What is a Superfood? (& why do we use them?)
At Queen Street Bakery, we love Superfoods. In fact, we love them so much, we use them as the base of every single one of our products. But what exactly does “superfood” mean, and why do we use them? We will be covering all of that and more in today’s blog post from Queen Street Bakery’s Nutrition team.
WHAT IS A "SUPERFOOD"?
The term “superfood” is generally used to describe nutrient-rich foods that can provide health benefits. While there is no specific set of criteria required to classify a food as a superfood, this broad term is generally used to refer to foods that have a higher level of nutritional benefits, covering a wide range of foods from greens to grains and beyond.
We use the word “Superfood” on all of our products to let you know that we thoughtfully select high quality, nutrient-rich ingredients as the foundation of everything we make. Some people slap “Superfood” on anything that has so much as a single blueberry in it – but not us. We take our superfoods seriously, because we believe that healthy bread is possible if you use the right ingredients. Hello bread with benefits.
So on that note, let’s breakdown the superfoods we use and the functional nutritional benefits they give our breads.
OUR SEEDS
CHIA SEEDS
These humble little seeds are our hero ingredient. We love using chia wherever we can, and for good reason. The mighty chia seed has 3x the iron you’d find in spinach, 5x the calcium of dairy milk, and 8x the Omega-3s of salmon. They are also loaded with protein, fibre, and antioxidants. All of this incredible nutrition means that chia seeds can help lower blood sugar response, promote gut health and improve immune health, as well as lower your risk for heart disease.
I’ll give you a second to read that again. Alright, back with us? Now you can understand why we love these little seeds so much, and why we put them in (pretty much) everything. Chia seeds can also absorb up to 10 times their weight in water, making them the perfect ingredient to add a moist, soft chew to our breads and bagels.
It’s no surprise that chia seeds are a key ingredient of ours, and we use them heavily (instead of just sprinkling them on top for a bit of texture). Our Chia Classic Loaf features chia seeds as the 1st ingredient (after water), which is part of the reason why you get a good dose of fibre, Omega-3s, and calcium in every serving.
WHERE WE USE CHIA SEEDS:
- Chia Classic Loaf
- Chia & Flax Seed Superfood Bagels
- Cinnamon Raisin Superfood Bagels
- Everything Superfood Bagels
FLAX SEEDS
These hearty seeds pack a powerful punch of nutrition. High in fibre, protein, and antioxidants, with twice the calcium of dairy milk and 5x more Omega-3s than salmon, these seeds help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, while reducing risk of diabetes, stroke, and more. Not to mention, we grow them right here at home – Canada is the world’s largest flax producer and exporter.
We can’t help but be impressed with all the nutrition Flax has to offer, which is why we feature these seeds in so much of what we make.
WHERE WE USE FLAX SEEDS:
OUR GRAINS
MILLET
Millet seeds are a nutrient-rich and gluten-free grain, packed with essential nutrients such as magnesium, with fibre and antioxidants to help improve digestion, support heart health and blood sugar regulation. They provide a delicious crunch when left whole, and add a flavourful and nutritious boost to all of the breads and bagels we make.
WHERE WE USE MILLET:
- Chia & Flax Seed Superfood Bagels
- Cinnamon Raisin Superfood Bagels
- White Bean & Millet Seed Loaf
- 1-For-1 Superfood Baking Flour Box
SORGHUM
Sorghum is a nutrient rich grain that boasts more antioxidants than blueberries, a rich source of fibre and protein with vital nutrients like iron. This impressive nutrition profile means sorghum can help to improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and lower cholesterol, all while adding a slightly nutty flavour with a deliciously chewy texture. We feature sorghum in *literally* everything we make, so you know how much we love it!
WHERE WE USE SORGHUM:- Artisan Long Buns
- Artisan Hamburger Buns
- Chia Classic Loaf
- Chia & Flax Seed Superfood Bagels
- Cinnamon Raisin Superfood Bagels
- Everything Superfood Bagels
- Superfood English Muffins
- White Bean & Millet Seed Loaf
- 1-For-1 Superfood Baking Flour Box
OUR BEANS
WHITE BEAN
White beans, known for their creamy texture and mild flavor, are an underrated superfood brimming with healthful nutrients. These legumes are an excellent source of nutrients like twice the plant protein of quinoa, with 9x more fibre than wheat flour, as well as magnesium and phosphorus for bone building. White beans can help to improve heart health, and blood sugar control, while providing a soft texture to your favourite Queen Street Bakery breads.
WHERE WE USE WHITE BEANS:
- Artisan Long Buns
- Artisan Hamburger Buns
- Chia Classic Loaf
- Superfood English Muffins
- White Bean & Millet Seed Loaf
FAVA BEAN
Fava beans (also known as Broad beans in some parts of the world) are bursting with fibre, plant-based proteins, and a variety of vitamins and minerals to provide benefits like promoting digestive health, support a healthy immune system, and aid in reducing high blood pressure. With a buttery texture and nutty taste, these beans add a delicious flavour and texture to our Everything Superfood Bagels like no other.
WHERE WE USE FAVA BEANS:
Superfoods are responsible for giving our breads their benefits, which is why we love using them so much. Try them for yourself to understand the hype!