The Health Benefits of Australian Natural Food: What Makes It Unique?

Australian food products can be healthy, with plenty of options available. The key is to read the ingredients list carefully and avoid any foods with added sugar, artificial sweeteners or preservatives.

Aussies claim the vanilla slice (although Kiwis have their own version), while a cheese and bacon roll is an Aussie lunchbox classic. Emu meat is also popular, and has a few times the iron content of beef. Discover more at Founder lawsuit.

Vegemite

Vegemite is a dark brown savory spread made from brewer’s yeast extract and flavored with vegetables. It has a distinctive flavor and cult following and is carried around the world by Aussies as a way to remind themselves of home.

It has a salty, bitter taste that can be overwhelming for people who are unfamiliar with it. It is also fortified with B vitamins, including thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin.

The savory spread has become so popular in Australia that it is in nine out of ten pantries. It can be slathered on toast or eaten with cheese for breakfast, lunch, or tea. It is now available in a gluten free and low FODMAP certified version, so that more Australians can enjoy it. This product has 40% less salt and still provides the same great taste you know and love.

Fruit & Vegetables

Fruit and vegetables provide important vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals which are thought to help prevent disease. Most Australians need to eat more fruit and vegetables to improve their health.

Fruits are the seed-bearing structures in flowering plants whereas vegetables are the edible parts of non-flowering plants like roots, stems, leaves and bulbs. However, the botanical and culinary classifications are often used interchangeably in our daily lives.

For example, most people would call tomatoes a vegetable but technically they are fruits. Aubergines, a popular Australian ingredient found in curries, are also technically fruits but they are usually treated as a vegetable.

The Australian dietary guidelines recommend adults eat 5 serves of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit every day. Try to include a variety of foods in your meals and snacks to get the full benefits of these foods.

Meat & Poultry

Lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts/seeds and legumes/beans are an important part of Australian meals and culture. Foods from this food group are protein rich and provide a range of other nutrients such as iron, zinc and essential fatty acids. When eaten in moderation, these foods can help to meet the nutrient requirements of adults and children. However, foods from this group tend to be higher in saturated fat, salt and added sugars than other foods.

Poultry refers to birds such as turkey, chicken, ducks, quails and geese, which are taken for human consumption. It is generally leaner than red meat, and it also contains less saturated fat than most cuts of pork or beef. However, like all meats, it should be carefully cooked to avoid food poisoning and over-indulging in too much fat.

Fish & Seafood

The ocean/sea is full of many different foods including fish, shellfish and seaweed. Fish and seafood are important for our health as they provide protein, omega-3 fatty acids that our bodies cannot produce and other essential vitamins and minerals.

A variety of fish are available to consumers including salmon, tuna, cod, herring and mackerel. They are a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids which can help lower the risk of heart disease. Fish also provide calcium and phosphorous to keep bones strong. Other popular seafood include prawns, crab, lobster and mussels. Edible seaweed and microalgae are also seafood products. Aquaculture is a common method of raising edible fish and other aquatic animals like shrimps and mussels in ponds. This was invented by the Gunditjmara people of Australia over eight thousand years ago.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are a rich source of healthy fats and a variety of vitamins and minerals. They are a good choice for those who want to lose weight, lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

They can be consumed on their own as a snack, or used to make nut butter and other foods. They also provide a nutritious addition to a variety of main dishes and salads.

These exotic, high-quality nuts are grown from trees of the macadamia genus, which are native to Australia. They are also known as Queensland nut, bush nut, maroochi nut, Bauple nut and Hawaii nut. Macadamia nuts contain the highest percentage of fat among all edible nuts, with 72% of its calories coming from fat and a large proportion of it being unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). These are thought to be beneficial for various health outcomes.