Figs are an ancient fruit… not exactly. Figs are really a flower that grows inward! But they’ve been around a very long time, even used as jewelry (in ancient Rome) and for currency in other cultures. According to the Bible, Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover themselves.
Today figs are grown all over the world and enjoyed fresh, canned and dried. They are very high in fiber and contain iron, calcium and potassium as well.
Corn is a grain (grass) of many uses. Most people think of it as a vegetable, but it is actually a grain!
Beyond the well-known and obvious food value, corn is also used to make ethanol and to feed livestock. Corn oil can also be used as a lubricant when processed the right way.
The gift of “maize” given to the Pilgrims by Native Americans has turned into an amazing crop for future generations.
The olive, olea europaea is closely related to lilacs, jasmine, Forsythia and true ash (fraxinus). It’s an ancient plant, called both a shrub and a tree, and mentioned often in the Bible as well as other ancient texts.
Today olives make garnishes for martinis, and holiday tables. They’re also used in a variety of cold salads. Olive oil is very popular for cooking, being used in foods from fried chicken to Italian dressing.
Natural oils have essential fatty acids which are good for the body. In fact we need essential fatty acids in order to survive and maintain an optimal level of health. Of course this does mean we need to consume in moderation, too much of anything can be bad. Hydrogenated oils are the result of chemical alteration to the natural oil. While the chemical alteration makes the food last longer on the grocery store shelves, a dangerous metamorphosis occurs.
All of the good fats that our bodies depend on in the natural oils are changed into very bad elements known as trans fat. Trans fats, when consumed, begin to increase the bad cholesterol levels in a body while decreasing the good cholesterol. They have also been linked to weight gain due to the body’s inability to digest these trans fats. Scientific studies have shown that in addition to these dangerous health problems it is also linked to heart disease and diabetes.
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