According to several studies, people who consume more dietary fiber from foods tend to be less overweight. 20 to 27 grams of fiber daily is the recommendation for women, and for men 30 to 38 grams daily. In general, U.S. adults average only 15 grams daily. Among almost 6,000 French men and women, those at… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Corn
June 10, 2008 By 2 Comments
Corn, or maize, originates from Mesoamerica and was an important aspect of their civilization. The Native Americans utilized the health benefits of corn by serving it with the ash of limestone. They had observed that people who ingesting corn in this manner were healthier. The limestone ash helps liberate the niacin in corn that is… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Papaya
April 1, 2008 By 2 Comments
The papaya originates in South and Central America, and it was the Spanish and Portuguese explorers who took papayas to other subtropical lands. The papaya was so revered by the explorers that Christopher Columbus called it “the fruit of the angels.” Hawaii is the major U.S. producer where genetically modified papayas have contaminated organically grown… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Oats
April 1, 2008 By 7 Comments
Brief History of Oats The ancient Romans regarded oats as a weed fit only for horses and Barbarians. Scottish settlers introduced oats to the US in the 1600′s, and today Russia is the largest producer of oats. A mere 5% of the oats grown worldwide is used for human consumption, and is most commonly used… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Guavas
April 1, 2008 By 5 Comments
Brief History of Guavas The guava is believed to have originated in the area that is now Central America and Mexico. Spanish and Portuguese explorers introduced the guava to the East Indies and it soon became a popular crop in India and Asia. In Taino (pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas) mythology, the spirits of the… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Flaxseed
April 1, 2008 By 1 Comment
Flaxseeds originated in Mesopotamia and there are historical documents showing that flax was cultivated in Babylon about 3000 BCE. Hippocrates promoted the use of flax for the relief of abdominal pains. Charlemagne, King of the Franks and ruler of Western Europe, declared the consumption of flax compulsory for his subjects The early colonists introduced flax… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Figs
April 1, 2008 By 1 Comment
Brief History of Figs The fig tree is native to the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and was the world’s first cultivated tree. The fig is believed to be as old as human kind. Adam and Eve made the fig famous after having covered their nakedness with fig leaves and among the ancient Greeks and… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Eggplant
April 1, 2008 By 7 Comments
Brief History of Eggplant The eggplant is considered to originate from India where it grew wild, and was first cultivated in China. It was introduced into Europe during the Middle Ages by the Moors where it soon became popular. By the 18th century, both the French and the Italians cultivated eggplant, which they called aubergine…. [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Broccoli
April 1, 2008 By 1 Comment
Broccoli belongs to the cruciferous family of vegetables, and originated from European wild cabbage where it has been around for 2,000 years. It was introduced into England in the early 16th century where it was known as ” Italian asparagus” Italian immigrants brought broccoli to America, and it became popular in the 1920s when the… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Almonds
April 1, 2008 By 3 Comments
Brief History of Almonds The almond is believed to have originally been cultivated in Asia and North Africa, and it was Spanish missionaries who first brought almonds to California. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United States is the largest producer of almonds in the world. The almond featured significantly in different… [Continue Reading]