The True Origin Of Kiwifruit

[JuzChris 1]

The True Origin of Kiwifruit

Although its name strongly suggests a New Zealand origin, the kiwifruit is in fact, native to China's Yangzte Valley. Until midway through the 20th Century, the fruit was known as Chinese gooseberry. Once a commercial industry was developed in New Zealand, fruit growers apparently decided that the egg-shaped furry fruit bore a symbolic resemblence to their native flightless bird, the kiwi. Here was a fruit to call their own; and flog to the rest of the world, and so the Chinese gooseberry was reborn as the kiwifruit.

If there is an irony in this story, this is it: China now imports quite a lot of kiwifruit from New Zealand.

[TYM 0]

So is french fries from France?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fried_potatoes

[JuzChris 1]

There r a couple of different claims to who created these French fried potato, or French fries.. Nevertheless they r tasty treats

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfrenchfry.html

http://www.stim.com/Stim-x/9.2/fries/fries-09.2.html

[JuzChris 1]

Ever wonder why we don't eat Soybeans like any other beans?

Like rice or wheat, soybeans are not normally harvested until they r dry n hard. Even after lengthy boiling, soybeans remain quite tough n a little bitter. More imptly, due to a digestive enzyme called trypsin which interferes wif protein digestion, soybeans r largely indigestible eaten whole even after cooking. Most of the bean's highly valuable protein just passes thru our system. No doubt it is for these reasons dat the Chinese learned to process the bean in other ways before cooking n consuming. These processes include pressing oil fm the beans, grinding n boiling to make soy milk, grinding, boiling n adding a coagulating agent to make tofu, n fermenting to create products like soy sauce and black beans. Whole fresh beans (mature beans picked before they dry) r used occasionally in dishes.

Soy beans contain:

- 37% protein (meat protein ranges from 15 - 20%)

- 34% carbohydrates

- 18% oil

- a range of vitamins n minerals

Soy products said to:

- be very good for ur heart by reducing cholesterol n Inhibiting cholesterol oxidation

- reduce the risk of cancer due to a family of chemicals called isoflavones

- help prevent n treat osteoporosis

- help diabetes sufferers

- reduce menopausal symptoms