When you think of Irish food, the word healthy is not likely to spring to mind. But traditional Irish fare contains a surprising amount of good-for-you ingredients, such as vegetables and lean proteins. Even the beer that has become synonymous with Ireland, Guinness, has health benefits.
Ireland's Food Board
The Irish government wants you to know the nutritional benefits of Irish food. To that end, the Irish parliament created Bord Bia, the Irish food board, in December of 1994. The board’s aim is is to serve as a link between Irish food, drink and horticulture suppliers and customers. The board says its objective is "to bring the taste of Irish food to more tables worldwide.” Its website, bordbia.ie, contains a wealth of nutritional information, as well as recipes.
Lamb
If you have ever traveled to Ireland, you have undoubtedly seen the countryside, and often the roads dotted with grazing sheep. Irish stew, traditionally made with lamb, is a staple meal in Irish homes and pubs. Paula Mee, Ireland’s leading nutritionist, reported on the website GreatFood.ie that even though lamb is often thought of as a fatty meat, less than half of the fat is saturated fat. Lamb contains all the normal health benefits of lean proteins: vitamin A, the B group vitamins, zinc, copper, magnesium, selenium, potassium and phosphate, and lamb has the added benefit of being a source of iron. Being a lean protein rich in iron makes lamb an especially healthy choice for women, because approximately 16 percent of women of child-bearing age suffer from iron deficiency, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Potatoes
Potatoes were not a vegetable native to Ireland, but they became not only a staple in Irish cooking, but also an influential factor in Irish history. Irish stew, boxty, champ, colcannon and Dublin coddle are just some of the traditional Irish dishes that use potatoes as either a main or a secondary ingredient. If you think that consuming potatoes gives you nothing but an expanding waistline, you would be mistaken. Potatoes are a source of complex carbohydrates that release their energy slowly, providing fuel for a healthy and active lifestyle. They are cholesterol- and sodium-free and have one of the highest levels of anti-oxidants of all vegetables. Potatoes have more protein than corn and almost twice the amount of calcium. They also contain iron, potassium, zinc and vitamin C, and the skin of the potato is rich in fiber and other nutrients.
Cabbage
Cabbage is an ingredient in many Irish dishes, including the perennial favorite boiled bacon and cabbage. This seemingly insignificant vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin C and folic acid. Cabbage also contains glucosinolates that can slow the spread of colon cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute in the United States.
Guinness
Alcohol products cannot, by law, make any claims regarding health benefits. But American Heart Association and University of Wisconsin researchers suggests that Ireland’s dark brew, Guinness, can reduce the risk of blood clots that cause heart attacks and improve blood flow and pressure. This is because of the anti-oxidant compounds called flavonoids found in the tasty stout. Of course, you do not want to imbibe too much; a pint a day is the recommendation of the University of Wisconsin researchers.
References
- Paula Mee: Nutritious Lamb and using Seasonal Vegetables
- The Journal of the American Medical Association: Iron Deficiency—United States, 1999-2000
- Irish Potato Marketing: Potato Facts and Recipes
- Irish Examiner: A Great Head Start
- Independent.ie: Now ads can't say it but you always knew it: Guinness IS good for you
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