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The 10 most popular health food trends of 2017

The 10 most popular health food trends of 2017
Posted at 1:16 PM, Mar 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-25 13:17:20-04

 Everyone knows fruits and vegetables are nutritious, but the trends in eating healthy come and go, changing as often as the seasons. Emergencyemail.org put together a list of the most popular health food trends of 2017 so far.

 Bean Pastas: this can be a good choice over refined flour pasta. Grain-free bean pastas are healthy and satiating, not to mention high in protein. Plus there’s tons of fiber – something most Americans are deficient in. In fact, less than 3% of us get our recommended daily allowance. There will be plenty of varieties of bean pastas on the shelves, including edamame spaghetti, black bean rotini, chickpea fusilli, and lentil elbows.

 Seaweed and Sea Vegetables: seaweed chips are showing up a lot lately in grocery stores. Seaweed is gaining in popularity because of its enticing umami flavor, which diners are used to tasting in soups, salts, finishing oils, and sauces. Other greens, such as kelp, are also on the rise of popularity. You’ll get all the iodine, B12, and potassium you need with these unique greens.

Fermented Foods:  fermented foods are on the rise. That means kimchi, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables. Many people are buying into these foods for their gastrointestinal benefits because of their probiotic properties.

Golden Milk: Golden milk (or golden lattes) is a drink that is made with turmeric, ginger, coconut oil, black pepper, honey, cinnamon, and unsweetened plant-based milk, such as almond milk. This drink is a big trend because of the increased desire to be on an anti-inflammatory diet.

Ancient Grains: unless you’ve been living under a rock the last year, you’re familiar with the rise of quinoa. Well, new healthy grains are getting the spot light this year, too. Teff is a grain high in protein and fiber with a unique texture.

Alternative Sugar: "Alternative" does not mean "artificial" here. Some companies are just beginning to substitute white sugar with others such as coconut or date sugar. Each of these sugars tastes slightly different from the next, but they all seem intriguing.

Jerky: careful with this one. Just because it’s a trend doesn’t make it healthy. Many times extra preservatives are added during the processing, so make sure you read the ingredients. While jerky has always been around, we're seeing new options like grass-fed, lamb, and even salmon.

Grain Bowls: you have total creativity with this one. You can put anything you want in your custom bowl. Start with your favorite grain, then throw in a leafy green and a layer of veggies. You can even put in a can of beans or some potatoes for a hearty option. Finally, top it with some seasoning or sauce and you’re good to go.

Whole Food Plant Based: plant-based eating is picking up steam and for good reason. Not only does it provide significant health benefits, including weight loss, increased heart health, and management and sometimes the reversal of diabetes type 2, but it has positive effects on the environment as well. There are plenty of ways to get off track with all the new processed vegan foods available now, but eating a variety of whole foods is the best way to go.

Tumeric: Turmeric is found in a lot of Indian recipes, and its most potent ingredient, curcumin, is a very healthy compound. Turmeric-spiced foods and drinks are popping up everywhere, as well as the need for this spice in recipes.