This article originally appeared on Health.com
Peanut butter and jelly. Soup and salad. Spaghetti and meatballs. There are a few classic pairings that will never go out of style. But some food duos do more than just excite your taste buds—they could even boost your health. It’s a concept called “food synergy.” While eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods is key for helping your body stay healthy, the idea is that some foods can interact in ways to provide even more value. So stick to eating your favorite superfoods, but know that serving these 11 combos could pack a more powerful punch of nutrition.
Black beans + red bell pepper
Black beans are a good source of iron. Thing is, the iron in plant foods, known as non-heme iron, isn’t as readily absorbed as the iron you’ll find in meat. Approximately, 2% to 20% of the iron in plant foods makes its way into your blood, compared to 15% to 35% from heme animal-based iron. That’s why vitamin C-rich foods, like red bell pepper are important. They can increase the absorption of non-heme iron by six times. Go-to dish: black bean tacos topped with sautéed red bell peppers.
My Vegan Stuffed Bell Pepper recipe show cases the black bean and bell pepper deliciously.
Whole grains + onions + garlic
Like beans, the iron and zinc you find in whole grains have low bioavailability, meaning they get metabolized faster than your body can absorb them. Whole grains contain natural substances that may bind with minerals, which make them less absorbable. But research shows that sulfur-rich foods, such as garlic and onion, could make whole grains even more nutritious. A 2010 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that the addition of garlic and onion to cooked or raw food grains enhanced the accessibility of iron and zinc in both cases. Pair the two by baking onions or garlic right into bread or try adding a generous serving of onions to your sandwich.
For a whole grains, garlic, and onion recipe in one dish, make my Vegan Quinoa and Lentil Chili, you can eat throughout the week!
Tomatoes + olive oil
You already know that olive oil is a heart-healthy fat shown to boost “good” HDL cholesterol and lower “bad” LDL cholesterol that can clog your arteries. When paired with tomatoes, though, it has even more superpowers. A 2000 study in Free Radical Biology and Medicine had people consume tomato products with extra-virgin olive oil or sunflower oil. Researchers found that olive oil raised the antioxidant activity of the lycopene in tomatoes, while no effect was seen with the sunflower oil. There are numerous delicious combinations, including bruschetta, roasted red pepper pesto, or simply sautéing tomatoes in olive oil with garlic and herbs to toss with lean protein and a small portion of whole grain pasta.
My Black Forbidden Rice Salad is a fresh and easy way to get this combination in one bite.
Salmon + collard greens
To get the most out of your calcium intake, consuming enough vitamin D is key. Vitamin D helps absorb calcium from the GI tract into the blood and helps maintain a normal calcium level in the blood. The National Institutes of Health recommends adult women get 600 IU of vitamin D daily. Bare skin exposed to sunlight triggers vitamin D production in your body, but you can also get it by eating certain foods, including salmon. Try grilling the fish over a bed of sautéed collard greens, which just happen to be rich in bone-boosting calcium.
Serve my Miso Broiled Salmon with a simple side of sauteed collard greens for this nutrient rich dinner.
Broccoli + tomatoes
When combined, these two appear to have some impressive cancer-fighting powers. In a 2007 study for Cancer Research, over five months rats were fed varying diets of either broccoli, tomatoes, or both foods. Researchers then tested how effective the different diet combinations were in slowing down the growth of prostate tumor implants. They found that diets containing 10% tomato and 10% broccoli caused a 52% decrease in tumor weights, whereas the diet with just tomatoes saw a 34% decrease and the diet with just broccoli had a 42% decrease. You could toss steamed broccoli with sundried tomato pesto or sauté the florets and tomatoes in olive oil with seasoning.
Add fresh sliced tomatoes to my Broccoli Sprout Wrap and see how tasty this combo can be.
Green tea + black pepper
Forget adding honey to green tea. Research shows you may be better off sprinkling in some black pepper. Green tea already has a special antioxidant called EGCG, which is thought to boost metabolism and protect against cancer. But the key chemical in black pepper, known as piperine, could make EGCG work even more efficiently. In a 2004 study for the Journal of Nutrition, researchers injected mice with either a combination of EGCG and piperine or EGCG alone. They found that piperine increased the absorption of EGCG, so it wasn’t broken down as quickly in the blood stream. Don’t want your tea to have a spicy kick? Use the pair to soak meat or seafood. Brewed tea with garlic, ginger, and black pepper makes a perfect marinade.
Try my Green Tea Poached Chicken and garnish with a generous sprinkling of fresh cracked pepper.
Turmeric + black pepper
The piperine in black pepper works with more than one food. You may have heard turmeric called the healing spice. That’s because it packs a powerful antioxidant, curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibacterial agents. Thing is, curcumin gets metabolized quickly before it can be fully absorbed. If you pair the turmeric with the piperine, it improves the bioavailability of curcumin by 1000 times. Prepare a chicken dish that’s made with turmeric and add a little black pepper.
You can take a supplement with turmeric and black pepper or try incorporating dishes like my Creamy Curried Lentil Soup or try my Coconut Curried Lentils with Roasted Kale Chips.
Brussels sprouts + olive oil
These mini-cabbages pack several key nutrients, including vitamin K. It regulates blood clotting in our bodies and it also may be helpful for bone health. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it’s best absorbed in a meal that contains fat. That’s where the olive oil comes in. It mostly contains monounsaturated fats, which are thought to help lower your risk of heart disease. Prep these two by lightly sautéing the veggies in olive oil. You’ll boost your intake of vitamin K and keep your heart happy too.
My Brussels Sprout Slaw with Hazelnut & Date is the perfect use of these two ingredients.
Kale + almonds
Another veggie chockfull of vitamin K is kale, but the superfood is also a good source of vitamin E, an antioxidant that boosts our immune systems and protects against cancer and heart disease. “Some research suggests it could also be good for healthy skin. But like vitamin K, vitamin E is fat-soluble, so you’ll need a nutritious source of fat to increase its absorption. Almonds make a good partner for the veggie as the nut is full of monounsaturated fat. And pairing the two couldn’t be easier. Topping a kale salad with slivered almonds. Bonus: Almonds have both vitamin E and are a healthy fat, so it’s a win-win.
An easy way to get your Vitamin E, Vitamin K intake is with my Trout Almondine over Warm Kale Salad.
Dark chocolate + apples
This pairing won’t just satisfy your sweet tooth. Together, dark chocolate and apples have the potential to improve cardiovascular health. In their skins, apples—red delicious especially—contain the flavonoid quercetin, which acts like an anti-inflammatory. On the other hand, the cocoa in dark chocolate is rich in catechins, an antioxidant that helps prevent the hardening of arteries. When paired, they have been shown to help break up blood clots.
Pair my Swoon Worthy Chocolate Vegan Pudding with apple slices for a double dose of good for you sweetness!!
Garlic + salmon
Garlic is one way to make your fish more flavorful. Together, the two foods may also work to decrease your risk of heart disease. A 1997 study in the American Journal of Nutrition tested the effects of the pair on men with high cholesterol. In the groups who consumed 900 milligrams of garlic and 12 grams of fish oil, total cholesterol levels and LDL levels decreased by 12.2% and 9.5% respectively. That’s great news since too much cholesterol can clog up your blood vessels and impair blood flow. It’s possible combining both garlic and salmon in a meal may offer similar benefits. Next time, try cooking up your fish with a little garlic.
My Miso Salmon with Garlic recipe is easy to make and packs in the benefit of both!
