The Mediterranean diet is thought to be one of the healthiest in the world thanks to it including many ingredients that prevent inflammation in the body, keep your heart strong, and reduce your risk for many chronic diseases. A staple you’ll find in this diet is pesto. This savory green sauce not only tastes great, but is good for you too. This article will explore more behind its amazing health benefits.

What is Pesto?

Pesto is a type of Italian sauce that traditionally contains garlic, pine nuts, basil, olive oil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The ingredients are mixed together in a blender to create a thick purée that you can then heat up in a saucepan.

This healthy sauce will sometimes vary in its ingredients depending on the Italian region it’s made in. Some chefs might include lemon juice, pistachios, ricotta, or fennel in their pesto version.

The Health Benefits of Pesto

There are many interesting health benefits that pesto has.

It’s Packed with Antioxidants

Thanks to ingredients like basil and garlic, pesto is packed with numerous antioxidants. This will not only help you to stay healthy, but prevent serious illnesses, like cancer, from developing.

It Can Help Normalize Your Blood Pressure

Pesto can also help to normalize your blood pressure. This is because of the pine nuts and garlic mixed into it which have been proven to help keep your arteries healthy.

It’s a Good Source of Calcium

Parmigiano-Reggiano is a good source of calcium and also contains Vitamin D which not only keeps your bones healthy, but helps your intestines to better absorb vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, and magnesium.

It Keeps Your Heart Strong

Another benefit of pesto is that it keeps your heart strong. Thanks to it containing high amounts of Omega-3, it encourages your heart to function properly which reduces your risk of stroke and heart disease.

Food to Use Pesto In

Pesto can be used in many different types of dishes. Some ideas include:

• Being a sauce for pasta, fish, and meat
• Using it as a salad dressing
• As a substitute for mayonnaise
• As a pizza topping
• A spread for bread

Call The Italian Catering Experts Today!

Viga specializes in catering for any important event or get together, this includes but is not limited to catering for fundraising events, special events, corporate events, parties & drop-off catering throughout the Greater Boston Area. For more information please visit our contact page, or give us a call at  617.482.1112 to see how we can best serve your next business lunch or corporate event!