Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Health Benefits of Cherries

The word cherry refers to both the tree and the fleshy fruit (drupe) that contains a single stony seed. Cherry belongs to the family Rosaceae, genus Prunus, along with almonds, peaches, plums, apricots and bird cherries. The cherries selected for eating are derived primarily from two species – the wild cherry, which has given rise to the Sweet Cherry to which most cherry cultivars belong, and the Sour Cherry, used mainly for cooking.Besides fruit, cherries have attractive flowers, and are commonly planted for their flower display in spring. Several Asian cherries are particularly noted for their attractive flowers. The Japanese sakura, in particular, is a national symbol and is celebrated in the yearly Hanami Festival.

Health Benefits of Chives

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) is the smallest species of the onion family alliceae, native to Europe, Asia and North America. Chives can be used for control of high blood pressure. The whole plant has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and blood circulation. Shredded Chives are used for garnishing and flavoring many food preparations like soups etc.,