Variety comparisons and diverse culinary forms, such as juices or dried extracts, determine the nutritional value and physiological impact of plant-based diets on systemic health.
A type of dried seaweed that is commonly used in Japanese and Korean cuisine, nori is typically available in thin sheets that are cut or torn into smaller pieces. The smaller pieces are then used to wrap around a bite-sized portion of rice, as a garnish or in a variety of sushi dishes.
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Shiitake mushrooms are a type of edible fungus that is native to Asia and can be consumed raw, cooked, or in nutritional supplement form as a powdered extract of the mushroom's contents. Shiitake mushrooms have been used as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, and is commonly used in Asian cooking.
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Beets are a winter vegetable and an excellent source of folate, manganese, potassium and antioxidants. The health-protective nutrients found in beets can help you optimize your health and fight chronic diseases. However, you may notice that the color of your stools change when eating beets.
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Despite differences in size, flavor and color, lemons and limes share the same nutritional benefits. Both are low in calories and are good sources of dietary fiber, and they help you meet your daily needs for vitamins C and B-9.
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Celery -- scientific name Apium graveolens -- is a plant whose crisp green stalks are eaten both raw and cooked. Native to the Mediterranean region, it's been cultivated since ancient Greek times. Celery is a common component of weight-loss diets, as it's low in calories and high in nutrients.
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Papaya is a sweet tropical fruit that makes a nutritious snack. The fruit is packed with the antioxidant vitamin C and high in fiber. It contains no saturated fat or cholesterol. Papaya is usually served as a raw fruit, but it may also be cooked, pickled or juiced.
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As with other fruits, oranges are generally considered to be healthy. Oranges contain no fat, are moderately low in calories and contain a number of beneficial nutrients. Oranges may not be ideal for all nutritional plans, and eating oranges may have disadvantages for you.
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Constipation is a common problem that most people experience at some time. Infrequent bowel movements can cause discomfort. Although many people turn to laxatives for relief of occasional constipation, certain foods can provide a natural method of resolving and preventing constipation.
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Oxalate is a chemical compound that occurs naturally in almost every plant to some degree, including fruit, vegetable and grain plants. Oxalate is usually located in leaves or bark, where the compound binds with calcium to remove it when plants go through their seasonal shedding.
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Whether they came from a bag or straight from the fruit, you’ve probably tasted pumpkin seeds. Pumpkins aren’t the only winter squash that contain edible seeds; however, you can eat the seeds of virtually any squash variety, including acorn squash.
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Lemons add color and flavor to food and provide a healthy dose of vitamin C. One-half cup of lemon pulp and juice supplies 90 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C. Acidic lemons have a refreshing sourness most people cut with sugar or honey.
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Urine typically appears light yellow to dark amber in color. However, certain foods, such as beets, may change the color of your urine to pink or red. A change in your urine color from eating beets does not require medical treatment.
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When Columbus came to America in 1492, he brought numerous discoveries back with him, one of which was corn. Originally from Mexico, corn's versatility quickly made it an important food crop throughout the known world and one that is still widely used today.
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Ampalaya, also called bitter melon or balsam pear, makes up a staple in Indian and Chinese cuisines, and is highly regarded in tropical Asia for its medicinal properties, explains Ohio State University.
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Dark green veggies, which is a food group that includes leafy greens such as kale, spinach and dandelion greens, should make regular appearances in your diet, and USDA dietary guidelines recommend 1.5 to 2 cups weekly. Consuming 2 cups of raw leafy greens, or 1 cup of cooked greens, counts as 1 cup toward this goal.
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The fuyu persimmon, also known as the Japanese persimmon, is the national fruit of Japan, although it originated in China. The fuyu persimmon has a bright orange skin and is eaten like an apple.
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Goji berry is the commercial name for wolfberry. Wolfberry is a fruit of two closely related species called Lycium barbarum and L. chinense. Additional names for wolfberry include chinese wolfberry, barbary matrimony vine, mede berry, red medlar, Duke of Argyll's tea tree, bocksdorn, murali and matrimony vine.
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The skin of an eggplant can be eaten, but it is best to eat it when the eggplant is young. Older eggplants are more bitter and become more discolored. Because of this, older eggplants should be peeled before eaten.
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Zucchini bread is typically made with grated zucchini, but grated yellow squash can be used in its place without any additional alterations. Commonly thought of as a vegetable, yellow squash is actually a fruit because it grows on a vine and has internal seeds.
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Passion fruit is high in fiber and vitamin C and is native to South America. It has a mildly sweet flavor that makes it great for eating plain, adding to salads or blending with other fruits. In the United States, the most commonly-available variety of passion fruit is round and purple in color.
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