Asparagus, officially known as Asparagus officinalis, is a member of the lily family. This popular spring vegetable comes in a variety of colors, including green, white and purple, and it is used in dishes around the world, including frittatas, pastas, and stir-fries. Asparagus is also low in calories and packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and … Continue reading Asparagus: Sparrow Grass
Tag: mediterranean diet
Bell Peppers: Capsicums
The bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a fruit that belongs to the nightshade family. Botanically it is a fruit, but nutritionally considered a vegetable. Also called a sweet pepper or capsicum, it is native to Central and South America and can be eaten either raw or cooked. Bell peppers come in various colors, such as … Continue reading Bell Peppers: Capsicums
10 Amazing Health Benefits of Carrots
Carrots are a root vegetable and are found in many colors including yellow, white, orange, red, and purple. Orange carrots, the most widely available, get their color from carotenoids, antioxidants that your body converts to vitamin A. Carrots are also a good source of fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants. Carrots are one of the … Continue reading 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Carrots
Pumpkin: It’s Not Just For Pie
Did you know that pumpkin is technically a fruit? Although it is scientifically a fruit, its nutritional profile is more similar to vegetables than fruits. Pumpkin is a cultivar of winter squash and is native to North America (northeastern Mexico and the southern United States). Pumpkin is very nutritious, as it is brimming with vitamins, … Continue reading Pumpkin: It’s Not Just For Pie
Healthy Fats: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil is oil that has been extracted from olives (the fruits of the olive tree). There are three main grades of olive oil - extra virgin, virgin, and refined. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the least processed and is considered the healthiest. It is made from pressed olives without using any chemicals. It … Continue reading Healthy Fats: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Pomegranate: The Apple With Many Seeds
The pomegranate is among the healthiest fruits on the planet. It is red, round, and looks like a red apple with a flower-shaped stem. Its skin is thick and inedible, but it contains hundreds of edible seeds. Each seed is surrounded by a red, juicy and sweet seed covering known as an aril. The seeds … Continue reading Pomegranate: The Apple With Many Seeds
Herbs and Spices: Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a delicious spice that has been used around the world for thousands of years. It confers several health benefits, not to mention its sweet, distinct, warm flavor. Out of 26 popular herbs and spices, researchers have ranked cinnamon as number 1 for its high antioxidant levels. Cinnamon actually comes from the inner bark … Continue reading Herbs and Spices: Cinnamon
Herbs and Spices: Ginger
Ginger is among the healthiest, and most delicious, spices on the planet. The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part most commonly used as a spice. It is often called ginger root, or simply ginger. It is actually in the same family as turmeric. The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger comes from … Continue reading Herbs and Spices: Ginger
Herbs and Spices: Turmeric
Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its golden yellow color. It is a root of a flowering plant that is cultivated mostly in India and Southeast Asia. It is a member of the ginger family. Research has shown that spices, like turmeric and ginger, fight chronic inflammation, which is is associated with many health … Continue reading Herbs and Spices: Turmeric
Dark Leafy Greens: Kale
Kale is a green, leafy, cruciferous vegetable and a member of the mustard family, as are cabbage and Brussels sprouts. There are many different types of kale, and the leaves can have either a smooth or curly shape. Kale contains fiber, antioxidants, calcium, vitamins C and K, iron, and a wide range of other nutrients … Continue reading Dark Leafy Greens: Kale
The Mediterranean Diet Unplugged 