vegetables

Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Pros and Cons of Zucchini

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Zucchini, otherwise called courgette, is a summer squash popularly prepared fried, grilled, baked, or cooked in soups and stews. Though we’ve come to know of squash as a solid and starchy vegetable that needs lengthy cooking, zucchini differs in that the entire vegetable, from its flesh, skin, and seeds, are all tender and therefore may all be consumed even when raw. This is because zucchini is harvested while still immature. It is one of the types of squashes that are not hardy. The vegetable was not stored for the cold months and was eaten while in season back when storage technology was absent, hence the name summer squash. Undoubtedly a nutritious vegetable, zucchini should be included in your diet, though only in reasonable amounts.

Continue reading and discover more about the pros and cons of zucchini and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends moderate use of this vegetable.

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Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Pros and Cons of Carrots

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Carrots happen to be one of the most recognizable vegetables out there, like potatoes, broccoli and cabbages. Though carrots are known for its bright orange color, there are manifold varieties of this crop that have purple, white, and red hues. Believed to have first been domesticated in Afghanistan, carrots eventually spread to Europe and later on were brought to the United States by European settlers. Carrots can be eaten raw or cooked and this vegetable can be included in salads, soups, and even baked items. Though the vegetable has tons to offer nutritionally, moderate consumption of carrots is still advised.

Continue reading and discover more about the pros and cons of carrots and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends moderate use of this vegetable.

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Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Pros and Cons of Cucumber

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Cucumber is one of the most versatile crops out there. Though prepared and eaten as a vegetable, cucumber is, botanically speaking, really a fruit. In South Asia where it is believed to have originated, cucumber is eaten raw or as naturally fermented pickles, or cooked as part of a traditional thick legume stew made from peas, lentils or beans. In the United States, cucumber is incorporated in practically all types of food preparations – from garnishing, to salads, to sandwiches, to dips. Though grown locally and available throughout the year, eating cucumber in reasonable amounts is still advised.

Continue reading and discover more about the pros and cons of cucumber and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends moderate use of this vegetable.

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Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Pros and Cons of Potatoes

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Potatoes are among the most widely cultivated crops in the world. Traced to have been domesticated for the first time in Peru and Bolivia, potatoes were eventually brought to Europe by the Spaniards. From there, the Irish took the crop with them to the United States, hence the name “Irish potatoes” which Americans commonly use to distinguish from sweet potatoes. Potatoes certainly have a lot to offer nutritionally, but this tuberous vegetable may not be for everybody.

Continue reading and discover more about the pros and cons of potatoes and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends moderate use of this vegetable.

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Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Pros and Cons of Plantains

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Though a type of banana, plantains are considered more of a vegetable for cooking because of the starchier and practically neutral taste when unripe, quite unlike dessert bananas which have a sugary flavor. Believed to have originated from Malaysia and from there spread to the other parts of the Malay Archipelago, plantains eventually were brought to Africa and then to the New World. Now widely available in the United States, this makes plantains easy to incorporate into one’s diet. However, eating plantains in reasonable amounts should be considered, especially by individuals who have specific weight or disease management goals.

Continue reading and discover more about the pros and cons of plantains and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends moderate use of this vegetable.

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Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Pros and Cons of Yams

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Yams are tubers which have white, yellow, or purplish flesh that have very minimal sweetness. In the United States, the vegetable often called “yams” are actually orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. The characteristics of yams vary greatly than those of sweet potatoes though. For one, yams are only minimally sweet while sweet potatoes, particularly the orange-colored ones, are very sugary in taste. Yams’ skin, too, look quite different as it is rough and scaly as compared to the thin and smooth skin of sweet potatoes.

Though not really extensively grown in the United States, yams are worth incorporating in your diet, though in reasonable amounts only.

Continue reading and discover more about the pros and cons of yams and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends moderate use of this vegetable.

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Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Pros and Cons of Sweet Potatoes

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Sweet potatoes, though called as such, are only distantly related to potatoes. In the United States, this vegetable is known for its starchy and sweet-tasting flavor, although its shoots and leaves are eaten as greens in other parts of the world. Americans’ consumption of sweet potatoes used to be significant. However, in the mid-twentieth century, this waned because the vegetable got associated with hard times for it was one of the go-to crops during war and famine. Though sweet potatoes are viewed rather negatively, this vegetable is actually one of the healthiest vegetables out there. But though this is the case, reasonable consumption of this vegetable should still be considered, especially by individuals who have specific weight loss or disease management goals.

Continue reading and discover more about the pros and cons of sweet potatoes and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends moderate use of this vegetable.

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Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Benefits of Organic Greens Powder or Capsule

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Just like the name implies, organic greens powder or capsule is a type of food supplement made from organically grown produce. Back then, green food supplements were typically made up exclusively or from a combination of cereal grass like barley and wheatgrass, as well as algae like chlorella and spirulina. But thanks to a growing body of research, greens like green tea, kale and spinach, as well as porphyra algae used to make nori, to name a few, are now also made into powder and capsule form.

As you probably already know, organic greens are packed with healthful goodness. And because these now come in convenient powder or capsule form, it’ll then be easier for you to incorporate these nutritious food items to your diet to help you reach your wellness goals.

Read further and learn more about the benefits of organic greens powder or capsule and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends it.

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Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Benefits of Swiss Chard

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Swiss chard, though named as such, did not originate from Switzerland. In fact, the very first varieties of this attractively hued leafy vegetable were traced in Sicily, an island off the Mediterranean Sea. The name only came about in the nineteenth century after seed catalog publishers used “Swiss” to differentiate from the various spinach varieties that came from France.

A hardy leafy vegetable, Swiss chard is known for its unique delicate flavor and is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine. But aside from  its characteristic taste, Swiss chard is packed with healthful goodness as well.

Read further and learn more about the benefits of Swiss chard and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends this vegetable.

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Secrets of the Superhuman Food Pyramid: Benefits of Nori (Seaweed)

Posted on by Ben Greenfield

Nori is a type of seaweed popularly used for making sushi. Made from porphyra and/or enteromorpha species of algae, these seaweed varieties grow in shallow and cold water. Nori often comes in thin sheet form and has a black-purple color which turns a deep green when toasted.  Though nori’s popularity in the United States is only fairly recently, this seaweed has been eaten for centuries in Asia, specifically in China and Japan.

Adding nori to your dishes will not only make your meals more flavorful but will also make you healthier overall as this unassuming seaweed packs a punch nutritionally.

Read further and learn more about the benefits of nori and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends this vegetable.

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