Judging from what I've told you so far about my own nutritional preferences, one would easily assume that WanderFoods mainly consists of low- or no-carb dishes. However dramatic a health condition might be, I found it quite impossible to pull through a nutritional regime without any trade-offs: you are finally convinced to take on some additional carbs, because you choose to benefit from something else the dish has to offer instead. And, to be honest, I don't believe in excluding 100% of nutrients: they have a good reason to exist, after all!
This is the case of Telba, a healthy beverage full of fiber, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids which at the same time contains a generous amount of carbs and added sugar.
So why does Telba deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame of WanderFoods?
Telba is a present offered to humanity by the Ethiopian people. Ethiopia is Africa's oldest independent country, and its second largest in terms of population. Apart from a five-year occupation by Mussolini's Italy, it has never been colonized.
Ethiopia has served as a symbol of African independence throughout the colonial period, and was a founder member of the United Nations and the African base for many international organizations. However, the country has suffered periodic droughts and famines that lead to a long civil conflict in the 20th Century and a border war with Eritrea. If you feel like learning more about this exotic destination, you can read a country's overview here.
Telba is a refreshingly creamy beverage made from toasted, ground flax seeds. Flax is the reason why this drink is a rich source of fiber, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), and the main suspect behind an interesting side-effect: it's a mild laxative!
Have you guessed where I'm getting at yet? Shifting your diet towards the minimization of carbs may well support your noble cause in dealing with insulin resistance, but at the same time could lead to the appearance of other issues of a more...delicate sort! This is where dietary fiber comes in.
Dietary fiber is a nutrient generally found in fruits, vegetables, and grains. It's main advantage is the fact that it adds bulk to your diet. And because it makes you feel full faster, it has the potential to help with weight control. Fiber aids digestion and helps prevent constipation. This is the reason it may be used for the treatment of diverticulosis, diabetes, and even heart disease. However, I would always consult with my physician before adding a new nutrient into my dietary habits as a means to cure a condition. That's my two cents on the matter for you.
To continue my ode on dietary fiber, I should mention there are two types: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber attracts water and turns to gel during digestion. This slows digestion. Soluble fiber is found in oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber is found in foods such as wheat bran, vegetables, and whole grains. It appears to speed the passage of foods through the stomach and intestines and adds bulk to the stool. Because there are no miracle foods out there, I urge you to read more about the amazing benefits and potential side effects of dietary fiber here.
To continue my ode on dietary fiber, I should mention there are two types: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber attracts water and turns to gel during digestion. This slows digestion. Soluble fiber is found in oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber is found in foods such as wheat bran, vegetables, and whole grains. It appears to speed the passage of foods through the stomach and intestines and adds bulk to the stool. Because there are no miracle foods out there, I urge you to read more about the amazing benefits and potential side effects of dietary fiber here.
Flax-seed, like many plants, contains high levels of both soluble and insoluble fiber. And the fact that you can easily combine it with numerous ingredients to prepare many different dishes, makes it an appealing choice to make.
Now that I've hopefully convinced you to consider dietary fiber... let's resume focus on our WanderFood!
Preparation
Telba is very easy to prepare. All you need is love...a cup of flax-seed, six cups of water and a one or two tablespoons of honey. Variations exist to match your appetite, like replacing honey with brown sugar, adding cinnamon or salt, but I would rather stick to simple tastes that one can work on, so I won't dig into that. Louisa, author of Lucid Food: Cooking for an Eco-Conscious Life, has prepared a great step-by-step guide on how to make and serve the traditional Telba, and has greatly simplified this post. So support Louisa and visit her step-by-step Telba guide!
No pics were included in this post so far, but I will make amends with this neat video giving you a live aspect of the drink! It's presented as a breakfast beverage, but I would rather give it a go after work to make sure I have all the time I need to relax and enjoy it. And..yum does it look enjoyable! Looks so creamy and is indeed as nutty as it looks!
A brief history of... ingredients: The Flax-seed!
Humans have realized the benefits of flax-seed since the beginning of civilization. A great timeline depicting its history can be found here.
Prior to 5000 BC, Egyptians used to carry flax-seed in their medical bags. Later, Hippocrates stated in some of his writings that flax-seed was a curative for abdominal pains. For more than 8,000 years, flax-seed has been used as a laxative, a plant food responsible for adding and sustaining energy, and for its curative properties. During the eight century, King Charlemagne passed proclamations requiring the consumption of flax-seed to insure the health and well-being of his subjects. If flax-seed history is your thing, read a dedicated article about it here.
Despite its long history, flax-seed is still viewed as a mystery to many. In more recent centuries, flax-seed has been grown across Europe, Africa and North America. However, it along with soy and other plant foods, it's just starting to gain in popularity in the world of nutrition. If you reside in the US, please note that flax-seed is currently not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (a.k.a. FDA).
Prior to 5000 BC, Egyptians used to carry flax-seed in their medical bags. Later, Hippocrates stated in some of his writings that flax-seed was a curative for abdominal pains. For more than 8,000 years, flax-seed has been used as a laxative, a plant food responsible for adding and sustaining energy, and for its curative properties. During the eight century, King Charlemagne passed proclamations requiring the consumption of flax-seed to insure the health and well-being of his subjects. If flax-seed history is your thing, read a dedicated article about it here.
Despite its long history, flax-seed is still viewed as a mystery to many. In more recent centuries, flax-seed has been grown across Europe, Africa and North America. However, it along with soy and other plant foods, it's just starting to gain in popularity in the world of nutrition. If you reside in the US, please note that flax-seed is currently not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (a.k.a. FDA).
Nutritional ID
This is the nutritional analysis of the beverage, as extracted using SuperTracker.
So how about it? Are you ready to indulge in some Ethiopian culture with us? Have you tried it already? Let me know what you think!
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