The Oxford Dictionary defines fruit as being developed from the ovary of a flowering plant containing the seed of the flower while vegetables refer to the edible parts of plants such as roots, stems and leaves and which are not strictly the fruit of the plant from which they come.
So now you know the difference between fruits and vegetables, it’s time to discover the facts about fruits and vegetables you probably didn’t know
1. Broccoli contains more protein than steak. Since Broccoli doesn’t come with all those saturated and trans fats or cholesterol, you can get all the protein you need with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
2. Bell pepper, squash, cucumbers and pumpkins are fruits. It’s up to you to decide if you want to add any of them in your next fruit salad.
3. Tomato is botanically a fruit and legally a vegetable. It’s legally a fruit because the US Supreme Court in the late 1800’s ruled tomatoes a vegetable so they could be taxed like a vegetable when imported into the United States.
4. Onions contain over 100 sulfide-containing compounds which have benefits such as the prevention of asthma and some types of cancer.
5. Blackberries, raspberries and strawberries aren’t berries at all. Don’t let their names fool you.
6. Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain which breaks down proteins in your taste buds. This can ruin your palate for the rest of the day until your mouth heals itself. So before you eat your pineapple, let the freshly sliced pineapple sit in the fridge for a while so the enzymes can break down.
7. Strawberries and cashews are the only fruits that have their seeds on the outside. All other fruits have their seeds inside.
8. A strawberry is not an berry but a banana is. A true berry is a fruit that develops from a single flower and a single ovary. This makes banana a berry.
9. Grapefruits can kill you if taken with certain medications. So if you are on medication, make sure you check with a medical professional before consuming grapefruit.
10. Orange peels have four times the amount of fiber the fruit itself has and it also contains more antioxidants than the fruit itself.
11. Apples, pears, cherries and plums are just some of the fruits that come from the same family tree as the rose.
12. Oranges are known for their huge vitamin C contents but kiwi has twice the vitamin C of an orange.
13. Potatoes have more potassium than bananas. Potatoes are also a good source of vitamins and iron.
14. Eating more fruits and vegetables could significantly lower the risk of many chronic diseases.
S.O.Z