Baby Care Shop

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant (rarely biennial), which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to triangular-based, very variable in size from about 2–30 cm long and 1–15 cm broad, with larger leaves at the base of the plant and small leaves higher on the flowering stem. The flowers are inconspicuous, yellow-green, 3–4 mm diameter, maturing into a small, hard, dry, lumpy fruit cluster 5–10 mm across containing several seeds. Nutrition Spinach has a high nutritional value and is extremely rich in antioxidants, especially when fresh, steamed, or quickly boiled. It is a rich source of vitamin A (and especially high in lutein), vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, manganese, folate, betaine, iron, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, folic acid, copper, protein, p...

The beetroot, also known as the table beet, garden beet, red beet or informally simply as beet, is one of the many cultivated varieties of beets (Beta vulgaris) and arguably the most commonly encountered variety in North America and Britain. Beetroots are a rich source of potent antioxidants and nutrients, including magnesium, sodium, potassium and vitamin C, and betaine, which is important for cardiovascular health. It functions by acting with other nutrients to reduce the concentration of homocysteine, a homologue of the naturally occurring amino acid cysteine, which can be harmful to blood vessels and thus contribute to the development of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Betaine functions in conjunction with S-adenosylmethionine, folic acid, and vitamins B6 and B12 to carry out this function. Additionally, several preliminary studies on both rats and humans have shown betaine may protect against liver disease, particularly the build up of fatty deposits in the...

There are almost 400 hundred varieties of sweet potato, including what is commonly known in the US as a yam. A true yam is the root of the Dioscorea genus of plants, and the word yam is derived from the African term for the root, nyami. All potatoes, including sweet potatoes, originate from South America, and are one of the oldest vegetables known. Columbus was the man to introduce the sweet potato to American shores, and Spanish and Portuguese explorers to other parts of the world. Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes * Vitamins Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamins C and B6. * Beta-Carotene Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of beta-carotene, with the darker varieties having a higher concentration. Beta-carotene is converted in the intestine into Vitamin A, which is essential for normal vision as well as proper bone growth, healthy skin, and protection of the mucous membranes of the digestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts against infection. Keratomalacia is...

The original wild mango, which is still grown in India and Southeast Asia today, is a far cry from the juicy and delicious cultivated mangoes we now eat. The mango belongs to the same family as the cashew and pistachio. The tropical mango is the national fruit of India, where it was first cultivated as early as 2000 BCE. Portuguese explorers introduced the mango into Africa and Brazil in the 16th century, and mangoes were being grown in Hawaii and Florida by the 19th century. In India mangoes are considered to be a symbol of life, and mango leaves are used for decoration in festival celebrations and weddings. Indian mango chutney is perhaps the original chutney, and has become popular worldwide. Today India is the world’s largest producer of mangoes, with China, Thailand, Mexico and Brazil other major producers. Nutrients in Mangoes Mangoes are an excellent source of carotenes, vitamin C, and copper. They are a very good source of B vitamins. Mangoes are a good source of vitamin E, pot...

Strawberries are a fragrant, red-coloured, ground-dwelling fruit. Their history dates back over 2,000 years with records showing a variety of breeds as a native in many parts of the world. In the early eighteenth century a strawberry hybrid was created that took its size from a South American variety and its taste and fragrance from France. This created what it is known today as the common strawberry that is preferred throughout Europe. The strawberry is often described as a luxury item, enjoyed by royalty. France’s King Charles V had over 3000 planted at the Louvre in Paris, King Louis XIII ate them everyday; and both Louis XIII and Louis XIV the latter enjoyed the berries so much that they are recorded to have eaten them to the point of indigestion! The use of strawberries and of the strawberry plant itself for therapeutic purposes dates back as long as they have been eaten. American Indians prepared infusions of strawberry plant leaves as a treatment for stomach pain and gastrointe...

Limes are a green citrus fruit that grows on trees in tropical and subtropical climates. Best known for preventing scurvy on ships, they are fairly small, about 3-5cm in diameter and can be either sweet or sour in taste. Sweet limes don’t contain citric acid content; sour limes contain both a higher sugar level and citric acid content than their close cousin the lemon, contributing to their acidic, tart taste. Today, this taste is known and loved by those who enjoy ?Tequila slammers’ and Margaritas’ around the world. Originating in Southeast Asia, limes found their way into Egypt and North Africa about 1000 years ago. From here the Moors carried them to Spain and it was during the Crusades that limes were then spread throughout southern Europe. Christopher Columbus triumphantly brought the sour lime to the New World in 1493. Today, limes are grown in warmer climates, since they are very susceptible to frost, namely the very southern states of America, Mexico, and Brazil. They contain...