“According to botanists, (those who study plants) a fruit is the part of the plant that develops from a flower. It’s also the section of the plant that contains the seeds. The other parts of plants are considered vegetables. These include the stems, leaves and roots — and even the flower bud”. The confusion starts due to the sweetness of the final product if sweet must be a fruit … right?
The following are technically fruits although many people think of them as a vegetable: avocado, beans, peapods, corn kernels, cucumbers, grains, nuts, olives, peppers, pumpkin, squash, sunflower seeds and tomatoes. In the case of tomatoes, the US Supreme court in 1893 ruled that a tomato could be classified as a vegetable for tariff reason even though it is technically a fruit.
Vegetables include celery (stem), lettuce (leaves), cauliflower and broccoli (buds), beets, carrots and potatoes (roots).
Tree nuts such as chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and walnuts are the fruit of their trees.
According to botanists, coconut is a seed, a fruit and a nut! Coconut is a seed because it is the reproductive part of the tree, coconut is a fruit because it is a fibrous one-seeded drupe and coconut is a nut because a loose definition of a nut is nothing but a one-seeded fruit. Coconut is not a botanical nut; it is classified as a fruit, even though the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recognizes coconut as a tree nut. Although extremely rare, people highly sensitive to many foods may have an allergic reaction. For the more significant populations, most people who are allergic to tree nuts can safely eat coconut. Therefore, there is no reason not to use the essential oil of coconut in your relaxation massage or RMT massage at Beauty-Full Spa Pickering 905-420-0020.
One grown group of nutrients that cross both the vegetables and fruit barriers are referred to as Nightshade. Nightshade food types seem like healthy, nutrient-dense additions to any diet. Tomatoes are known as a cancer fighter, bell peppers are commended for their nutrient density, and eggplant is a typical low carb swap. However, not everyone can tolerate foods from the nightshade group as they can cause inflammation and aggravation of the chronic illness, including IBS. Nightshades belong to the Solanaceae family and include thousands of edible and inedible plants.
Most common foods found in the Nightshade grouping are:
- tomatoes (all varieties, and tomato products like marinara, ketchup, etc.);
- tomatillos;
- potatoes (white and red potatoes. Sweet potatoes do not belong to the nightshades food group.);
- eggplant;
- all peppers (bell peppers, jalapeno, chilli peppers, and hot peppers);
- red spices (curry powder, chilli powder, cayenne powder, red pepper);
- paprika;
- pimentos;
- tobacco (inedible);
- goji berries;
- ground cherries (different from regular cherries);
On one parting note. Do you know the difference between the artificial sweetener, Stevia and the narcotic Cocaine? Stevia and Cocaine are both vegetables as they are derived from the leaves of the plant which they are grown. Stevia is known for its zero calories and as a food additive for sweetness. One cup of white sugar is equal to one teaspoon of powdered Stevia extra. Although labelled as natural, one should question the use of ethanol in the extraction process? Yes, ethanol as found in your automobile’s gasoline tank.
Cocaine is known for its zero calories and an additive for pain relive or getting you high. Both too much Stevia and too much Cocaine can kill you. Cocaine is also taken from the cacao plant leaf using gasoline, yes, the stuff that power’s most automobile engines.
So, what is the difference between the two – price and pain relief? Although there are no reported cases of sniffing stevia it might also get you high, as cocaine is a legal drug, just used illegally. They both are used to improve our lives, Stevia to eliminate bitterness and cocaine a pain reliever and illegally to remove the bitterness of living! In the case between white sugar and cocaine, the only difference is the street price!
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Sources:
Some of the content of this piece was liberated from Jennifer K. Nelson, R.D., L.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. August 15, 2012; weblink: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-blog/fruit-vegetable-difference/bgp-20056141