Rutabaga

Rutabaga provides energy, heals wounds, and lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

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Brassica napus

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Swede, neep, Swedish turnip, yellow turnip, Canadian turnip, cabbage root

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Both the roots and leaves of the Rutabaga are edible, but it is the purple topped spherical root that defines this vegetable. A cross between a Turnip and Cabbage, Rutabaga can be baked, boiled and even mashed and in the U.S. They are very popular in stews and casseroles.

People living in Scotland and Ireland used to carve Rutabagas and use them as a lantern to ward off dark spirits. While it may not protect you from dark spirits, the Rutabaga is very healthy and has great flavor.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

Rutabagas can help provide good energy along with increasing metabolism, helping heal wounds and aiding bone development.
They are also believed to help lower cholesterol and blood sugar.

Radichhio

Radichhio is delicious and supports good eyesight and hypertention

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Cichorium endivia

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Italian chicory

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Often referred to as Italian chicory, Radicchio has been used since ancient times as both delicious food and medicinal herb. The most popular variety seen today in the U.S. is burgundy colored and roughly the size of a grapefruit.

Its leaves are known for a somewhat bitter taste and Radicchio is often prepared raw in some salads or can be cooked. In Italy where radicchio is very popular, it is commonly grilled in olive oil.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

Radicchio has been used since ancient times as both a blood purifier and an aid for insomnia. Radicchio is also believed to support good eye-site, help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension.

Mustard Greens

Mustard Greens have a strong flavor and has anti-cancer properties

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Brassica juncea

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Mustard Greens

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Native to India, and very popular today in African and Indian cuisine, mustard greens are another healthy cruciferous vegetable. With edible leaves, stem, and seeds, mustard greens are known for their crunchy texture and peppery taste.

Mustard greens are sometimes prepared in salads but also are commonly cooked before eating. Grown year-round but best from December through April, mustard greens have a strong flavor and the seeds of mustard greens are a major ingredient in dijon mustard.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

As with many cruciferous vegetables, mustard greens are believed to have anti-cancer properties as one of their many health benefits.
In addition, mustard greens have shown to be a good anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory and they are believed to help lower cholesterol.

Green Beans

Green prevents birth defects and diabetes

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Phaseolus vulgarise

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The common bean, string bean, field bean, flageolet bean, French bean, garden bean, haricot bean, pop bean, snap bean, yellow bean, kidney bean, wax bean

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Commonly referred to as string beans or french beans, green beans are known for the sweet flavor from the outer pod. Green beans belong to both the same genus and species as black beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans and there are over 130 known varieties of green bean varying in pod color amongst many other traits. They are often boiled, stir-fried, or even turned into a green bean casserole.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

Green beans have shown to promote good cardiovascular health and their high levels of flavenoid help reduce birth defects. In addition, green beans have been linked to strong immune systems as well as helping prevent type 2 diabetes.

RECIPES USING THIS INGREDIENT

Leek

Leek helps prevent atherosclerosis and Type-2 Diabetes

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Allium porrum

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Leeks

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Very popular for hundreds of years in Europe and the Mediterranean, Leek is recently growing in popularity in America. A close relative to Onions and Garlic, the Leek has a more subtle and sweet taste than the onion and can be eaten raw, boiled or fried.

Commonly used in soups, the edible part of the leek is the bundle of leaf sheaths sometimes referred to improperly as the stem or stalk.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

Leeks are believed to support good cardiovascular health as well as help prevent atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Okra

Okra reduces birth defects and prevents stomach ulcer.

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Abelmoschus esculentus

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Lady’s fingers, Bhindi (Hindi), Quimbombó

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‘Okra’ is a flowering plant and a member of the mallow family. The mellow family resemblance is best identified in ‘Okra’ in its flower form when it is funnel-shaped with five overlapping and heart-shaped petals flaring out.

There has been a lot of debate on the place of origin of ‘Okra’ as some say it originated in Ethiopia while some argue about its origin in India.

The story about the name ‘Okra’ is assumed that it derives its name from one of the Niger-Congo group of languages.

Okra is a tropical plant and best cultivates in a warm climate. India followed by Nigeria, are the top producers of ‘Okra’ in the world in 2011.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition describes the importance of whole wheat rather than refined to maintain healthy body weight.

Wheat bran contains phytochemicals such as phytic acid and lignins that have shown to inhibit in vitro and in vivo growth of mammary cancer.

The protective effect of wheat bran in breast carcinogenesis is greatest at the promotional phase when supplemented to a high-fat diet. Few Other Kitchen Pharmacy is:

Eating okra helps to rid the body of toxins and excess cholesterol.
Okra helps to control blood sugar & improving immunity.
Okra helps in protection against developing stomach ulcers.
Okra reduces birth defects.

Kale

Kale is low in calories and high in fiber

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Brassica oleracea

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Borecole

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Another cruciferous vegetable and especially similar to collard greens, Kale is known for its very earthy flavor, low amount of calories and high fiber content.

While it is used raw in salads, Kale can be boiled and steamed. When baked, the curly variety of kale can serve as a healthier and still delicious variety of the potato chip.

Ornamental Kale is known for its vibrant variety of colors and is often used as a garnish on certain dishes but is still edible. Kale is eaten across the globe and in some places, it is even turned into a popular juice.

Artichoke

Artichoke is a fiber source and helps in digestion

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Cynara cardunculus

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Globe Artichoke, alacachofra alcachofera, artichaut, tyosen-azami

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A vegetable that has been eaten for ages, the artichoke is a relatively unknown vegetable that provides enormous benefits.

Artichokes have many uses and can be eaten stuffed, raw, cooked and can even be made into an herbal tea. The edible part of an artichoke is the buds that form within the flower heads before the flower fully blooms.

Artichokes typically range in size from as large as softballs to as small as a golf ball when they are commonly referred to as baby artichokes.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

Artichokes are believed to help digestion, improve hepatic and gall bladder function, and even raise the ratio of good to bad cholesterol. They are an excellent source of fiber and have shown to reduce the risk of heart disease as well as certain types of cancer.

Green Onion

Green Onion’s green color prevents skin wrinkling and has anti-caner properties

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Allium cepa

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Sallions, spring onions, salad onions, table onions, green shallots, onion sticks, long onions, baby onions precious onions, yard onions, gibbons, syboes

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Known for their slightly deintensified onion taste and strong aroma, the green onion is a very versatile onion. While many refer to the green onion as a scallion, they actually have a small white bulb, unlike a scallion, and are slightly bigger than the scallion as well.

The green onion is pulled from the ground before its bulb is fully mature. The bulb is white in color while its stalk, which is equally edible, intensifies from light green to dark as you move further away from the bulb.

Sometimes prepared raw but also common in stir-fries as well as some salsas and dips, green onions are another delicious and nutritious veggie.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

The green onion has numerous health benefits and even is believed to have some anti-cancer properties and is believed to be especially helpful in preventing colon cancer.
They work well to reduce inflammation and also are believed to help lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Studies even suggest that the green onion is beneficial in preventing skin wrinkling.

Carrot

Carrots may fight cancer and is good for the heart

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Daucus carota

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White carrot, Karot, Carrot

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One of the more popular vegetables today, carrots have become well-liked for their sweet taste and health benefits. While most people only know the typical orange-colored carrots, carrots actually do come in red, purple, white and yellow colors as well.

The taproot, which is the commonly eaten part of the vegetable grows underground and is a thin tapered cylindrical shape that can grow up to 10 inches tall.

Carrots can be eaten in a variety of ways such as raw, boiled, fried and steamed and are commonly seen in many vegetable dishes to add taste.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

Carrots are long believed to be very beneficial to overall eyesight. In addition, they are believed to help fight cancer by destroying pre-cancerous cells in tumors.
Carrots have shown added benefits to regulating blood pressure and controlling the heart-rate. Growth and development are even believed to be supplemented by a heavy dosage of carrots.