Fruits & Vegetables are Nutritious in Every Form!

It’s a wildly popular rumor that frozen veggies and fruits aren’t as nutritious as their fresh counterparts. This simply isn’t true. Studies by the FDA have confirmed that any decrease in nutrition from freezing vegetables is negligible at best. So you can eat it fresh, frozen, or even drink it and you’ll get the same benefits! Do keep in mind that if you drink it, it has to be 100% juice. A brand with only 10% is obviously not going to be more nutritious.

Peppers Can Encourage Proper Clotting

Peppers are great even if most people use them as a spice rather than using them as a food. A little known fact about cayenne peppers is that they can promote the clotting of blood over wounds. According to experts, you can sprinkle some cayenne pepper into a wound where it will act as gauze. This will help stop the bleeding. Eating cayenne pepper can also help equalize blood pressure and promote clotting from the inside. That means it doesn’t matter if you eat it or literally put it on the wound, it will help it heal faster.

The Skin Usually has the Most Nutrition

Mom was right, if you peel your fruits and vegetables before you eat them, you may be making a nutritional mistake. On many fruits and veggies such as carrots, apples, and cucumbers, a good percentage of the nutrition is actually stored in the skin. That means when you peel them, you’re actually peeling away nutritious benefit. The skins also contain a lot of fiber and we’ve already talked about all the great things that fiber can do.

Veggies Make You More Healthy!

You hear it all the time that fruits and veggies can make you more healthy and help prevent disease. The unfortunate part is that no one tells you why. The list of reasons why are way too long but we’ll go over a couple of them here. The high fiber content can help you lower cholesterol which will help prevent all diseases that can be caused by high cholesterol. Eating fruits and veggies instead of sugary or fatty junk food can prevent weight gain which can prevent diabetes as well as virtually all other diseases and conditions that comes with being overweight. The list goes on and on. People don’t just say that fruits and vegetables can prevent diseases as a marketing tactic. They actually do these things for valid reasons.

Bananas are Fascinating!

Bananas are a favorite fruit around the world. It tastes good, it’s high in potassium, and it’s delicious when placed in a dish with ice cream and chocolate syrup. It is also the most interesting fruit in the world. In the 1950’s, a disease called the Panama Disease all but wiped out an entire species of banana which motivated farmers to use the Cavendish banana which we all eat today. The bananas we eat are actually all cloned from a single banana plant in southeast Asia which means that every single banana is exactly the same banana. Also, bananas are technically herbs.

Fruits & Vegetables have Tons of Fiber!

A lot of people knew this one already but what they don’t know are the benefits of fiber. It can help keep your bowel movements regular, help lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and help you feel fuller for longer. Pretty much all of those things can lead to you feeling healthier, losing weight, and eating less bad food.

It May be Best to Steam Broccoli

If you’re trying to cut your cholesterol, steam your broccoli — that helps it lower your levels more. Raw broccoli has cancer-fighting compounds, though. In a part-by-part breakdown, the florets have a few more nutrients than the stalks. And the leaves, which most people throw out, have some nutrients not found in either the stem or the florets.

Family Matters …

Gardening is a form of activity every member of the family can enjoy. Special projects or those on a larger scale can be accomplished with the entire family’s participation. Combined with a relaxing dinner, it is a sure way to engage each member of the family for an entreating and relaxing day outdoors.

Apples are Cousins of Roses!

Apples are a good source of fiber and vitamin C. As you take a bite of one, do you notice a sweet smell? Apples, pears, cherries, and plums are just some of the fruits that come from the same family tree as the rose. Try using dried apple slices to make a sweet-smelling potpourri.

Eating Fruits & Vegetables to Gain Weight is Hard to Do!

All fruits and all vegetables are low in calories. You can eat two pounds of vegetables and barely crack 300 calories. This is why you hear nutrition professionals, doctors, and other health conscious people tell you to eat them for snacks. A back of chips contains fat, oil, and a lot of calories. A pound of carrots contains none of those things. It is absolutely absurd how much fruit and vegetables you can eat before the calories start stacking up. One stalk of celery is about ten calories. For the average 2,000 calorie diet, you would have to consume 200 stalks of celery. Good luck with that!

Broccoli!

Ounce for ounce, Broccoli has more vitamin C than an orange and as much calcium as a glass of milk.

 Bell Peppers are Fruits

Surprised? Scientists define fruit as the part of a plant that develops from a flower and has seeds. So that means bell peppers — along with squash, cucumbers, and pumpkins — are fruits. It’s up to you whether or not to include any of those items in your next fruit salad.

Tomatoes!

Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that is abundant in tomatoes and tomato products, is widely thought to help in the prevention of a variety of maladies.

Garden for safe, healthy food

Reports of foodborne illnesses and contamination in foods have been widely publicized.  Interest in organic gardening and the availability of organic produce has increased. Consumers are aware of additives and preservatives found in processed foods. An easy solution is to grow your own fruits and vegetables. It’s estimated that during World War II 20 million homeowners had victory gardens that produced close to 40 percent of the fresh produce consumed in the United States. Start your own garden and know that the foods you and your family eat are fresh and safe.

Garden for beauty

A garden can enhance any outdoor setting. A house with a nice yard is a pleasure to look at and satisfying to live in. Simply adding a container of colorful flowers to a patio brightens your spirits.  Trees and shrubs not only provide color and shade but shelter for birds and wildlife. Think of the garden as another room to be enjoyed whether you are inside outside the house.

Garden to make money

The love of plants can lead to a rewarding job at a local garden center or a large landscape firm or to owning your own business. Whether growing flowers, vegetables, or herbs, there are opportunities to sell your products at local farmers markets or craft shows. Landscaping an investment property can add to the resale value by as much as 15 percent. This “curb appeal” could make the difference between your house selling versus the house next door.

Garden to be creative

Gardening provides an outlet for creative and artistic expression. The serene contemplative mood of a Japanese garden or the romantic feel of a cottage garden – let your creativity flow!  Try something new every season. How about a new annual or a new spring-blooming bulb? Who knows, it may become your all-time favorite plant.

Garden for emotional needs

Gardens play an important part in our well-being. A garden might serve as a tranquil retreat or private escape from the demands of everyday life. A beautiful bouquet can lift the spirits.  Pulling weeds can be a great stress reliever. A healthy harvest provides a sense of achievement and feelings of success. Gardening builds confidence and self-esteem.