5 FUN HEALTH FACTS ABOUT GARLIC!

According to mythology, garlic wards off vampires, so it was hung on doors and windows, worn as jewelry, rubbed on cattle, and used to expose vampires in hiding (true blood-suckers refused to eat it when offered).

But all folklore aside, garlic really does fend off some nasty and unwanted beasts, namely bacteria, heart disease, inflammation, high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes complications. 

Studies have found that freshly pressed garlic extract (even when highly diluted), reduced or killed a number of germs, including drug-resistant strains of bacteria. And that same anti-bacterial substance in garlic (allicin) has been shown to protect cells from cancer-causing substances and slow the spread of cancer. (See a list of doctor-approved foods that prevent and fight cancer here.) 

There are dozens of published studies touting garlic's health benefits. It is good stuff (good enough to tolerate a little garlic breath even). 

Just be sure to follow this one key tip to get the most bang for your bulb: Choose fresh garlic, and let it sit for about 10 minutes after chopping to boosts the allicin. 

Here are a few fun facts you may or may not know about this stinky supporter:
Studies have found that freshly pressed garlic extract (even when highly diluted), reduced or killed a number of germs, including drug-resistant strains of bacteria. And that same anti-bacterial substance in garlic (allicin) has been shown to protect cells from cancer-causing substances and slow the spread of cancer. 

There are dozens of published studies touting garlic's health benefits. It is good stuff (good enough to tolerate a little garlic breath even).

Just be sure to follow this one key tip to get the most bang for your bulb: Choose fresh garlic, and let it sit for about 10 minutes after chopping to boosts the allicin.

Here are a few fun facts you may or may not know about this stinky supporter: 

1.    Garlic is closely related to onions, leeks, and shallots.

2.    Garlic is a good source of vitamin C.

3.    Garlic is also referred to as the stinking rose.

4.    Rubbing your hands on a stainless steel bowl is thought to quash garlic odor. Does it work for you?

5.    There are a number of annual garlic festivals around the country. The Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California is one of the best known in the U.S. 

(via By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, PREVENTION | Healthy Living)

11 Foods You Can't Buy Anywhere Anymore

Haven't posted any "Fun Food Facts" in a while, but this one brings back memories

Thanks to The Fiscal Times http://www.thefiscaltimes.com

Hostess Cupcake

As of this week, the Greatest Cake on Earth is now the Cake You Can't Buy Anymore.

Chef Boyardee Meatball Stew

Did the contents of the can ever look as good as the casserole in this picture?

Heinz Purple Ketchup

Once upon a time (not that long ago, in fact), kids could make "psychedelic purple flowers on hamburger buns and purple racing stripes on hot dogs" with a single squirt from a bottle of purple Heinz "EZ squirt" ketchup.

Crystal Pepsi

Crystal Pepsi was a caffeine-free soft drink sold in the U.S., Canada and Australia as a "clear alternative" to other colas. Its marketing slogan was: "You've never seen a taste like this." You also haven't seen this soda since 1993, when it was pulled from the market after its fizzy launch in 1992.

C3PO Cereal

Seriously, a CP3O cereal? During the early Star Wars craze, cereals were but a tiny fragment of the huge retail market. "Introduced by Kellogg’s, C3P0s were similar to Cheerios in appearance, although they were shaped like the numeral eight, or more colorfully – the result of 'twin rings phased together for two crunches in every double-O,'" according to Retroland.

Ecto Cooler

All we can say is this: What exactly was this drink?

Ho Ho

Ho Hos are, or were, cylindrical, frosted, cream-filled cakes with a pinwheel design made famously by Hostess and first created back in 1920. They were similar to Yodels by Drake's and Swiss Rolls by Little Debbie's.

Tato Skins

How much "real" potato was actually to be found in these things? We'll probably never know.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cereal

For awhile back in the '90s, the Turtles could do no wrong. When it was first introduced, this cereal was called "crunchy, sweetened 'ninja nets' with 'ninja turtle' marshmallows." The pizza-shaped marshmallows came along later. 

Wonder Bread

Take a good long gander at this Wonder Bread truck, because chances are you won't see it again any time soon ...

Twinkie

Good-bye, gorgeous golden cake with the cream filling, something no professional nutritionist working today could ever, in good conscience, recommend.

UPDATE: On March 12, 2013 it was reported, Twinkies are slated to return to store shelves by May 2013 after they, along with other famed Hostess Brands, were purchased out of bankruptcy by Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co.^[13][14] On April 25, 2013, a new time was given to the return of Twinkies to store shelves, the later part of July 2013. All of the classic Hostess snack brands will return with some making their return in August and others in September.^[15] In May 2013 the Twinkies are back in Mexican stores, known as "twinkies"^[16] the real name made by Marinela, a subsidiary of Mexican bread company Bimbo

“bring home the bacon”

Fun Food History! :) Did you know the phrase “bring home the bacon” comes from the 12th century when a church in Dunmow, England offered a side of bacon to any man who could swear before God and the congregation that he had not fought or quarreled with his wife for a year and a day. Any man that could "bring home the bacon" was highly respected in his community.

 

Cookies are made of butter and love...

"Cookies are made of butter and love." ~ Norwegian Proverb