What’s Hot! The “old” vs. “new” food trends

March 28, 2008

Acai is the new pomegranate
Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is a Brazilian berry original from the Amazon Region that is considered one of nature's most complete and healthy foods. Acai is a palm tree that grows in the North of Brazil. It is known by the native people (indigenas) as "içá-çai", which means "fruit that cries".
Many actually call it a "super food". The acai berry is loaded with antioxidants, anthocyanins (approximately 20-30 times the amount in red wine), amino acids, essential fatty acids (all the beneficial fatty acids that are in olive oil to help lower LDL and maintain the good HDL) fibers and protein.
Its antioxidant concentrations outweigh that of blueberries. Acai contains a healthy dose of plant sterols, another class of phyto-chemicals that have been shown to reduce cholesterol, protect the immune system, and relieve prostate enlargement.

The cardiovascular benefits of acai are the most well known; studies show that anthocyanins can help prevent blood clots, improve blood circulation, relax blood vessels, and prevent arthrosclerosis. Some recent studies from the University of Florida indicate that acai may even fight cancer cells by blocking carcinogenesis on a molecular level and encouraging tumor cell death.

Naked Juice Purple Machine - is part of Naked Juice's Superfood Family and is a blend of açai berries, purple plum and concord grapes. If offers purple fruit antioxidant benefits from vitamins A, C and E. Naked Juice has 4 products that contain açai berries, but Purple Machine is the most loaded – with 178 açai berries! suggested retail price of $3.69 for a single 15.2 ounce bottle.

Bison is the new beef

Buffalo (American Bison) were the Plains Indians primary food source and once numbered in the tens of millions; but by 1900 they were nearly extinct with only 13 live American Bison left, all in the Yellowstone Park area. Today there are over 300,000 buffalo with about 280,000 being raised on private ranches.
While Buffalo meat tastes similar (slightly sweeter) to a high quality cut of beef, Buffalo meat stands out as being much higher in nutrition (as do all game type meats). In fact, buffalo has less cholesterol than chicken with the skin removed or even most fish. Bison's nutritional profile includes 60-80% less fat than beef (depending on the cut), 35% less cholesterol, 30% higher in protein, 69% more iron, no hormones, steroids or antibiotics and there has not been any cases of E coli.
Research on the health benefits of eating bison has been published by many major universities, (Cornell, U. of Utah, U. of South Dakota, Penn State, even the U. of Bristol in England) and they all confirm that Buffalo are very high in the essential fatty acids and have an excellent ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 acids and contain CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) which is an Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, a "good fat" that enhances the body's ability to promote a healthy metabolism.

Garbanzo is the new edamame
Garbanzo Beans or chickpeas are the most widely consumed legume in the world. Originating in the Middle East, they have a firm texture with a flavor somewhere between chestnuts and walnuts. The "Chick pea" and "garbanzo bean" are the same thing.
Like most beans, garbanzo beans are rich in the best sort of fiber - soluble fiber - which helps to eliminate cholesterol from the body. They are a useful source of folate, vitamin E, potassium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and calcium. As a high-potassium, low-sodium food they help reduce blood pressure.

CaliFresh Garbanzo Beans – Fresh green garbanzo beans, a highly popular Hispanic delicacy, have not been available in US markets until recently. Now available year round in 8oz ($2.29) and 16oz ($3.49) microwaveable consumer bags, great for snacking, a side dish or as a cooking ingredient.

Grapeseed is the new olive oil
Grapeseed oil is a polyunsaturated oil and can be used to fry, bake, sauté, or use in salad dressings. It is actually made from the seeds of grapes (Vitis viniffera), and this byproduct of winemaking has become a sought-after oil for cooking because of its high smoke point (320ºF.) and its clean light taste some call neutral, others find nutty. It blends well with herbs, spices, garlic, and shallots. Most grapeseed oil is imported from France, Italy or Switzerland with a few brands now emerging from the U.S. winemaking areas.
High amounts of Omega 6 (linoleic acid) appear in grapeseed oil (69-78%) and helps the body burn fat and increases energy. The oil contains modest amounts of Omega 9 (oleic acid) and traces of omega 3 (alpha-linolenic acid, GLA (gamma-linolenic) fatty acids, and there are trace amounts of vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene. Health reports indicate that HDL levels can be raised and LDL levels reduced by including grapeseed oil as a regular part of one's diet.
Look for 'cold pressed' oils, this process will not compromise nutrients and many (myself included) believe the taste of the oils to be crisper and cleaner flavor.

Stevia is the new Splenda

Stevia Rebaudiana is an herb in the Chrysanthemum family which grows wild as a small shrub in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. The glycosides in its leaves, including up to 10% Stevioside, account for its incredible sweetness, The FDA's position on Stevia is somewhat ambiguous. In 1991, citing a preliminary study, the FDA blocked the importation and sale of Stevia in the U.S. Then, in September of 1995, the FDA revised its import alert to allow Stevia and its extracts to be imported as a food supplement but not as a sweetener. Stevia can be found as a prepackaged replacement for sugar and artificial sweeteners. It has been used in various food products, including the Japanese sugar-free versions of Wrigley's gums, yogurts and even diet Coke. Last year, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal, Coca-Cola filed 24 patent applications for a new calorie free natural sweetener made from Stevia tentatively called Rebiana. Stevia leaves are reported to be 10-15 times sweeter than table sugar. The refined extracts of Stevia called steviosides (a white powder, 85-95% Steviosides) claim to be 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar.

SweetLeaf Stevia - SweetLeaf offers Stevia products in packets, liquid and tablet form. The 50ct box of packets and tablets are $6.99 each. The 2oz flavors and SteviaClear liquids are $13.98 each.

North Carolina is the new Napa
In a front page article July 11, 2007 in the San Francisco Chronicle, Noah Diffenbaugh, (an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue University) cautioned that Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara counties' grape growing industries at the end of the century would be eliminated due to Global Warming. And while most of us may not be concerned about which wines we may be drinking in 2100, winemakers in North Carolina are hoping to get a running start.

North Carolina actually ranks as 10th for grape and wine production in the U.S. with 61 wineries. Medoc Vineyard, North Carolina’s first vineyard was founded in 1835. The Piedmont area of North Carolina has the potential for growing the superior varieties of grapes necessary for creating world-class wines. The area with its combination of the temperate climate, a long growing season and the gravelly- clay soil are the key natural features.

Posted on Tuesday 4/1 by Kristin
In your last issue, you had an interesting piece on St. Patrick. I was amused to note that you said he wasn't even Catholic, he was a Protestant. At the time of St. Patrick, there were no Catholic or Protestant, this was a couple hundred years before the Protestant Reformation. Everyone was just Christian. I do enjoy your columns, and look forward to every new one. Thanks

Kristin McCabe

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