More Fun Food Facts – 1/18/24

I love to learning all kinds of fun new facts and trivia about everything, including finding out fun new things about the foods we eat. I also love sharing all these new fun facts with all of you too. Here are some new things you may not have known before.

1. Dark chocolate can be more than just a sweet treat

The dark chocolate we know and love is made from the roasted beans of the cacao tree and has a ton of interesting facts — many being health benefits.

According to Harvard, dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. A study of an isolated tribe with high intakes of cocoa had lower rates of heart disease, cancer and diabetes compared to the same tribesmen who had migrated to cities.

Bonus fact: Dark chocolate that’s 70% cocoa or more actually contains more caffeine per ounce than coffee. Just don’t expect to stay up all night with the powdered hot chocolate you’d get at a supermarket. This stuff tends to be quite low in caffeine.

I love dark chocolate. I like it much better than milk chocolate. Now we can eat it and NOT feel guilty about it. It IS actually good for us. 

2. Literally eat a fruit that’s as sweet as nectar

Did you know that the word ‘nectarine’ means ‘sweet like nectar’ and this is most likely the origin of the name?

It’s believed nectarines, like peaches, originated in China over 4,000 years ago.

Nutritionally, nectarines are a high source of Vitamin C and A and are abundant in antioxidants. They aid in weight loss, help regulate blood pressure levels and overall good health. They also help improve immunity and heart health.

YUM! I love nectarines, but I have to admit, I love peaches even more, especially our fantastic Palisade peaches. 

3. Raspberries are a member of the rose family

As are cherries, apricots, plums, pears, apples, quinces, peaches, strawberries, and blackberries. Unlike roses though, these types of fruits typically have flowers with five equal petals arranged around a central core.

And, just like roses, raspberries (and blackberries) have plenty of thorns too – ouch!

YUMMY!! Blackberries and raspberries are definitely some of my favorites. 

4. Chickpeas and almonds contains almost as much protein as steak

In a recent chat with EatFirst about plant-based diets, Greg McFarlane, a director at Vegan Australia, mention that it’s a common myth that you’re not able to become strong on a vegan diet and this is a great example of busting that myth.

According to Better Health, “If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, as long as you eat a wide variety of foods, you can usually get the protein you need.”

While eating 100g of steak could contain up to 25g of protein, the same amount of chick peas contains 21g and almonds a whopping 28g!

And if that’s an excuse to eat even more hummus, we’ll take it!

I do love both almonds and chickpeas, especially when chickpeas are turned into hummus, but I don’t know if I completely agree with this one.

5. The world’s most hated vegetable is one of the best for you

Brussels sprouts may be the most hated vegetable, but it’s among the most nutritious veggies out there.

They are packed full of vitamins and minerals, with virtually no calories, no fat, no cholesterol, and they fill you up. Better yet, they also have an anti-oxidant that has shown to be anti-inflammatory and could fight cancer.

Neither Larry nor I grew up eating Brussels sprouts, but we eat them a lot now. If cooked right, they are delicious. Now we love them.

In order to grow, we all have to keep challenging ourselves. I am always happy to help, since I love to challenge myself too. Hopefully we all learned a little something new today and had a little fun along the way.

Happy New Year everyone. May 2024 be filled with happiness, good health and prosperity for all. Stay safe and stay well. ’Til next time.