How much do you know about Carrots?
Carrots are native to Afghanistan. Red, black yellow, white, purple - these were the colors that carrots started out with. Carrots were everything but orange. Carrots were first cultivated in Afghanistan in the 7th century, and they started with a yellow flesh and a purple exterior. These varieties of carrots contained anthocyanin pigments. The yellow, and eventually orange varieties of carrots were developed in the 16th and 17th centuries, they contain no anthocyanin pigments, but rather carotenoids which are responsible for the yellow and orange color. The carrot was brought by colonists to the New World, where it escaped into the wild and was known as Queen Anne's Lace.
Here are some moreInteresting facts about carrots:
- Carrot skins contain 10 percent of all nutrients found in carrots.
- There are two main types of cultivated carrots: Eastern/Asiatic:
- Texas , Wisconsin and Minnesota are the large producers of carrots.
- Have you ever see the round variety of carrot about the size of a beet? They have the same taste as regular carrots.
- The USDA completed studies showing that 7 ounces of carrots consumed every day for three weeks lowered cholesterol levels by 11 percent.
- Carrots should be kept away from apples and tomatoes as these fruits give off higher amounts of ethylene gas and may make the carrots bitter.
- The tops of carrots should be removed before storing them in the refrigerator. Tops will drain the carrots of moisture, making them limp and dry.
- The carrot is a member of the parsley family which includes over 2,000 species such as dill, cumin, chervil, caraway, fennel, anise, parsnip and celery.
- Carrots contain more carotene than any other fruit or vegetable - they have lots of vitamin A which is good for bones, teeth, vision, and the skin.
- A Carrot is one of the most healing foods and provides the finest and highest quality in nutrients, especially from its juice. It is an excellent source of pro-vitamin A, vitamins C, D, E, K, B1 and B6. It is rich with biotin, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, organic sodium and some trace minerals.
Some Health Benefits:
- Carotenes: the famous ingredient in carrots is an anti-oxidant that has powerful healing virtues for many diseases. Drinking a glass of carrot juice daily will do much more for you than many bottles of supplement tablets. Here are some disorders that can be helped by drinking carrot juice regularly:
- Acidosis: The vital organic alkaline elements in carrots help balance the blood acidity and blood sugar.
- Acne: Its powerful cleansing properties are effective in detoxifying the liver, thus overall effective for acne which is caused by toxicity of the blood.
- Anemia: Carrot's molecules are closest to human's hemoglobin molecules, making it very beneficial in blood-building.
- Atherosclerosis: The highly cleansing power of this miracle juice scrubs away even the old build-up of
- Asthma: The anti-oxidants effectively protect the respiratory system from infections and free-radical attacks.
- Cancer: Studies show that adding one carrot per day in our diet significantly reduces cancer risks.
- Cholesterol: Pectin in carrots lowers the serum cholesterol levels.
- Congestion: Carrot juice is very effective in dispelling mucus from the ear, nose and throat area, easing nasal congestion, sinusitis, phlegm and mucus in the throat and other similar disorders.
- Constipation: Take five parts of carrot juice with one part of spinach juice regularly to regulate chronic constipation problems.
- Emphysema: If you smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke, taking carrot juice regularly may well save your life.
- Eyes: Beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin are some of the finest nourishment that helps keep the optic system in tip-top condition, with special protection against astigmatism, macular degeneration and cataracts.
- Fertility: One of the reasons for fertility is lack of nutrients and enzymes in your dietary. Carrot juice taken regularly is able to nourish your body back to fertility.
- Inflammations: Its anti-inflammatory effect greatly helps reduce arthritis, rheumatism, gout and other inflammations.
- Immune systems: It does wonders for boosting the immune system by increasing the production and performance of white blood cells; building resistant to various kinds of infections.
- Nursing mothers: Carrot juice helps enhance the quality and quantity of a mother's breast milk.
- Pregnancy: Drinking carrot juice regularly during pregnancy, especially during the last few months, will reduce the chances of jaundice in baby. No, you won't get an orange baby!
- Skin problems: The high quality vitamin C and other rich nutrients in carrot juice efficiently nourish the skin, preventing dry skin, psoriasis and other skin blemishes.
- Thread worms: One small cup of carrot juice in the morning taken daily for a week can help clear up thread worms in children.
- Ulcers: The abundance of nutrient present in carrots help nourish cells that have been starved of nutrients which result in ulcers.
- Water retention: Carrot juice is diuretic and helps to eliminate excess fluids from the body, reducing water retention, especially for women during their monthly menstruation cycle and in pregnant women.
Special Tips:
Carrots that are no longer than 6 inches tend to be sweeter. So choose the shorter variety if you like it sweet or the longer one if you prefer it less sweet.
The most nutrients are concentrated on the skin so try not to peel off the skin. Use a hard brush to brush the skin or just simply scrape it with the sides of a metal spoon handle.
Cut them lengthwise to preserve the nutrients as when cut in small rounds; they easily lose their nutrients in water when you wash or cook them.
Lost but Found
Learning to laugh again after cancer can be difficult. However, laughter is a big part of getting well at least it was for me. There were many times I would forget a part of me was no longer attached, and I’d find myself being totally embarrassed, but I seemed to always be able to put a smile on my face and find the strength to somehow go on.
I will never forget the experience I had about 8 months after my radical breast surgery. Our little girl begged us to take her to White Water so she could ride the waves. I didn't really feel that well and taking chemo seemed to really take its toll on me. Our daughter Debbie was only eight years old and she too had been dealing with a lot of new cancer words and scary thoughts these last eight months so my husband and I decided that maybe getting away for the day was what we all needed.
I had to find a way to make sure my expensive breast prostheses stayed put and I didn't loose it out in the waves. I took one of my husbands white socks and placed the breast form inside and then rolled it up and pinned it in my bra that should take care of it I didn't see anyway for the prostheses to get out.
When we got to White Water the waves were a little cool but my husband and daughter jumped right in. I told them I would be in a little later. I was making sure everything was still in tack. Finally, I decided to go in and join the fun. I few waves hit me, everything seemed good so I forgot all about the prostheses, and started having fun. It was just what we needed a beautiful day enjoying the family and the weather. About 30 minutes of catching my daughter as she rode the waves, I began to get tired. Just then the life guard blew his whistle and said," Everybody out for 20 minutes." I thought that was a good idea, we could all rest for awhile. On the last wave my daughter said," Mom why do you have a white sock on your back?" shocked I said, “What?” Oh my goodness I had lost my breast prostheses somewhere out here and I was not about to get out of the water or stand up until I found it. The life guard blew his whistle again and shouted, "Lady out of the water."
I smiled, although I felt like crying. I keep repeating, "Where oh where are you my little breast form." I then said, “I can't get out just yet I have lost something." The life guard told me," Go report it to the lost and found department." I told him, “No way." The next thing I knew everyone was looking at me and the little kids were saying," Look mommy the lady won't get out of the water." The waves had now stopped and the water was down around my knees. I was not leaving, until I found my breast form. The life guard said," This is my final warning lady, get out of the water, now." I started towards the opening when all at once a small boy yells," Look mom. What is this thing? It hit me in the head." The small boy was holding up my breast form showing his mother the very thing I was looking for. Have you ever tried running in water? It's hard to do, but my legs plowed through the water splashing water everywhere. The life guard was also running right behind me. He was gaining on me but I didn't care. Reaching the other side of the water opening, I yelled out, “Son that is mine." The little boy looked up and said, “What is it?" I told him, “I am afraid of the water and it is my chin raft to keep my head up and out of the water so I don’t drown." He looked at me and said, " If I were you lady, I would get something a little bigger and better because this raft doesn't look too safe. You could drown real easy, if you ask me." As I was reaching for my prostheses, the life guard grabbed it before I could. He turned to me and said, "This is what you’re looking for?” Embarrassed I said, "Yes, this is what I am looking for."
Well you might have the kid believing this is your life raft but I don’t think it would save a person." I asked if I could please have it back, he laughed and said, “I almost threw you out and wrote you up over a ball of rubber. Why do you have this thing in here in the first place?" I took a deep breath and said to the life guard, "Look young man, let me introduce you to something you don't have a clue about. I certainly hope you are enjoying yourself, squeezing my breast form and rolling it around in your hand like a stress ball. I suggest you return it to me at once, before I report you for fondling me in front of several hundred spectators.
The young life guard's face turned deep red, he all but dropped the prostheses back into my hand and said, "I am sure glad you found this item when you did, because I would have had to try and describe the item over the loud speaker from the lost and found area and I surly had no idea that this is what one looked like." I told him, "Have a good day and remember the next time someone looses something it may not have any value to one person but it could be a life saver to someone else." He smiled and said," I am sorry for the embarrassment but I thought you were just being stubborn I said, "Don't forget young man there are many different kinds, and shapes of life rafts so don't ever assume you have seen them all." We then walked out of the water together.
Tom, Debbie, and I won’t ever forget that day. How could one report something like that to the lost and found department to explain what you thought was a breast form to a young life guard was just a large ball of rubber. I realized at that point not everyone looks at things the same way we do. Thank God.
Written By Mary D. Johnson
Strawberries
May is National Strawberry month . Here are some interesting facts I found on Strawberries.
1. The strawberry you eat is not really a fruit or a berry, but is the enlarged receptacle of the flower.
2. Strawberries are a member of the Rose family.
3. Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.
4. There is a museum in Belgium just for strawberries .
5. Strawberries were cultivated in ancient Rome and were used as a medicinal herb in the 13th
Century. The ancient Romans believed that strawberries alleviated symptoms of melancholy,
fainting, all inflammations, fevers, throat infections, kidney stones, bad breath, attacks of gout,
and diseases of the blood, liver and spleen.
6. Strawberries have no fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and potassium. T hey are
not only cholesterol free but low in calories as well.
7. Americans eat 4.8 pounds of fresh strawberries each year per person.
8. Medieval stonemasons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in
churches and cathedrals, symbolizing perfection and righteousness. During the same time period,
strawberries were served at important state occasions and festivals to ensure peace and prosperity.
9. Berries Help Protect Against Cancer, Heart Disease and the Effects of Aging
10. Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. The average strawberry has 200 seeds.
11. Folklore holds that if you split a double strawberry in half and share it with the
opposite sex, you'll soon fall in love.
12. Strawberry is the second most popular natural flavor. Chocolate is first, of course!
13. One cup of strawberries is only 55 calories.
14. Strawberries are grown in every state in the United States and every province in Canada.
15. Strawberry Point , Iowa is home to the 'World's Largest Strawberry,' which sits atop city hall.
16. The most valuable fruit crops in the United States are in order, grapes, apples, oranges and strawberries (2000)
The most exciting news about berries is their abundant anti-cancer and anti-aging benefits! Our bodies need antioxidants to protect us from diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Scientists have developed a way to measure the antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables, called oxygen radical absorptive capacity, (ORAC) Scientists have found berries have some of the highest antioxidant levels of any fresh fruits, and kale and spinach are the only vegetables with ORAC values as high as fresh, delicious berries. Fresh berries are some of the most powerful (and delicious) disease-fighting foods available.
Strawberry history goes back over 2200 years ago. It is thought that the name "strawberry" came from the practice of growers spreading a layer of straw around the plants when the berries begin to form, or from the sellers who strung berries on pieces of straw to carry them to market. The 600 strawberry varieties found today stem from five or six original wild species. If all the strawberries produced in California this year were laid berry to berry, they'd wrap around the world 15 times. That's enough strawberries to provide every U.S. household with 12 pint baskets. There are approximately 700 strawberry growers in California producing fruit on over 20,000 acres annually. The strawberry shipping season begins in January in the southern part of the state and moves north with the warming springtime temperatures. Volume peaks in April and May when all production areas overlap. During this time, weekly volume can approach 5 million trays or just over 9 million pounds a day. Remember, the strawberry is a great little berry to add to your daily diet.
The Eggplant
I have been asked to share some information about a vegetable we hear little about, eggplant.
How many of you like eggplant, or know the first thing about fixing it? Eggplant is not a favorite vegetable here in the United States , but is well known in the south and in other parts of the world.
Below is a list of some interesting facts I found while researching the subject eggplant. You might like sharing this information with your family and friends.
1. Eggplant is related to potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes.
2. Turkey produces more eggplant than all of Europe combined.
3. Thomas Jefferson bought the first eggplant to the United States ?
4. Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family and is native to India .
5. Eggplants are actually fruits, and are classified botanically as berries.
6. Male eggplants have fewer seeds than the female plant, but their seeds often times are bitter.
7. The blossom end of a female eggplant is usually indented, a male end more rounded, smoother.
8. Smaller eggplants are best, full size puffy ones may have hard seeds and can be bitter.
9. Eggplants are very perishable, and become bitter with age. Store them in a cool dry place.
10. Two thirds of the world’s eggplant is grown in New Jersey .
11. Eggplant is a good choice because it is high in fiber content and helps digestive function.
12. Eggplant contains potassium, vitamin C, and protein.
My family likes fried eggplant the best; (however we try not to eat a lot of fried foods) this is still one of the family’s favorites. Peel the purple skin off the egg plant and slice about ¼” thick, dip the sliced eggplant in a beaten egg that has been seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Now bread the dipped slices of eggplant into a mixture of 2-3 tablespoons of flour that has been blended well with a cup of fine cracker crumbs, fry in hot grease until brown on both sides, and drain well.
I have used eggplant in several of my other favorite recipes. Instead of meat in my spaghetti sauce I have used eggplant in small cubed pieces along with other vegetables. It is a whole new taste and less fattening. I hope this information on eggplant will be of some interest to you.
Until next month, with more Moments with Mary
Mothers Day
History about Mother’s day, why it was established and who established it .
The earliest tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated this festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday.
In the United States , Mother's Day started nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it "Mothers Day."
Fifteen years later, Julia Ward Howe, a Boston poet, pacifist, suffragist, and author of the lyrics to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," organized a day encouraging mothers to rally for peace, since she believed they bore the loss of human life more harshly than anyone else. Hence, Mothers Day.
In 1905 when Anna Jarvis died, her daughter, also named Anna, began a campaign to memorialize the life work of her mother. Legend has it that young Anna remembered a Sunday school lesson that her mother gave in which she said, "I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mothers day. There are many days for men, but none for mothers."
Anna began to lobby prominent businessmen like John Wannamaker, and politicians including Presidents Taft and Roosevelt to support her campaign to create a special day to honor mothers. At one of the first services organized to celebrate Anna's mother in 1908, at her church in West Virginia , Anna handed out her mother's favorite flower, the white carnation. Five years later, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution calling for officials of the federal government to wear white carnations on Mothers Day. In 1914 Anna's hard work paid off when Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mothers Day as a national holiday.
At first, people observed Mothers Day by attending church; writing letters to their mothers, and eventually, by sending cards, presents, and flowers. With the increasing gift-giving activity associated with Mothers Day, Anna Jarvis became enraged. She believed that the day's sentiment was being sacrificed at the expense of greed and profit. In 1923 she filed a lawsuit to stop a Mothers Day festival, and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a convention selling carnations for a war mother's group. Before her death in 1948, Jarvis is said to have confessed that she regretted ever starting the mother’s day tradition.
Despite Jarvis's misgivings, Mothers Day has flourished in the United States . In fact, the second Sunday of May has become the most popular day of the year to dine out, and telephone lines record their highest traffic, as sons and daughters everywhere take advantage of this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers
Mothers Love
Her love is like
an island in life's ocean,
vast and wide
A peaceful, quiet shelter
from the wind, the rain, the tide.
'Tis bound on the north by Hope,
By Patience on the West,
by tender Counsel on the South
And on the East by Rest.
Above it like a beacon light
Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;
and thro' the changing scenes of life
I find a haven there.
~Author Unknown~
Motherhood
Motherhood is something special it should be treasured and adored, for love and caring goes together with this position and should never be denied or ignored.
Sometimes our feelings and the way we see things are unknown or misunderstood, but the love of our mother is to be honored and humbly endured.
Life is a journey, we can't always have everything we want, but sharing our feelings, desires and problems with a best friend known as our Mother is truly a joy to one's heart.
Teaching our children throughout their life how to love, be honest, and learn respect is just a few values that make Mothers look forever admired and also very smart.
Written by Mary D. Johnson
WHAT IS A MOTHER
Mother's Day is almost here, a truly special time of the year. I decided to take a survey on Mothers, what a perfect time to see what everyone thinks or feels about his or her Mother. I was delighted, shocked, and somewhat confused by some of the answers. It was most interesting, I would like to share a few of the comments with you to see where you might fit in or how you can relate to some of the comments I was given. The question I asked was;
How do you feel about your Mother and what kind of relationship do you share with her?
1.) I love her dearly, she has helped guide me and teach me values that I have used throughout most of my life.
2.) She was my best friend and always there for me and my brothers and sisters.
3.) I thank God for my Mother she was a special person. I was proud of her, she had morals, and respect.
4.) I learned a lot from Mom she was my first teacher and one of the best.
5.) My Mother was always a happy person. If she was ever unhappy I never knew it.
6.) Mom did without many times so us kids could have. Mom worked hard to help Dad when things were rough.
7.) I'll never forget how tired Mom was some nights but still read a book to us and never forgot our prayers.
8.) I can remember how Mom and us kids shared stories about the day before tucking us into bed each night.
9.) When I was sick nobody could make me feel better or give more comfort than Mom
10.) Mom taught me to be good to others and that giving was always better than receiving.
11.) My Mother was never there for any of us kids she only thought of herself. Thank God us kids had each other.
12.) My Mom was never home, she was a sad person most of the time. Mom didn't enjoy family life.
13.) Mom never had time to show me anything. Mom told me experience was the best way to learn, so go for it.
14.) My Mom never made holidays special. So I adopted my girlfriends Mother, Thank God for her.
15.) My Mother worked all the time she never took time to be with us kids or do fun things.
16.) Mom was jealous of me and my friends; she put me down all the time. I have low self esteem to this day.
17.) My Mom ran off when I was born, but my adopted Mother was my Grandmother she was God sent.
18.) My Mother was from a foreign country. Mom didn't speak English so school was hard, and growing up harder.
Life is not always what it seems. When your life has been good you assume that others have had the same opportunity at life as you, but that is just not true. I would like to wish all the Mother's out there a Happy Mother's Day enjoy your family, do something special this year that you and your children will never forget. Try to make a difference. See you again next month with more, Moments with Mary.
Importance of pH
How many of us don’t feel well and don’t know why? It was 26 years ago when I became very sick and developed cancer. I decided then to take a better look into how the human body worked and why my body was feeling the way it was during that time. When I found my bodies pH was out of whack big time, I started reading and studying about pH in the human body, and it made lots of sense. I tested myself daily for one week and found my body was very acidic, I knew that was not good. In this article I will explain what I found during my study and what I did to get my own body’s pH back into balance so it could function well again. The acidic readings I had was causing my immune system to work extra hard at keeping my body going. By changing my diet, I took care of my acidic body. I watched how much acid foods I ate. I used the ratio of 2 acid foods to 4 alkaline foods at each meal and in no time my pH was better and the best thing of all, I felt great! To get my family to understand which foods were acid and which were alkaline we played a game at each meal for several weeks. I asked each family member to tell me about the foods we were getting ready to eat. They would tell me which foods were acid and which were alkaline, before long they too learned the values of the foods in their diets. They became familiar with the food values and now I smile when we sit down to a meal if I don’t have just the right combination someone will say, “We need one more alkaline food.” My family and I are hardly ever sick, and we feel better too.
A good pH balance is essential to our health. Have you checked your pH? Which are you acid or alkaline? You can test your own pH everyday by purchasing some inexpensive pH test strips from your local drug store or from us at TMD Outlet.
Years ago I read this sentence in blue to my family, how many of you have read the same sentence?God made a perfect human body. One of dust, (Dust = Dirt = Minerals) “And God saw everything He had made, and, behold, it was very good…” Genesis 1:31
Did you know your house plants, your garden, and your swimming pool all need to have a good pH balance in order to do well? Your body is no different, our pH is very important for our human body to function well and stay in balance. The body is largely made up of water, a medium which is biologically useful in allowing nutrients, oxygen and bio chemicals to be transported from place to place. This water based medium can have either acid or alkaline characteristics which are measured by a scale called pH (“potential hydrogen”) The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic, and 14 the most alkaline. Since most of our body is water-based (making up 60% - 70% of our total body weight) the pH level has a big effect on all body chemistry, health and disease.
Long periods of imbalanced pH levels are not good for the body, nor are they well tolerated by the body. An acid balance will: decrease the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, and decrease the energy production in the cells; it will also decrease its ability to repair damaged cells, decrease its ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness. The control of Ph is so important that the body has developed strict accounting procedures to monitor acid-alkaline balances in every cell. Body functions such as breathing, circulation, digestion, hormonal production, etc. serve the purpose of balancing pH, by removing or destroying the metabolized acid residues from the body tissues without damaging living cells. If your pH goes too far to the acid or to the alkaline side, cells become poisoned by their own toxic waste and die. Our body is in a constant struggle to maintain proper pH levels – too acid means the body has to work extra hard to expel excess acidic ash waste or allow it to pile up; too alkaline often means the body is struggling with low electrolyte levels that weaken muscle and nerve functions. A consistent pH imbalance either too acid or too alkaline interferes with the body’s basic operations.
A good body pH reading is 7.0 Diet is important and knowing which foods are acid and which are alkaline are important. Eat a diet that helps your body maintain the correct acidity – alkalinity balance. Common acid forming foods include; processed junk foods and those that are high in animal protein. (Salt, Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and sugar put your body out of balance.) Balance is Key!
Acid forming foods include; meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and legumes.Common alkalizing foods include; most citrus fruits, green vegetables, carrots, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs, and seasonings, raisins and seeds and nuts just to name a few.
Extremely alkaline foods are; lemons, watermelon, cantaloupe, cayenne pepper, grapes, kiwi, raisins, pineapple, mango, dates, apples, carrots, celery, garlic, herbs, most vegetables, and teas without caffeine. (I drink fresh lemon water almost everyday, and eat lots of cayenne pepper, just ask my family and friends.) This helps me to keep my alkalinity up where it should be.
Some symptoms of an unbalanced pH could include heartburn, bloating, belching, and feeling full after eating small amounts of food. Other symptoms could include insomnia, water retention, migraines, constipation with diarrhea, fatigue, a burning sensation on the tongue and in the mouth, and bad breath.
Do you remember hearing that acid rain can destroy a forest and alkaline wastes can pollute a lake, an imbalanced pH continuously corrodes all body tissue, slowly eating into our veins and arteries? An imbalanced pH interferes with all of life itself. Balancing my pH and my families has been a blessing in our lives, we all feel better and our bodies have thanked us too in many different ways. If you get the chance read the book “How to Get Well” by Paavo Airola. You will be greatly surprised about what you will learn.
NOTICE: This information is meant to be used in conjunction with the guidance of your health care professional or physician. I am not a doctor; the information in this article is only to share with you what helped both me and my family. The material in this article is for educational purposes only.Until next month eat right and healthy blessings from Moments with Mary.
Interesting Information about Nuts
Nuts are good for you. How much do you know about the many different kinds of nuts?? In this article you will learn some surprising facts and information as well as the benefits nuts do have.
Nuts are a wholesome snack option.
One ounce of peanuts contains many of the vitamins and minerals necessary for the body’s growth and maintenance.
The beneficial fats in peanuts, which are about 81% unsaturated, can help lower cholesterol levels when they replace saturated fats in the diet.
Did you know that peanuts aren’t even nuts? They are legumes and a member of the pea family!
Peanuts are naturally 100% cholesterol-free!
The beneficial fats in peanuts, which are about 81% unsaturated, can help lower cholesterol levels when they replace saturated fats in the diet.
Dr. George Washington Carver found over 300 uses for the peanut plant in the early 1900’s. He discovered hundreds of uses for the peanut in products such as soap, cheese and paint, earning him the name “Father of the Peanut Industry.”
Americans consume over 600 million pounds of peanuts and over 700 million pounds of peanut butter each year! That’s enough peanut butter to cover the floor of the entire Grand Canyon !
Cashews are actually related to poison ivy! The inside of their shell contains a poisonous resin related to the poison ivy family, known as cashew balm which must be carefully removed before the nut can be consumed.
California is an almond-growing powerhouse! The Golden State produces nearly 100% of the USA ’s almonds and over 75% of the worldwide supply!
Macadamias are one of the most expensive nuts in the world because it is so hard to crack open their shells without ruining what’s inside. It takes over 300 pounds per square inch to break their shell!
What nut was believed in medieval times to have healing properties for headaches? The walnut! Ancient Greeks believed the walnut and its shell resembled the human skull and brains.
Before they made a living as President of the United States , Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter were peanut farmers!
It is believed the walnut was cultivated over 4,000 years ago and was once considered to be the food of royalty by ancient cultures.
Peanut consumption boomed during the U.S. Civil War when soldiers snacked on the treat.
The pistachio nut differs from all other nuts because of its characteristic green color. It is also sometimes called the “smiling nut” because of its semi-open shell.
Pistachio nuts are the only edible nuts which don’t need to be shelled for roasting and salting. This is a nut I have always enjoyed.
It takes a pistachio tree about seven years to bear its first fruit.
Almonds are the most widely-grown and eaten tree nut. They are finding that almonds have many good health benefits
The United States produces 80% of the world’s pecans! This is one nut you can do so much with and use in so many ways.
Peanuts grow in a fascinating manner. They actually start out as an above-ground flower but eventually make their way underground where the peanut matures. Try growing some peanuts with your children, they will be amazed and will talk about the experience for years to come. I hope you found this article to be interesting. See you again next month with more, Moments with Mary.
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