Selection of Ingredients
Not only do Pitango Fresh Organic Soups and Dips taste fantastic, they are also packed with nutrition. Behind the scenes of making a soup - Pitango carefully selects the finest quality ingredients that go into the soups and have developed strong relationships with organic growers and suppliers to ensure that the best quality organic ingredients go into every bowl of soup served at your table. Take a peek at what's inside your soup!
| INGREDIENT | BENEFITS |
| Beans | low in fat, high in fibre and protein and recent
studies find that the skins contain heaps of antioxidants (naturally occuring
in foods and help to protect the body from chronic aging processes) |
| Lentils | good source of cholesterol-lowering fibre; also
provide excellent amounts of 5 important minerals, 2 B-vitamins, and protein
-- with virtually no fat! |
| Cannellini Beans | good source of vegetable protein, iron, phosphorous,
magnesium, and zinc |
| Chickpeas | excellent source of the trace mineral, molybdenum, which is responsible for detoxifying sulfites. Sulfites are a type of preservative commonly added to prepared foods. Also a good source of folate. |
| Vegetables | high in fibre, antioxidants, chock full of vitamins
and minerals |
| Tomatoes | rich in antioxidant nutrients Vitamins C and A and
the powerhouse of antioxidants - lycopene! Researchers find that cooked
organic tomatoes are higher in lycopene and when mixed with a bit of Extra
Virgin Olive Oil increases its absorption. The Tuscany Ribollita soup is not
only delicious but rich with antioxidants. |
| Leeks | Related to onions and garlic and sharing many of the
same beneficial properties, leeks are a good source of vitamin C, iron and
folate. |
| Carrot | Of course, everyone knows the relationship between
beta-carotene in carrots which promote good vision, but carrots' antioxidant
properties also help protect against cardiovascular diesease. |
| Onion | Like garlic, are rich in powerful sulfur-containing
compounds responsible for their many health promoting effects like lowering
blood-sugar levels and protecting against cardiovascular disease. High in
chromium, a trace mineral which responds to insulin, vitamin C. |
| Pumpkin | Winter squash, particularly which is used in
Ptiango's Fresh Organic Pumpkin & Ginger soup is an excellent source of
vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and a very good source of vitamin C,
potassium, dietary fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, and many B vitamins. |
| Herbs, Spices & Oils | |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | contains a number of phytoesterols (these block the
absorption of cholesterol); Pitango uses Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil that
has been cold pressed, a non-chemical process that extracts oils from seeds
or nuts. This organic oil is unrefined, left in its virgin state after
pressing so the oils are more robust and much richer in nutrients. |
| Tahini | protein rich paste made from ground sesame seeds;
good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, vitamin B1, zinc and
dietary fibre. |
| Ginger | known for its warming qualities that promote
circulation, according to traditional chinese medicine ginger is one of the
six necessities for longevity. |
| Garlic | one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world,
garlic is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, selenium and
manganese; it is also has numerous beneficial cardiovascular effects. |
| Parsley | Excellent source of vitamin C, beta-carotene
(converts to vitamin A in the body), folic acid, and a really good source of
iron. |
| Rosemary | known to contain substances that are useful for
stimulating the immune system, increasing circulation, and improving
digestion. |
| Thyme | Has a long history in natural mediciine in
connection with alleviating chest and respiratory problems. |
| Cumin Seeds | Abundant in Indian, Middle Eastern and Mexican
cooking, this little seed is a very good source of iron and benefits the
digestive system. |
| Coriander Seeds | Known also as a "healing spice" for
centuries in India, recently coriander has been the subject of research in
the US for its cholesterol lowering properties. This is a very phytonutrient
dense herb. |
| Mint | Light and refreshing, commonly used to relieve
symptoms of stomach. |
| Oregano | Very good source of iron, manganese, and dietary
fibre. |
| Turmeric | Best known as one of the ingredients in curry, this
bright yellow spice has been used for centuries in traditional chinese and
Indian medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat many conditions. |
| Chili | Red chili peppers, like cayenne, have been known to
reduce blood cholesterol. Chili's bright red colour indicates its high
levels of beta-carotene and is shown to contain capscasin, which stimulates
the runny nose effect when eating it! It's great for clearing congestion for
this reason. |
| Meats | |
| Chicken | High in protein and Vitamin B3 (niacin); good source
of selenium and vitamin B6; the particular mix of B vitamins in chicken makes
it a helpful food in supporting energy metabolism throughout the day. |
| Lamb | Very good source of protein and zinc. Also a good
source of vitamin B12 which is known for its role in protecting
cardiovascular health.
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