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9 Amazing Facts About Leeks

You rarely find leeks on the shelves of grocery stores, people know little about it and most of them simply do not know how to cook. And in vain, this representative of onions is a storehouse of vitamins and nutrients necessary for the human body, many do not even guess how many diseases leeks can cure. Leeks, when compared with their congeners, are a real giant. However, this is also a bow. Big and tasty. The advantage of leeks is that not only the leg is edible, but also the leaves.

Raw Green Organic Leeks Ready to Chop
  1. The vegetable has long been recognized as a symbol of one of the parts of the Kingdom of Great Britain – Wales; every year on March 1, residents celebrate a holiday – St. David’s Day. There is a legend according to which during the battle against the Saxons in the 6th century, the bishop and educator David of Welsh, ordered his army to attach a leek to his helmet to distinguish his comrades-in-arms from enemies.
  2. The Roman emperor Nero used it in large quantities, trying to preserve his voice for delivering lengthy speeches to the public.
  3. Several centuries ago, this vegetable was used as an aphrodisiac, people believed that it increased sexual desire and drank the juice from leek stalks mixed with celery. To this day, this recipe is used in traditional medicine.
  4. Leek is a vegetable, without exaggeration, deserved and famous. He has a place of honor in haute cuisine. And all because it is very fond of French chefs – the trendsetters of culinary fashion. It is also very popular in Italy and Poland, however, their leeks are usually added to soups and, following the example of the French, are used in a bunch of aromatic herbs. But in reality, the culinary uses of leeks are much broader. Most of the world’s leeks are grown in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In Great Britain, the main symbol of Wales is considered to be the leek.
  5. Unlike other types of leeks, the plant is demanding: it does not like cold weather or heat, but the soil loves sandy or silty, well fed with organic matter. They grow it from seeds, and those seeds must first be soaked, then planted in pots, then transplanted into open ground, thinned out, spud, and so on. In a word, an aristocrat! Fortunately, although its storage requirements are less demanding: in the refrigerator, in the vegetable compartment, it can be stored for 7–8 days without loss of quality. And in a well-ventilated cool closet, it will “live” for several months.
  6. In medical nutrition, leeks are widely used due to such properties as improving appetite and diuretic effect. Leeks are useful for obesity, indigestion, gout, arthritis, kidney stones, high blood pressure.
  7. Leeks are added to soups and salads, stews, and sauces, they are used to make fillings for pies and cakes, baked, fried, stewed, steamed, grilled … Young leek stalks are good in fresh salads, they are eaten whole, with herbs … But over time, the green leaves become coarse and fibrous, the most you can do with it is to add such a leaf to a soup or stew for flavor.
  8. Why do we cry when we peel onions? It turns out that onions contain “lacrimator”. This is a substance that is released when peeling onions, as a result of certain chemical reactions, sulfuric acid is formed, which irritates the mucous membrane of the eyes and, of course, tears.
  9. Leeks, like any vegetable, should be washed before use, but there are tricks. Leek is grown on sandy soils, and getting rid of small grains of sand that are hidden between the leaves is not easy. The onion stalk should be cut in half lengthwise and rinsed under running water. And in order to wash off all the dirt completely, after that you need to rinse the cut stem in cool water with baking soda (1 tablespoon of soda per 1 liter of water).
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11 Amazing Facts About Chickpea

The humble little chickpea is a special plant. There is a lot of evidence for the benefits of chickpea, thanks to which, it is popular to this day. Here are some interesting facts that you might not have guessed about.

  1. Chickpeas first appeared in the Middle East around 7,500 BC. Its popularity quickly spread throughout the world, and soon it began to be grown in almost all ancient civilizations.
  2. Chickpeas are called differently: chickpeas, lamb peas, Egyptian peas, tsetzi pods. It comes in different types, sizes and colors.
  3. This miraculous plant not only provides a valuable crop, but also serves as a natural remedy for destroying wheat and barley diseases.
  4. Scientists are sure that people have “smartened up” thanks to this miracle of peas, which is directly related to the production of serotonin, which ensures the transmission of impulses from cells.
  5. Peas are rich in vitamins and minerals. It contains almost the entire periodic table.
  6. It is believed that eating chickpeas can renew the blood.
  7. Chickpea helps with diabetes, those who have been exposed to radiation, as well as with anemia, arrhythmias, nervousness, dental problems and inflammation of the gums, acne and skin rashes. In addition, it cleans blood vessels and normalizes blood pressure.
  8. After the devastating wars that ended by the beginning of the 9th century, King Charlemagne ordered the sowing of the devastated fields with chickpeas to provide the people with nutritious and healthy food.
  9. There is an Arabic recipe for an aphrodisiac. It was actively used by emirs, going on dates to their numerous wives in harems. The recipe for an Arabian aphrodisiac: squeezed onion juice, honey and puree from chickpeas boiled in camel milk.
  10. The director of “Star Wars” was a big fan of this pea and even gave the name Nut to one of the main characters.
  11. Chickpeas contain the substance methionine, which prevents obesity of internal organs and calms the nervous system.
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17 Thrilling Facts About Pear

Pears are one of our favorite fruits. They come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, but the taste is pleasant, juicy. One word is pears.

  1. Pears grow in large numbers in the wild in South Asia. From there, a thousand years before our era, they came to the European continent, but to America – only 4 centuries ago.
  2. With the light hand of Homer, pears began to be called “gifts of the gods”, but the pears themselves were given (donated) to the gods: the Greeks – Aphrodite and Hera, the Romans – Juno and Venus.
  3. The ancient Greeks saved themselves from motion sickness during sea crossings with the help of pears. They continuously absorbed pieces of these juicy fruits and the manifestations of motion sickness decreased.
  4. The pear tree is very durable, which is perhaps why the Chinese considered the pear to be a symbol of immortality (Li). Seeing a broken pear was a bad omen. If a person himself damaged a pear tree, even by accident, then his days were numbered.
  5. Pearwood is very durable. Therefore, furniture and musical instruments are made from it, which retain their appearance for centuries. Since ancient times, pearls have been used to make rulers for architects and engineers, since they are not subject to deformation. Now, pears are used for making kitchen utensils, plates, and mugs. Interestingly, they can be safely washed in the dishwasher.
  6. The Chinese, when they say “fen li”, means one of two things: to part or share a pear. Therefore, the ancient Chinese superstition says that you cannot share a pear, otherwise separation is inevitable.
  7. The leaves on a pear branch grow in a strict order, being at an angle of 135o from each other. This gives the pears maximum light and moisture.
  8. There is such a variety of pears as “Bergamot”, and there are citrus fruits with the same name. It is believed that citrus bergamot got its name from the pear.
  9. Many peoples consider the pear to be a female fruit, as it resembles a female figure in shape and contains a large amount of vitamin E, which helps women to maintain their attractiveness and youth longer. However, men should not be afraid – pears will have a positive effect on their body, they will not lead to any feminization.
  10. Surprisingly, a soft, juicy, and sweet pear helps to make teeth stronger. It’s all about trace elements. Pear contains natural calcium and phosphorus, which work together to strengthen tooth enamel.
  11. The easiest way to pick delicious pears is based on their flavor. Pears should smell very good. If there is no smell or it is unpleasant, then the pears were plucked a long time ago and were stored using a special air-gas environment. They won’t taste good.
  12. Knowledgeable people can store pears for up to a year. This can be achieved by placing whole, undamaged pears in a single layer in a dark, well-ventilated area without direct drafts. The ambient temperature should be around 0.
  13. One of the pear varieties has two very popular names: Bartlett and Bon Chretien. They are known in Europe under the name Bon Chretien, and they got their middle name thanks to a pear dealer who, without knowing their name, sold them under his last name Bartlett.
  14. Pears are considered to be hypoallergenic fruits, but people who react to birch and alder pollen may be allergic to pears.
  15. Pear fruits contain substances that are close in action to antifungal and antibiotic agents. Therefore, gastroenterologists recommend using the pear separately from other meals – this way it relieves the human intestine of harmful microorganisms and improves digestion.
  16. Some people cannot tolerate raw pears. In this case, they are advised to consume steamed pears. They retain almost all the beneficial properties but do not irritate the digestive tract.
  17. One pear contains 20% of the daily value of fiber, 10% of vitamin C, and 6% of potassium.

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11 Amazing Facts About Lettuces

Lettuce is a delicious and crunchy vegetable that is an ingredient in many dishes. Fresh contains many vitamins and minerals. What do you know about Lettuces?

Healthy home lettuce in rows in garden.
  1. In total, the genus includes about 150 species, the most common of which is “Lettuce” or “Sowing lettuce” (leaf and head lettuce). It is cultivated commercially and sold all over the world. Other species are considered weeds.
  2. The French were the first to add lettuce to salads. That is why the word “salad” was added to the name of the vegetable.
  3. These greens can be grown in any season. She is unpretentious and feels great in the fresh air, in a greenhouse or greenhouse.
  4. Sowing lettuce leaves were first consumed by the inhabitants of Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece.
  5. Wild lettuce is a poisonous plant.
  6. Once upon a time, people grew sowing lettuce to make oil from its seeds.
  7. Lettuce is consumed as a source of nutrients. For culinary purposes, leaves, a thickened stem, and ahead of vegetables are used. Heads of cabbage and leaves are edible fresh until the plant forms a stem (then they acquire a bitter taste).
  8. The juice is prepared from the leaves of sowing lettuce, which is taken for gastrointestinal ailments, hypertension, atherosclerosis, tuberculosis, to increase appetite, remove excess fluid from the body, and combat constipation. For its preparation, they take not light, but dark leaves, since they contain a lot of chlorophyll.
  9. The plant is used to strengthen hair, improve skin health.
  10. Nutritionists recommend using sowing salad for those who dream of losing weight, as it is a low-calorie product rich in nutrients. It is useful to eat this plant for children and the elderly. It is advisable to eat dishes from it in the postoperative period and to recuperate after serious illnesses.
  11. Output. Lettuce leaves are crispy and tasty. They are added to various dishes around the world. The plant is a source of vitamins and microelements, which makes it an irreplaceable product for making medicinal infusions and juices.
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22 Amazing Facts About Carrots

Carrots are a widespread product all over the world. It is valued not only for its beneficial properties but also for its pleasant taste, rightfully being an ingredient in dishes in the cuisines of various nations of the world. Long centuries of a selection made this vegetable sweet and tasty, although initially people only ate carrot seeds and tops for food.

Harvesting bunch of fresh washed carrot on the old wooden background
  1. It is not known for certain where carrots began their distribution around the world, but most researchers are inclined to believe that they first appeared on the territory of modern Afghanistan.
  2. Until the 17th century, carrots were tough, bitter, and purple. But thanks to the efforts of breeders, it acquired the form that it has now.
  3. Eating large amounts of carrots can change the color of the skin, adding a yellowish-orange tint to it. In the case of birds, the same will happen with plumage.
  4. This root vegetable significantly lowers blood cholesterol levels.
  5. In the USA, in the town of Holleville, once a year there is a carrot festival. What they just don’t do with her – they decorate the city for her, and eat, and throw at targets …
  6. As a result of heat treatment, carrots lose some of the nutrients, but they are better absorbed.
  7. The longest carrot ever grown was 584 centimeters long – almost six meters.
  8. Carrots, if chewed thoroughly, may well replace a toothbrush and toothpaste, perfectly cleaning teeth and gums.
  9. In many European countries, it is considered a fruit, not a vegetable.
  10. Carrot jam is extremely popular in Portugal.
  11. Fried carrots can be used to brew a drink that tastes like coffee.
  12. In nonsmokers, carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, while in smokers, on the contrary, it increases.
  13. Freshly squeezed carrot juice is very rich in antiseptics, and if consumed regularly, it significantly reduces the risk of a heart attack.
  14. Eating carrots in moderation helps you tan faster in the sun as it speeds up the production of melanin.
  15. The most massive carrot weighing 8.61 kg was grown in the USA, Alaska.
  16. The first officially registered variety of carrots was developed in the 16th century in the Netherlands.
  17. Carrots contain a record amount of vitamin A.
  18. Carrots are the most commonly eaten taproot vegetable.
  19. In India, carrots are an ingredient in many different sweet desserts.
  20. The voice of the popular cartoon character, Bugs Bunny the rabbit, known for his love of carrots, has always said that he hates carrots.
  21. The diet of elephants kept in the zoo includes up to 5 kilograms of carrots daily.
  22. The United States ranks first in the world in the production and processing of this root vegetable, as well as in its consumption per capita per year – the average American annually consumes about 4.8 kilograms of carrots in one form or another.
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17 Interesting Facts About Bergamot

Bergamot tea is a popular drink. Few people know what a bergamot fruit is, where it grows and what it looks like.

  1. Bergamot is an exotic fruit that visually resembles lime and belongs to the citrus family. But its main feature is the pimply peel.
  2. With a small size, it has few large seeds and consists of rather juicy pulp.
  3. Only essential oil is used as raw material for the preparation of flavored tea. It is extracted from the rind. Thanks to this, the drink turns out to be rich and unusual in taste.
  4. Bergamot trees grow on the Mediterranean coast – Spain, Greece, and France. The largest number is grown in Italy – the Calabria region.
  5. Bergamot is a tree up to 10 meters high, which remains green all seasons of the year. The branches are covered with long and thin spines up to 10 centimeters in size.
  6. The leaves have a characteristic citrus aroma, and are shaped like a bay leaf – wider in the middle, and pointed closer to the edges.
  7. Bergamot flowers are large and grow in small groups. In the process of flowering, few of them appear on the tree, but they all have a bright aroma and are tinted in a beautiful shade – white or purple.
  8. The fruits grow small and contain a large number of essential oils. They are green with a yellowish sheen. They have pimples on the peel, which are the main distinguishing feature. Inside, the fruits are structured, with pulp and large seeds. They peel off easily.
  9. The fruit is unusual in taste and sour. At the same time, they do not just eat it, because it is bitter.
  10. The scent of bergamot has a complex composition of aromas. It is pronounced, sweetish, tart, and fresh at the same time. In perfumery, its aroma is appreciated for its good compatibility with other scents. And in the tea craft for a pleasant aftertaste and richness.
  11. Bergamot oil is a component that has a wide range of irreplaceable beneficial properties for the human body.
  12. It is scientifically proven that fruit ether can improve: metabolic processes – removes toxins, slags, and heavy metals from the body.
  13. Bergamot essential oil has a strong antiseptic effect. Its use is indicated for all people who have problems with digestion, urinary and respiratory systems.
  14. In the production of tea drinks, bergamot oil is usually used in pure versions without any additional components: flowers, caramel, pieces of fruit, and others. This exotic fruit has a distinct flavor and aroma that is best enjoyed with just black or green tea leaves.
  15. Bergamot has medicinal properties and is therefore used in medicine. In those days, when there were no antibiotics, it was used as an antiseptic: a balm was prepared from it, which is good for treating skin infections and inflammations. Even with serious wounds, the bergamot fruit was used: it was cut and applied to the damaged area.
  16. Bergamot is also included in many dietary supplements recommended for strengthening immunity and improving overall health.
  17. Bergamot is unpretentious, and it can be grown in a room, like a lemon or an orange, especially since its appearance can decorate any interior.

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12 Amazing Facts About Greens

Think beta-carotene is only found in red vegetables and fruits? Dill and onions contain no less vitamin A than carrots! In addition, by sprinkling greens on the meat, you enrich the dish with vitamin C, which is not so much in green vegetables as in sea buckthorn or black currant, but still a lot. Other benefits of greens include a high content of potassium, magnesium, manganese, and vitamin K, which is responsible for the absorption of calcium. What do you know about Greens?

  1. Greens are the only type of food that contains absolutely all the nutrients a person needs.
  2. To obtain these nutrients, it is necessary to break the strong cell walls of the greens (by thoroughly chewing into porridge or at least grinding in a blender).
  3. Separate food. Greens are a category of food separate from vegetables, and the only one that can be combined with any food (without violating the principles of “separate nutrition”).
  4. Protein source. Greens are very high in protein – for example, one pound (454 g) of green leafy vegetables contains more protein than the US recommended for daily consumption.
  5. Essential amino acids. All green plants are composed of 9 main (irreplaceable) amino acids.
  6. Green plants contain protein in the form of individual amino acids, and it is easier for our body to use such amino acids than complex animal proteins (created by the animal body, from the same greenery, and for our own needs, not for ours).
  7. Unlike animal proteins, green proteins do not lead to cancer.
  8. Cellulose. Greens are rich in insoluble fiber, which absorbs toxins from the large intestine like a sponge. Without it, a complete bowel cleansing is almost impossible, if not impossible.
  9. As a result, inadequate fiber intake is one of the main causes of premature aging in humans.
  10. Homeostasis. Being a source of all the nutrients that a person needs, greens are the best possible source of nutrition for the endocrine system and thus contribute to the regulation of homeostasis.
  11. Hypoacidness. The low acidity of gastric juice interferes with the absorption of nutrients necessary for health, which leads to disease. Regular consumption of green cocktails has a tangible healing effect, normalizing the concentration of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice.
  12. Chlorophyll – cancer prevention and treatment. More than 75 years ago, Otto Warburg received the Nobel Prize for his discovery that cancer is caused by impaired cellular respiration when cells lack oxygen. Greens are rich in chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is rich in oxygen. Numerous scientific studies show that there are hardly any diseases in which the condition could not be improved with the help of chlorophyll.
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23 Amazing Facts About Cornes

A huge amount of corn is grown all over the world, so this plant is truly priceless. Its grains are used for food and serve as an important element of the food industry in general, but the rest of the plant is used for a variety of purposes, in particular, they are used for processing and the manufacture of fertilizers. Today, corn is one of the first most popular places and is grown on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica.

  1. Corn is the staple food of the Mexicans and Indians. It is believed that it was first domesticated by the ancestors of modern Mexicans as early as 10 thousand years BC.
  2. Sometimes corn grows to a height of 7 meters. However, from a botanical point of view, it is a herb.
  3. Corn, although it is considered a dioecious plant, on same there are both male and female inflorescences. The male is a panicle on top, and the female is the cob in the leaf axils.
  4. Corn contains 26 elements of the periodic table and does not lose its beneficial properties even when canned.
  5. According to the Indian method, corn is planted with pumpkin, which protects the soil from weeds and does not allow excess moisture to evaporate, which helps to increase yields.
  6. Alone, corn does not bear fruit – only when planted in a group.
  7. Corn can only grow from seeds. If the whole ear falls to the ground, then most likely it will rot. Therefore, corn is not found in the wild.
  8. Interestingly, an ear of corn always contains an even number of flowers from which then an even number of seeds are formed. There are usually 8 to 22 rows on the cob of corn, and there are about a thousand seeds.
  9. We are used to the fact that the color of corn seeds is yellow. In fact, there are more than a thousand varieties of corn, and the color can be not only yellow but also white, red, purple, black, and even multi-colored.
  10. Some varieties of corn are grown solely for decorative purposes and not for human consumption.
  11. The first place in the world in terms of the volume of corn grown, almost 25% of world production, is occupied by the United States.
  12. Today, more than 500 different products are made from corn, using not only grains but also leaves, stalks, and cobs. Corn is used for animal feed, alcohol, paste, plastic, plaster, industrial filters, and much more.
  13. Corn can provide almost all the nutrients to the human body, so some people can eat corn alone and still feel good about themselves.
  14. One of the most unusual varieties of corn, Glass Gem, characterized by unusual translucent grains of different colors, is used to make jewelry.
  15. For the first time, corn seeds were brought to Europe by the famous navigator and discoverer Christopher Columbus.
  16. Thanks to archaeological finds, scientists have concluded that corn used to look very different. It was short and the ear was located at the top of the plant, and on top of the ear was a panicle. Such corn could be easily pollinated by the wind, and the seeds of the “bare” ear, scattering to the ground, giving shoots and life to the next generation of plants.
  17. In most European languages, this plant is called maize.
  18. Mexicans are the absolute leaders in the consumption of corn. The average Mexican eats about 90 kg of corn per year, the American 40, the Indian 4.
  19. Archaeologists claim that American Indians began eating popcorn at least five millennia ago. They mixed corn grains with sand and built a fire next to them.
  20. The corn must be boiled without salt, otherwise, it will become very tough.
  21. The goddess Kukuits of the Mayan pantheon was depicted as decorated with corn leaves.
  22. Old corn needs to be boiled for about 2 hours, and young corn only 15 minutes.
  23. The stamens of the female corn inflorescence, popularly known as its “hair”, is the most valuable product from the point of view of medicine. They are extremely rich in vitamins and minerals.
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12 Amazing Facts About Cucumbers

Cucumbers are vegetables that many of us regularly eat. You cannot call them deficient – you can buy cucumbers in almost any store and at any time of the year. They occupy an important place in the culinary traditions of many countries. What do you know about Cucumbers?

  1. More than 95% of a cucumber is water.
  2. The homeland of cucumbers is the foot of the Himalayan mountains. There, cucumbers still grow in the wild by themselves.
  3. Cucumbers and melons share common ancestors.
  4. The history of cucumber as a vegetable grown for food goes back more than six thousand years.
  5. In Ecuador, there are cucumbers the size of a squash.
  6. In the United Arab Emirates, breeders bred cucumbers with square fruits.
  7. A kilogram of cucumbers contains only about 150 calories, which makes this vegetable a dietary product.
  8. The French emperor Napoleon promised a great reward to anyone who figured out how to keep cucumbers fresh during long military campaigns.
  9. The thorns on young cucumbers serve to remove excess moisture from the fruit.
  10. Cucumbers are mentioned in the Bible.
  11. The ancient Egyptians placed cucumbers in the tombs of their pharaohs along with other valuable gifts.
  12. The first ever greenhouses for year-round cultivation of cucumbers were built in ancient Rome for the emperor Tiberius, who wanted to eat these vegetables every day.
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14 Spellbinding Facts About Jackfruit

Lovers of exotic fruits cannot pass by such a miracle of nature as jackfruit.

  1. Both the fruits and the trees on which they grow are called jackfruit. The homeland of jackfruit is India and Bangladesh. Gradually, these trees have become more widespread throughout the world.
  2. In appearance, it resembles a durian, the same oblong and with thorns, but nevertheless these are two different fruits.
  3. Peel the jackfruit and remove the segments into which all the pulp is divided. The pulp segments resemble a pear in appearance, they are laid out in separate bags and sold ready-made.
  4. The main edible part is large yellow slices, which outwardly resemble thick flower petals; it tastes both melon and pineapple. The fruit is the size of a large melon with a lot of seeds inside.
  5. The fruit is large and heavy, resembles a watermelon in shape, and can only be cut with a large knife.
  6. Even in Thailand, jackfruit is mixed with other fruits, added to ice cream or coconut milk. The seeds are prepared separately and added to many dishes.
  7. Jackfruit seeds contain a good amount of protein, so they can be added to various dishes. You can also replace lentils in your daily diet with these seeds.
  8. Jackfruit seeds contain vitamin A, which is an essential vitamin for healthy hair and preventing dryness and breakage.
  9. Jackfruit is a source of vitamin C and antioxidants that help strengthen the immune system. A strong immune system protects the body against many common illnesses such as coughs, colds, and flu.
  10. Jackfruit is rich in carbohydrates and calories. It is a rich source of simple sugars like fructose and sucrose for an instant energy boost. The fruit contains zero cholesterol, making it safe and healthy for almost everyone.
  11. Jackfruit contains potassium, which regulates sodium levels in the body. Good potassium levels help maintain the body’s electrolyte balance. Hence, it is beneficial to reduce high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks.
  12. Jackfruit is a rich source of fiber, making it an excellent laxative. It improves digestion and prevents constipation.
  13. Copper is vital for thyroid metabolism, especially for hormone production. Jackfruit is loaded with this powerful micromineral and keeps your metabolism healthy.
  14. Due to its numerous advantages, jackfruit certainly deserves a place of honor in our diet, although it is still exotic for our region.

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