Blood red? Yes please

I have come to realize that one can often determine whether a food is good for you just by its appearance. Visit any farmers market and take a look at the fresh colors of organic broccoli, radishes or carrots and you can imagine what this beauty can only do good for your insides. Now knowing which fruits and vegetables are good for a particular body organ or function is somewhat more difficult and not as obvious, until at least I opened my first Pomegranate. This is a fruit that screams heart health.

Since the emergence of Crayola Crayons on popular culture we have become accustomed to naming colors beyond the generic classification of rainbow colors and shades. We now have Burnt Orange, Cadet Green, and Atomic Tangerine to name a few and each gives you a clear visual through association and looking at Pomegranate seeds you can't help but see Blood Red, which is great because the cardiovascular benefits match its description and are well established.

Pomegranates have been linked to reducing LDL oxidation (the transition from VLDL to bad LDL cholesterol) which among other issues leads to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Pomegranates are also a natural form of a popular blood pressure lowering drug, an ACE Inhibitor. (Essentially, the ACE suppresses the conversion of two different types of angiotensins which can lead to vasoconsrictors, or increased blood pressure). Think of it this way: When you open a Pomegranate and see the explosion of healthy blood red seeds you are essentially doing the same thing in your veins and arteries by opening up any constriction and increasing blood flow.

There are currently over 15 clinical trials to determine possible positive effects from Pomegranates on such diseases as Prostate Cancer, Diabetes, and lymphoma. But open a Pomegranate for yourself and see the healthy color and you'll probably get your own indication of where these studies may lead.

If that's not enough you can even think of it in political terms. Did you know that there are 760 different local varieties of Pomegranates recognized by Iran? Pomegranates are predominately found in the Caucasus Region, of which Iran is a part. And did you know that when he planted Pomegranates at Monticello in 1771, Thomas Jefferson became one of the first growers of American Pomegranates? So despite our ever increasing differences with Iran, can't we at least agree that the Pomegranates have united these two nations for over 200 years? I think so.

So when my four year old is looking at crayons and asks if she can use Blood Red, I'll gladly answer, "Yes, please."

To see some possible Pomegranate recipes please see the following link:
http://www.pomegranates.org/recipes.html

The Curious Case of Kumquats

An interesting concept is at the core of the recent film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; to grow young when born old. Amazingly complex and sci-fi however, I could argue that the concept is much more realistic then one might imagine. So often we find ourselves trying to recapture our youth as we age only to lose the battle because our bodies have failed us. But in 'Benjamin Button' the character ages mentally but while maturing into a youthful body. We too often only start to treat our body with such youthful appreciation once we have aged. So can we reverse time? Can we mature but reverse the damage done to our bodies in our careless youth? Perhaps not but I would at least like to try. I am on a quest to grow young while growing old and the Kumquat just might be a key character in my journey.

Prior to this winter I did not know what a Kumquat was nor did I really care. The extent of my citrus diet was oranges mixed in with the occasional Grape Fruit. But I became curious at the site of the little orange fruits when on a recent trip to the grocery store during a frigid cold front. The air was wreaking havoc on my body leaving me a victim to its ferocity and the heat blasting in my face from my car left my mouth dry and longing. The little 'gold gems' seemed at that moment so appealing even though I did not know what they were. I had to have them, and have them I did.

A natural 'snacker' in the car and at home I find myself constantly bored and snacking on food is often the easiest solution so I was pleasantly surprised to have this natural snack food so refreshingly good and healthy. The Kumquat is the only citrus fruit that may be eaten whole (seeds excluded). The outer skin is sweet and provides the perfect mixture to the tart juicy center. After my initial dosing I instantly felt refreshed and renewed from my wintry slumber of junk food and laziness. The Kumquat was the perfect substitute for my snack pack and to think that I could get such freshness in the dead of winter. And like Napoleon before them, great things can come in a little package.

The Kumquat is the smallest of all citrus fruits and since you can eat it whole you also get the added benefit of Pectin. Pectin is a dietary fiber which is found in large amounts on the white lining of citrus fruits. Pectin is associated with reducing cholesterol and improving cardiovascular health and since citrus fruits are primarily eaten without skin or the white lining, one is losing part of the benefit of the fruit itself. But not Kumquats - eat the whole thing and you're getting benefits of Pectin, Vitamin C, Rutin (an anti-inflammatory flavanoid) and much much more. End result - Fountain of youth in Kumquats?...probably not entirely, but they certainly help along the way. And what other citrus fruits can you find in prime ripe condition in the Death Trap of Cold and Misery that is Wisconsin winter?

The attached site is an excellent resource for Kumquats and I highly suggest reviewing it. Better yet, go to your local grocer and stock up on Kumquats now before winter and their prime is over. You will not be disappointed and I believe you too may fall victim to the curious case of Kumquats.

http://www.kumquatgrowers.com/

Do you 'Kiwi'?

I'm a sucker for marketing, in college I used to buy a certain fruit-yogurt-milkish combination drink simply because I liked the packaging. The shape of the container was curvy (yes, guys are suckers for all curves) and easy to grasp and the colors were tremendous giving the appearance that the fruit was bursting with flavor out of it's tightly held plastic barrier. However, I couldn't stand the drink. Rarely did I actually finish one, it upset my stomach and just tasted like a weird concoction that had sat unrefrigerated for too long and was slowly churning in my stomach. Still, week after week I would find myself with lunch tray in hand awaiting my choice of beverage transfixed in front of it's cooler and yes, I would buy another, and another. So last summer when I was at my local Sendik's grocer er greeted by a pleasant looking display merchandiser wearing a bright yellow/green fluorescent shirt handing me a 'Gold Kiwi' I was more then happy to partake and happy am I still, a year later, that I did.

Her marketing message was concise, "Eat one of these and you will have the equivalent of eating one banana, 2 oranges and a bowl of bran cereal". Now I have already begun my attempt at purifying my quickly aging body from the first 30 years of abuse so I was already open to eating something healthy, but the taste is what will truly bring you back again and again. The Gold Kiwi does not taste like your typical kiwi. It tastes sweeter and less acidic and it is also easier to eat. Simply cut the kiwi in half and scoop out with a spoon. Unlike a regular Kiwi which can have a hard core, the Gold Kiwi has a soft core which is very easy to cut through and eat. However, if you truly want to get the maximum amount of health benefits eat the skin as well.I find it strange that you most often see Kiwi used as a garnish on top of a fruit or leaf salad but rarely do you see Kiwi placed by themselves for the taking, because with their health benefits they are usually more healthy than the salad they are placed on top of. Vitamin C, fiber and potassium are a given but did you know:

-Kiwi is a high source of Alpha-Linolenic Acid (an Omega-3 fatty acid) and greater source then the more popular Flax-Seed

-Kiwi can act as a blood thinner - simular to Aspirin therapy - a few kiwi daily may thin the blood, ultimately reducing the overall risk of clots and lowers the fat content in the blood that can cause blockages (leading to Vascular Disease and Stroke risk)

-Kiwi contain a high amount of Luiten and Zeaxanthin (you can gauge the concentrations of these carotenoids by the color of the fruit or vegetable they are found in - they give a yellow or green pigmentation) Luiten and Zeaxanthin consumption have been found to decrease risk of Macular Degeneration

You can see why Kiwi are so much more then a garnish. The taste may lead you but the long-term health benefits are what should keep you coming back for more. But act fast, the Gold Kiwi are only available during our summer months (unless you live in New Zealand) and I have only found them at Sendik's Food Market.I hope you enjoy them as much as I and believe me, you'll feel better for it.

For further information see: http://www.zespri.com/