Strawberries have high levels of heart-healthy antioxidants like ellagic acid and flavonoids like anthocyanin, catechin, quercetin, and kaempferol. These phenolic compounds lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases by inhibiting the formation of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol. They also relax the blood vessels, causing improved blood flow and preventing cardiovascular problems. Additionally, the high fiber...
The first garden strawberry was grown in Brittany, France during the late 18th century. Prior to this, wild strawberries and cultivated selections from wild strawberry species were the common source of the fruit. The strawberry fruit was mentioned in ancient Roman literature in reference to its medicinal use. The French began taking the strawberry from...
Last month I went for a very fast trip to France and more particularly to Arras. Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department, which is in the northern part of France at the confluence of the Scarpe river and the Crinchon River. Established during the Iron Age by the Gauls, the town of Arras was...
During the course of history different cities have had the name of “Città Eterna”, for example Jerusalem or Kyoto, but Rome is the first and the only one to have preserved it for over two millennia. The naming of Rome as this is attributed to Albio Tibullo (A.D. 55-19-18 B.C.), a Latin poet that today...
What connects lemons with mob? Is it possible that all this illegal system started from lemon production? From a study in the “Journal of Economic History” we learn that all this craziness started back at the end of 19th century because of lemons. During the Napoleonian wars, scurvy was the main reason of sailors’ death...
One of the staples of Greek Easter is undoubtedly tsoureki. Tsoureki is a sweet bread that resembles the Jewish challah only with some variations. The word tsoureki comes from the Turkish word “corek” that means any bread that is made with yeast. There are several sweet and savory variations of corek depending on the area...
Once upon a time, there was once in the northeastern part of Greece, Thrace, a beautiful princess called Phyllís. One day, a ship, returning from the Trojan war, dropped anchor where she lived. The ship’s captain and owner was Dimophóntas the son of Theseus. The two youngsters fell in love and eventually got married. For...
One of the things I remember as a kid, was my mom making me chocolate pudding. I was a very picky eater as a child and my mom had a very hard time feeding me. I was thin as a leaf and she was so worried that I wouldn’t grow the way I should. For...
All three previous weeks was carnival period in Greece. A remnant of the Dionysian rituals in ancient Greece, carnival is that period of time when people are dressed in costumes and wear masks. There are several carnival parades in many big cities of the country with bigger that of the city of Patras. Up to...
Euboea or Evia is the second-largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow island; it is about 180 kilometers long and varies in...
