Fruit and Vegetable Garden

Author: Daniel Jowssey

Grilling Vegetables for Your Health and the Many Benefits
Grilling vegetables is easy. The fact that more people don't do it is the strange thing. The general rule is to cut the vegetables into pieces that will cook quickly and evenly.

Vegetables are a very important part of a healthy, balanced diet. Vegetables not only taste better when they are fresh but they maintain more of their nutritional values this way too. Grilled vegetables can accompany a main dish or they can be served as a main meal.

If you are planning to grill vegetables, you should pick vegetables with a low water content, such as onions, cabbage, mushrooms, bell peppers and asparagus. You can either grill the vegetables directly on the grill or wrap them in a piece of foil first. If you wrap them in foil, you won't need to add any fats or oils. If you fry them in a pan, they will absorb oils. If you boil them, you will lose vegetable nutrients in the water. Grilled vegetables really are healthier than any other kind.

The Many Benefits of Vegetables
If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, there are several health benefits you could experience. A vegetable-rich diet can reduce the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Plenty of vegetables can also mean you have more protection against heart disease, kidney stones, osteoporosis and various types of cancers. Dark green and orange vegetables contain more cancer-fighting antioxidants than most others. There are more benefits of vegetables if you are trying to lose weight and get in shape. They are low in calories and high in fiber, so you can feel full and satisfied without eating lots of calories.

Vegetable Nutrients and Their Functions
Nutrients found in vegetables include dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin E, folate (folic acid) and vitamin C. Potassium helps to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Dietary fiber helps to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and is important for good bowel function. Folate helps to produce red blood cells. Vitamin A looks after the eyes and skin. Vitamin E protects essential acids and vitamin A from cell oxidization. Vitamin C keeps the gums and teeth healthy, aids in iron absorption and heals wounds.

A Delicious Grilled Vegetable Recipe

This is a quick and easy grilled vegetable recipe, which is high in vegetable nutrients and flavor. Clean and trim a selection of vegetables that grill well. Cut each into thick slices or halves. You can choose from eggplant, button mushrooms, tomatoes, corn on the cob, summer squash, peppers and more.

Remove the silks from the corn but leave on the husks. Soak them for an hour. Parboil some small waxy potatoes until they are soft. If you are not using foil, brush the vegetables with oil or a marinade.
Prepare a medium hot grill. Place the vegetables on the grill on skewers, in a foil pouch or directly on to the grill. Denser vegetables such as potatoes and carrots take longer to cook, so add those first. Turn the vegetables as needed, brushing on more oil or marinade. When they can be easily pierced with a fork, they are ready to serve.
To make an easy marinade, you can mix 2 parts of olive oil with 1 part lemon juice and add a peeled, crushed clove of garlic. This marinade can be made a day ahead and kept refrigerated.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/recipes-articles/vegetable-grilling-guide-359097.html

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By Sam D'costa

The summers are round the corner and it's time take stock of fresh fruits that keep you cool and dry in the heat. Summertime is a time for many delicious juices and refreshing drinks. Lemonades, punches and more of the kind keep us cool and give us some respite from the sweltering heat.

Of all these tasty treats of summer, watermelon juice is a particular favorite with many. Watermelons hold the honor of being among the most beloved of fruits all over the world. The sweet and juicy call of this delicious fruit is simply irresistible. Watermelon juice is savored by the whole world. From home to office to school, watermelon juice is a popular sight everywhere.

Some Watermelon Seeds on Ebay:

WATERMELON SUGAR BABY HEIRLOOM 50 SEEDS    US $.99

CRIMSON SWEET WATERMELON HEIRLOOM 50 SEEDS    US $.99

An all-American favorite, watermelon juice is highly nutritious and packed with nature's goodness in its every drop. Watermelons are full of the phytochemical called lycopene. Watermelons are among few naturally occurring foods that contain it in large amounts. Other natural sources of lycopene are tomatoes, red and pink grapefruit, apricots, persimmons, red-fleshed papaya and guava. However, it is interesting to remember that the mean lycopene concentration of watermelon (4868 micrograms/100 g) is about 40% higher than the year-round mean for raw tomato (3025 micrograms/100 g), and watermelon ranks 5th among the major contributors of lycopene in the US diet.

So, what is Lycopene? Lycopene is a red pigment that occurs naturally in certain plant and algal tissues. In addition to giving watermelon and tomatoes their characteristic 'red' color, it is also believed to be a powerful antioxidant. Lycopene scavenges reactive oxygen species, which are aggressive chemicals always ready to react with cell components, causing oxidative damage and loss of proper cell function. Many epidemiological studies have concluded that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables reduces the incidence of heart disease and cancer in humans. Scientists have found that lycopene in the diet correlates with reduced incidence of certain types of cancer. And lycopene levels in fat tissue-an indicator of lycopene consumption-have been linked with reduced risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Watermelon juice today is available in many forms and flavors. All you need to do is pay a visit to the local supermarket or health food store to witness the watermelon revolution that is sweeping America today. Names such as Sundia, which has become synonymous with world-class watermelon products, can be credited with many watermelon and watermelon juice products that everybody loves and relishes. It is comforting to know that most of these high quality juice products are 100% natural and contain no additives, preservatives or colors. Sundia Corporation, in particular, uses only ripe, plump and juicy watermelons to make their delicious and unique juice products. Their watermelon juice is light, refreshing and naturally loaded with lycopene. A typical watermelon juice comprises five natural ingredients, - fresh watermelon juice, water, natural flavor, malic acid and carrageenan. In case you are wondering about the last two ingredients, let me explain that malic acid is the naturally occurring acid in watermelon (just as citric acid occurs in citrus), and carrageenan is the natural product made from seaweed that is used to help keep the natural watermelon solids from settling on the bottom of the bottle.

Take a sip of watermelonjuice today and enjoy not only a delicious, refreshing drink but also the gift of good health and nutrition.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_D'costa