Written By: Tania Tarafdar | Published : June 3, 2016 6:56 PM IST
If you have not tried pesto sauce, it is time that you try it to reap all its benefits. Prepared with olive oil, fresh basil, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese pesto sauce can be a healthy addition to your diet. While it is a little dense in calories pesto sauce can offer a wealth of nutrients which other sauces usually lack. So nutritionist Priya Kathpal tells you all good reasons you to eat pesto and enjoy it in moderation.
Basil contains potent compounds that stabilise blood sugar levels. Also, the antioxidants in fresh basil leaves can protect your cells from free radical damage.
Garlic is known for its protective properties and is thus an excellent addition to pesto. Allicin, the important compound in the pod, is known to have excellent antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant properties. Allicin, along with other compounds like ajoene, and alliin, also have a healing effect on your circulatory, digestive and immunological system.
Olive oil is known to lower the levels of blood cholesterol, a primary contributor to heart diseases. It is also high in polyphenols, anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants (tocopherol) which keep your heart healthy.
Pine nuts are a good source of protein and contain healthy fats that are good for your heart health. They also contain essential minerals like potassium and magnesium that aid in lowering your blood sugar levels.
Parmesan cheese not only gives a fantastic flavour to the pesto sauce but is lower in saturated fat than many other types of cheese. So it is entirely okay to consume it in moderation. You can also enjoy these 5 types of cheese guilt-free when trying to lose weight.
Preparation
Most pesto sauces found in the market are high in sodium so make your own at home. To prepare the oh-so-flavourful sauce, blend four peeled garlic cloves, 3 cups fresh basil leaves, 1 and cup pine nuts, 1 cup olive oil and 1/4th cup grated Parmesan cheese together in a blender or a food processor. You can also substitute pine nuts with walnuts. Here's another basil pesto recipe.
As now that you know pesto sauce is completely oil-free it is not to be missed.
Image source: Getty Images
