Cucumbers Day 25

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

The Cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae (same as the squash, pumpkin, and watermelon). It is a creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruits that are used as culinary vegetables. There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling, and burpless. Within these varieties, several different cultivars have emerged.

The cucumber is originally from Southern Asia, but now grows on most continents. Many different varieties are traded on the global market. Like watermelon, cucumbers are made up of mostly (95 percent) water, which means eating them on a hot summer day can help you stay hydrated.

Oma did not know that cucumbers are the fourth most cultivated vegetable in the world. They are known to be one of the best foods for your body's overall health, often referred to as a superfood.

Nine Reasons to Eat Cucumbers

1. Protect Your Brain (contain an anti-inflammatory flavonol called fisetin)
2. Reduce Your Risk of Cancer (polyphenols called lignans)
3. Fight Inflammation
4. Antioxidant Properties (vitamin C , beta-carotene)
5. Freshen Your Breath*
6. Manage Stress (multiple B vitamins)
7. Support Your Digestive Health (rich in water and fiber)
8. Maintain a Healthy Weight (very low in calories)
9. Support Heart Health (potassium)

*Placing a cucumber slice on the roof of your mouth may help to rid your mouth of odor-causing bacteria. According to the principles of Ayurveda, eating cucumbers may also help to release excess heat in your stomach, which is said to be a primary cause of bad breath.

Related Posts:

• Day 24 Blackberry
• Day 23 Bell Peppers
• Day 22 Quince
• Day 21 Lemon
• Day 20 Tomato
• Day 19 Crookneck Squash
• Day 18 Kiwifruit
• Day 17 Passion Fruit
• Day 16 Corn
• Day 15 Blueberries
• Day 14 Dark Chocolate Strawberry Halves
• Day 13 Coconut
• Day 12 Avocado
• Day 11 Pears
• Day 10 Mango
• Day   9 Pitaya
• Day   8 Habanero Pepper
• Day   7 Watermelon
• Day   6 Grapes
• Day   5 Banana
• Day   4 Nectarine
• Day   3 Peach
• Day   2 Black Plums
• Day   1 Apples 
• A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

Baby Rattlesnakes As Dangerous As Adults

Bummer – we had to kill this baby rattlesnake yesterday. Unfortunately, baby rattlesnakes are just as dangerous as adults; some say more poisonous. 

Kind of a funny story, we are sitting around the kitchen table talking insurance, when Opa comes running in with baby Reef Indy in his arms. With one word – “rattlesnake,” Opa hands Reef off to his mom. Zachariah and I scramble from the table to go help rattlesnake wrangle.

I wish I could have captured the stunted look on the insurance lady’s face.

Blackberry Day 24

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

 

What distinguishes the blackberry from its raspberry relatives is whether or not the torus (receptacle or stem) 'picks-with' the fruit. When picking a blackberry fruit, the torus does stay with the fruit. With a raspberry, the torus remains on the plant, leaving a hollow core in the raspberry fruit.

Much like spinach, raisins, apples, plums and grapes, blackberries are rich in bioflavonoids and Vitamin C, but other nutritional benefits include a very low sodium count and having only 62 calories to a cup.

Folklore in the United Kingdom is told that blackberries should not be picked after Old Michaelmas Day (11 October) as the devil has made them unfit to eat, by stepping, spitting, or fouling on them. There is some value behind this legend as wetter and cooler weather often allows the fruit to become infected by various molds such as Botryotinia which give the fruit an unpleasant look and may be toxic.

Related Posts:

• Day 23 Bell Peppers
• Day 22 Quince
• Day 21 Lemon
• Day 20 Tomato
• Day 19 Crookneck Squash
• Day 18 Kiwifruit
• Day 17 Passion Fruit
• Day 16 Corn
• Day 15 Blueberries
• Day 14 Dark Chocolate Strawberry Halves
• Day 13 Coconut
• Day 12 Avocado
• Day 11 Pears
• Day 10 Mango
• Day   9 Pitaya
• Day   8 Habanero Pepper
• Day   7 Watermelon
• Day   6 Grapes
• Day   5 Banana
• Day   4 Nectarine
• Day   3 Peach
• Day   2 Black Plums
• Day   1 Apples 
• A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

Bell Peppers Day 23

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

 

Oma loves the taste and color of the yellow bell pepper. Peppers are seedy and thus categorized as fruit. Most of the differences in bell pepper color stem from time of harvest and degree of ripening.

Green peppers are bell peppers that have been harvested before being allowed to fully ripen. While green bell peppers usually turn yellow-orange and then red this is not always the case. Red, orange, and yellow bell peppers are always more ripe than green ones and therefore require more time in the ground before they can be harvested; that's why they are more expensive.

Bottom line: all of the bell peppers originate from the same species of plant, and they achieve their different colors naturally, not by any artificial means. Yellow bell peppers are a good source of vitamin C. A medium bell pepper has just twenty-four calories.

Related Posts:

• Day 22 Quince
• Day 21 Lemon
• Day 20 Tomato
• Day 19 Crookneck Squash
• Day 18 Kiwifruit
• Day 17 Passion Fruit
• Day 16 Corn
• Day 15 Blueberries
• Day 14 Dark Chocolate Strawberry Halves
• Day 13 Coconut
• Day 12 Avocado
• Day 11 Pears
• Day 10 Mango
• Day   9 Pitaya
• Day   8 Habanero Pepper
• Day   7 Watermelon
• Day   6 Grapes
• Day   5 Banana
• Day   4 Nectarine
• Day   3 Peach
• Day   2 Black Plums
• Day   1 Apples 
• A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

Quince Day 22

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

 

Oma had never heard of a Quince before and wasn’t even sure it was a fruit. Come to discover, the quince is the sole member of the genus Cydonia in the family Rosaceae (which also contains apples and pears, among other fruits). It is a small deciduous tree that bears a pome fruit, similar in appearance to a pear, and bright golden-yellow when mature.

Quince is low calorie fruit; 100 g fresh raw fruit is about 57 calories. In addition, it composes several vital poly-phenolic antioxidants than apples and pears. The fruit is the storehouse for phyto-nutrients such as dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins.

Interesting fact: When a baby is born in Slavonia (Croatia), a quince tree is planted as a symbol of fertility, love and life.

Related Posts:

• Day 21 Lemon
• Day 20 Tomato
• Day 19 Crookneck Squash
• Day 18 Kiwifruit
• Day 17 Passion Fruit
• Day 16 Corn
• Day 15 Blueberries
• Day 14 Dark Chocolate Strawberry Halves
• Day 13 Coconut
• Day 12 Avocado
• Day 11 Pears
• Day 10 Mango
• Day   9 Pitaya
• Day   8 Habanero Pepper
• Day   7 Watermelon
• Day   6 Grapes
• Day   5 Banana
• Day   4 Nectarine
• Day   3 Peach
• Day   2 Black Plums
• Day   1 Apples 
• A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

Lemon Day 21

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

Oma has five Eureka lemon trees on her property.  Needless to say this was before she knew that on such plant would produce enough lemons for a family!

The 'Eureka' grows year-round and abundantly. This is the common supermarket lemon, also known as 'Four Seasons' (Quatre Saisons) because of its ability to produce fruit and flowers together throughout the year.

Lemons are probably best known for being a rich source of vitamin C or ascorbic acid, a pungent water-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin C helps boost the body’s immune system and attacks free radicals and toxins in our bodies.

Lemons are also a good source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate. If this is not enough to convince you that lemons are the kings of citrus, they also have antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Sore throat? Try a gargle of equal parts lemon juice and warm water twice a day.

Related Posts:

• Day 20 Tomato
• Day 19 Crookneck Squash
• Day 18 Kiwifruit
• Day 17 Passion Fruit
• Day 16 Corn
• Day 15 Blueberries
• Day 14 Dark Chocolate Strawberry Halves
• Day 13 Coconut
• Day 12 Avocado
• Day 11 Pears
• Day 10 Mango
• Day   9 Pitaya
• Day   8 Habanero Pepper
• Day   7 Watermelon
• Day   6 Grapes
• Day   5 Banana
• Day   4 Nectarine
• Day   3 Peach
• Day   2 Black Plums
• Day   1 Apples 
• A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

Do Good Have Fun(TM) Universal Cell Phone Car Mount #cellphonecarmout

Oma has to love a product named Do Good Have Fun!

Hands-free driving laws have gone into effect all across the country. Be warned - cell phone tickets are very expensive and more importantly, using non-hand free devices is dangerous.

The Do Good Have Fun - Universal Cell Phone Car MountTM ranks in the Top 10 of Amazon .com’s Best Selling Cell Phone Car Mounts. It is a hands-free mount for your car’s dashboard or windshield.

It swivels 360 degrees for optimum viewing from any angle and holds all the newest cell phones and many of the old ones as well.

Oma uses her Do Good Have Fun - Universal Cell Phone Car MountTM at her workstation. No more wasting time searching for her iPhone. This car phone mount is very easy to operate and secures my iPhone well. I love how it expands to fit the older bigger phones also! 

Product Description 

 

About The Do Good Have Fun™ Universal Cell Phone Car Mount An Ultra-Compact, Hands-free Smartphone Car Mount & Multipurpose Phone Stand

The Do Good Have Fun™ Universal Cell Phone Car Mount is an ultra compact, super lightweight, easily collapsible cell phone car holder that can swivel 360 degrees thus providing a wide range of viewing options that allow you to easily to take it with you and use it as a travel stand anywhere, when not in your car!

ULTRA COMPACT FORM - Our easily transportable smartphone car phone holder fits in the palm of your hand and accommodates smartphones up to 5" in size including smartphones by: HTC, iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPhone 6 (ready to accommodate), Samsung Galaxy series, Motorola Droid smartphones, Blackberry Series smartphones and more.

HIGH QUALITY DESIGN - Our car cellphone holder is high temperature heat resistant and offers terrific smartphone stability. The 360 degree swiveling provides a wide range of viewing options and it attaches quickly and securely to windshields and dashboards (Optional dashboard mounting plate is included).

STICK & CLICK QUICK MOUNT - Both secure windshield suction mounting and de-mounting are able to be accomplished in less than 5 seconds or less! HANDS-FREE MOUNT / STAND - The diverse functionality of our universal car mount makes it ideal for multi-purpose use. It's not only ideal for multi-car use and for travelers needing a reliable mount that can be placed in any car (regardless of vents and other car specific features), but the diverse functionality of the Do Good Have Fun™ Universal Cell Phone Car Mount enables you to use it as a desk mount and stand your smartphone erect on the desk while at work! Have a nearby window to use and want to watch a video? Quickly and safely use the quick and easy Stick & Click suction mount to secure it to any glass and have hands-free entertainment wherever you may be!

THE ULTIMATE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE - Do Good Have Fun™ offers a Customer Satisfaction Guarantee and Customer Service that our buyers simply love! 

ALL-IN-ALL The Do Good Have Fun™ provides you innumerable choices in mount-ability, in & out of the car, and at a price that's extremely hard to beat.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.