This Summer Head to the Produce Isle to find some High Protein Veggie Options!

We at Serious Foods are serious about our protein so we were delighted to come across this post at Women's Health Magazine. This summer don't feel pressured to crush that hamburger in order to get your protein fill. Check out these veggies that boost high amounts of protein along with great taste and nutrient content!

Peas 
Each half-cup contains three and a half grams of protein. 

Spinach
You'll find three grams of protein in a half cup of spinach. 

Baked Potato
Another stealth source of protein? Potatoes! A medium-sized one contains three grams. Try one with some fun healthy and delicious toppings - Double your protein intake with some Broccoli and Cheese on top! 

Broccoli
Broccoli's not just filled with fiber (2.6 grams per half cup)—it's also a great source of protein, with two grams per serving.   

Brussels Sprouts
These little green guys get a bad rap, but they're actually nutritional superstars: Each half cup packs two grams of protein, along with 247 milligrams of potassium and 110 micrograms of vitamin K.  

Corn
OK, we know that corn is technically a grain. But you can find it in the produce aisle—and you'll be glad to know that half a cup of kernels provides two grams of filling protein. 

Cinnamon - A Hidden (Nutritious) Gem.

Cinnamon is the brown bark of the cinnamon tree. And though, for many, it offers a sweet nostalgic aroma and adds a warm taste to a menu, cinnamon actually packs a pretty powerful punch when it comes to nutritious value and health benefits. Check it out:
The health benefits of Cinnamon:

• Anti-Clotting Actions: Cinnamaldehyde (also called cinnamic aldehyde) has been well-researched for its effects on blood platelets. Platelets are constituents of blood that are meant to clump together under emergency circumstances (like physical injury) as a way to stop bleeding, but under normal circumstances, they can make blood flow inadequate if they clump together too much. The cinnaldehyde in cinnamon helps prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets. (The way it accomplishes this health-protective act is by inhibiting the release of an inflammatory fatty acid called arachidonic acid from platelet membranes and reducing the formation of an inflammatory messaging molecule called thromboxane A2.) Cinnamon's ability to lower the release of arachidonic acid from cell membranes also puts it in the category of an "anti-inflammatory" food that can be helpful in lessening inflammation.
• Anti-Microbial Activity: Cinnamon's essential oils also qualify it as an "anti-microbial" food, and cinnamon has been studied for its ability to help stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi, including the commonly problematic yeast Candida. In laboratory tests, growth of yeasts that were resistant to the commonly used anti-fungal medication fluconazole was often (though not always) stopped by cinnamon extracts. • Cinnamon's antimicrobial properties are so effective that recent research demonstrates this spice can be used as an alternative to traditional food preservatives. In a study, published in the August 2003 issue of the International Journal of Food Microbiology, the addition of just a few drops of cinnamon essential oil to 100 ml (approximately 3 ounces) of carrot broth, which was then refrigerated, inhibited the growth of the foodborne pathogenic Bacillus cereus for at least 60 days. When the broth was refrigerated without the addition of cinnamon oil, the pathogenic B. cereus flourished despite the cold temperature. In addition, researchers noted that the addition of cinnamon not only acted as an effective preservative but improved the flavor of the broth.
• Blood Sugar Control: Seasoning a high carb food with cinnamon can help lessen its impact on your blood sugar levels. Cinnamon slows the rate at which the stomach empties after meals, reducing the rise in blood sugar after eating. Researchers measured how quickly the stomach emptied after 14 healthy subjects ate 300 grams (1.2 cups) of rice pudding alone or seasoned with 6 grams (1.2 teaspoons) of cinnamon. Adding cinnamon to the rice pudding lowered the gastric emptying rate from 37% to 34.5% and significantly lessened the rise in blood sugar levels after eating. Cinnamon may also significantly help people with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to respond to insulin, thus normalizing their blood sugar levels. (See More on this HERE)

Thank you to The George Mateljan Foundation for the facts on Cinnamon.