Category Archives: Healthy Living

#thursdaythrive All about Fennel

#thursdaythrive
All about Fennel!
– Fennel’s aromas can play tricks on your tastebuds. In certain wineries they used to offer fennel before wine tastings, or cook old food in it, so people wouldn’t taste how bad the wine was nor the food. Fennel makes everything taste good. In Italian they say “infinocchiare” when someone is duping you or is duped.
– Fennel is typical of the Mediterranean and its temperate climate. Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used it as an embellishment, to ornate their hair, their swords, horseback attire, it symbolized longevity and repelled spirits.
– Fennel spreads very quickly and is considered a weed in the States and in Australia. In 2010, the Los Angeles Time wrote an article on fennel conquering the city.
– Its seeds are used in herbal teas, but the entire vegetable can be juiced for a healthy snack.

#thursdaythrive Sweet Potatoes

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#thursdaythrive
All about Sweet Potatoes!
– Sweet potatoes are high in Beta Carotene and vitamins E and C.
– Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber when eaten with the skin on.
– Our first president, George Washington grew sweet potatoes on his farmland in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
– North Carolina is the leading producer of sweet potatoes in the United States, producing around 40% of the national supply. Most of the production is concentrated east of Interstate 95.
– Sweet potatoes have unique health benefits! They are loaded with vitamins A, C and E – antioxidants that can help prevent heart disease and cancer, bolster the immune system and even slow aging by promoting good vision and healthy skin. They have been recently reclassified as an “antidiabetic” food. They are anti-inflammatory and can protect against emphysema.

#thursdaythrive Potatoes

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#thursdaythrive
All about Potatoes!
– The word potato comes from the Spanish word patata.
– There are thousands of different potato varieties but not all are commercially available, popular ones include Russet, Yukon Gold, Kennebec, Desiree and Fingerling.
– One of the main causes of the Great Famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1852 was a potato disease known as potato blight. The shortage of potatoes led to the death of around 1 million people who were dependent on them as a food source.
– Based on 2010 statistics, China is the leading producer of potatoes.
– Potatoes don’t store very well after purchase but they are relatively easy to grow.

#thursdaythrive All about Citrus

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#thursdaythrive
All about Citrus!
– One of the important citrus fruit facts is that these fruits contain very high amount of vitamin C, flavonoids (heart-healthy enzymes which are present in red wine and dark chocolate), calcium, phosphorus, and other essential nutrients.
– Regular consumption of oranges, lemons and limes helps get rid of toxins in the body.
– Citrus is one of the most popular commercial crop in the world. Apart from their use in the food industry, they are also commonly used in the cosmetic industry to make perfumes, soaps, and other toiletries.
– Citrus fruits are the most sought after fruits in the world. After vanilla and chocolate, orange is the most favorite flavor in the whole world.
– There exist several varieties of citrus fruits, and most are available all year round. Lemons, oranges, grapefruits, pomelos, kumquats, clementines, and mandarins, are some of the most common citrus fruits.