Combining blueberries, cinnamon, apple, and clove in a breakfast recipe creates a powerful antioxidant-rich meal that’s particularly beneficial during the winter season. Here’s why this combination is so effective:
Antioxidant Powerhouses
Blueberries: These berries are renowned for their high antioxidant content, particularly anthocyanins and other flavonoids. They rank among the highest antioxidant-rich foods, providing a significant boost to your daily antioxidant intake.Cinnamon: This spice is exceptionally high in antioxidants. It ranks near the top of the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scale, indicating its potent ability to neutralize free radicals.
Apples: While not as potent as berries, apples still offer a good amount of antioxidants, especially quercetin. They’re considered second only to berries in antioxidant power among fruits.
Cloves: Surprisingly, cloves contain even more antioxidants than blueberries. In fact, they top the list of antioxidant-rich foods, with the highest mean antioxidant value among spices.
Synergistic Effects
When combined, these ingredients create a synergistic effect, thus enhancing their individual antioxidant properties. The diverse range of antioxidants from different sources may provide broader protection against various types of oxidative stress.
Apple Blueberry Cinnamon Cloves Oatmeal (serves two)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 cups water or unsweetened plant milk
- 1 apple, diced or sliced
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon cloves powder
- Honey or maple syrup to taste
- 1/2 cup seasonal, raw seeds or nuts
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, bring water or milk to a boil.
- Stir in oats and reduce heat to simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Gently add diced or sliced apple, blueberries, clove, and cinnamon; cook for an additional minute.
- Sweeten with honey or maple syrup before serving.
- For a heart-healthy fat ‘boost’, add raw, seasonal seeds or nuts of your choice.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ramesh Bjonnes
Ramesh is the Director of the Prama Wellness Center where lifestyle is considered our best medicine. Ramesh is also a writer, yogi and workshop leader. He studied yoga therapy in Nepal and India, Ayurveda at California College of Ayurveda and is a certified yoga detox therapist from the AM Wellness Center in Cebu, Philippines. He has taught workshops in many countries and is the author of four books, including Sacred Body, Sacred Spirit (InnerWorld) and Tantra:The Yoga of Love and Awakening (Hay House India).
