C, selenium, iron, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, quercetin, lycopene, and flavonoids
Conclusion
Cyprus traditional foods superb, prepared from locally sourced ingredients and offers vital nutrients.
This enables them provide a wide range of health benefits.
Cyprus traditional food & Health Benefits:
Tzatzik, Moussaka, Kleftiko, Halloumi among others.
