When vacationing in Barcelona, you will no doubt visit attractions such as Plaça Reial, Montjuic, and Las Ramblas to immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture. That said, one of the best ways to get to know a city is by sampling the food it has to offer, and Barcelona has no shortage of delicious dishes to try.
Here’s the trick, though: trying new food can expand not only your palate but your waistline as well. Fortunately, Spain is known for having one of the healthiest cuisines in the world, and a good example of this is their much-loved tapas. What makes them healthy? This article from WebMD.com gives an explanation:
Here’s the trick, though: trying new food can expand not only your palate but your waistline as well. Fortunately, Spain is known for having one of the healthiest cuisines in the world, and a good example of this is their much-loved tapas. What makes them healthy? This article from WebMD.com gives an explanation:
“Smaller plates have evolved in different cultures through the years for many reasons,” says Timothy S. Harlan, MD, who is the well-known “Dr. Gourmet Chef” and author of several cookbooks, including his Heartly Fare. “The most well-known of these dishes may be tapas, which are said to have originated as a complimentary slice of ham placed on top of a glass of wine by bar owners…”
“There are a wide variety of recipes that use fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and anchovies. While these are higher in fat, they contain high amounts of the good omega-3 fats, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.”
Nuts and olives containing healthy fats also predominate in Spanish cuisine, he notes. Similarly, olive oil is the main fat used for cooking and marinating.
“The benefits of monounsaturated fats have been well established in a healthy diet,” he says.
Aside from using healthy ingredients, tapas come in bite-sized portions too—a technique that will help you avoid packing on the pounds. Research has shown that consuming smaller, more frequent meals has many benefits to offer. For one, it gives your stomach enough time to digest food, which in turn gives you the energy you need to explore all of Barcelona’s attractions. It helps regulate insulin as well, one of the hormones that converts food into energy and stores it for future use. Finally, it can boost your metabolism, which helps you stay active for longer.
It is also comforting to know that many tapas restaurants in Barcelona strive to make their offerings healthier. Ziryab, for example, infuses traditional recipes with a Middle Eastern touch to create tasty, yet guilt-free, tapas such as pa amb tomàquet and patatas bravas.
As you can see, eating tapas in Barcelona is not only a great way to mingle with the locals and appreciate the local cuisine, it makes for healthy eating. As such, you can focus your attention on planning your next destination, instead of counting calories.
( Source : Small Plates, Big Health Benefits, WebMD.com )