This Morning chef Shivi Ramoutar has shared why adding a little kick to your meal could boost your health in many ways, including weight loss.
Discussing her new go-to food, the chef said she currently “couldn’t get enough” of spicy kimchi, and loved tucking into it even more so knowing it’s benefits.
Made in various different ways, the traditional Korean side dish consists of different vegetables as the main ingredients along with seasoning of your choice such as; gochugaru (Korean chili powder), spring onions, garlic, ginger, and jeotgal (a salted seafood).
“I just cannot get enough of it,” Shivi admits. “With any lunch I’m having, so if it’s avocado and eggs, a little bit of kimchi, a really spicy one [goes well]. It has that kind of pickle, gherkin, sweet [and] sour tang and the spice.
“Plus, you have the added benefit of knowing that it’s doing something really nice to the inside of your body”.
Explaining why spices are good for you, she added: “I think with all the spices, when you have your cardamom and cumin, those are all anti-oxidant rich, so those things actually count towards your 30 plant and veg a week.
“So, that’s what we should be aiming towards, apparently. I mean it changes every year.
“A sprinkling of spices is really good for your body, I know chilli in particular, vegetables that are red, or brightly coloured, all have different anti-oxidant benefits.
“And also, spices boost your metabolism so that is an element of weight loss, it’s a good ingredient for that.
“But generally speaking, the more diverse a spice is, herbs, vegetables, citrus and olive oils, those things in combination are so good for you, because they’re giving your body a little bit of something different and it is about the diversity.”
While Shivi points out that it’s more of a dietitian’s job to determine the best foods for weight loss, she additionally shared her tips on what to consider as part of a healthy lifestyle.
The chef says it’s all about education when it comes to food and that while she loves a treat including sugary breakfast cereals, such foods should be consumed in moderation.
If out and about and buying food on the go, the Jimmy and Shivi’s Farmhouse Breakfast star urges you to avoid meals that include ingredients you don’t know about.
“If you look at the back of the ingredients list, if you struggle to identify a lot of the ingredients, a lot of the chemical ingredients, if you have no idea what that is, I’d stay away from it,” she advises.
“Its difficult as we’re all busy and we’re all trying to eat as well as we can, and it’s quick and easy.
“As much as possible, eat the brown pasta, the wholegrain rice, all the colours of the rainbow in vegetables and fruits.”
Shivi Ramoutar, TV Chef and Cookbook author. Follow her at @ShiviRamoutar.