Health Benefits of the Apricot, an Excellent Fruit for Your Diet

Apricots Are Very Healthy and Are an Excellent Choice for Dieters

The apricot is often overlooked in favor of other common fruits such as the apple, pear, orange or banana. But the apricot is just as healthy as those other fruits, in some cases even healthier. Aside from the many health benefits of the apricot, it is also a wonderful diet food, providing a large amount of healthful nutrition to the body as well as keeping down caloric intake, as they are very low in calories as compared to other fruits (only about 50 calories for three apricots)!

Like apples or oranges, there are several different varieties of apricot, but you will typically find only one or two types to choose from in your local supermarket or fruit stand, depending upon your location. Appearing as small, golden-orange fruits, they all share the same particular health benefits, so its really just a matter of taste as to which type of apricot you would favor. Read more...

What is Saffron and Why is it the Most Expensive Spice in the World?

So what exactly makes saffron the world's most expensive spice? It's not necessarily its flavor or any health benefits associated with the reddish-yellow spice, although it does lend a distinct, wonderful flavor to all manner of dishes. Rather, its the cultivation process.

It has been estimated that approximately one acre of purple crocuses, the flower from which saffron threads are harvested, will yield only one pound of saffron. This is because each crocus flower only produces 3 threads of saffron. About 14,000 threads (actually the dried stigmas of the crocus flower) equals one ounce of saffron, so that should give you an idea of the labor intensive process that goes into harvesting saffron threads. Saffron is harvested in Spain, Greece, India, Turkey, and a few other countries. It can be sold as saffron threads, or as a ground saffron powder, but culinary experts prefer the threads, as the flavor is typically stronger. Read more about Saffron...

Broccoli Hybrids & Variations: Broccoli Rabe, Broccolini, and Broccoflower

The produce section of the supermarket is an ever-growing entity, as demand for new and unique fruits and vegetables continues to increase. Many supermarkets have seen an influx of exotic or previously unheard fruits and vegetables as the popularity of such items rises with the changing mood of the food market, and the advent of entertaining cookingshows that have introduced consumers to many new ingredients and foods.

One such vegetable that now appears in several incarnations is broccoli. No longer content with the simple green stalks and tiny budding florets of this versatile vegetable, consumers are now eagerly snatching up broccoli hybrids and other vegetables that bear the broccoli name but actually have little to do with broccoli itself, such as broccoli rabe.

Read more about Broccoli Rabe, Broccoflower, and Broccolini