“R”hubarb « Health Now, Wealth Forever

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By Gary, on April 30th, 2013

If “P” is for Ponzi and “Q” is for Quercetin then

 “R” is for Rhubarb

It is now officially gardening time in the Rocky Mountains.  People are planting their gardens with seeds and starter plants in anticipation of reaping their efforts come end of summer.  If you have grown rhubarb in your garden previously, you can just visit that spot in your garden and the rhubarb should be ready for you to harvest and enjoy.

Our loves pies and cakes and other desserts made with rhubarb, but what are the health benefits to eating rhubarb?  If you want to see all of the nutrients, click here for the USDA Table of Nutrients for Rhubarb.

“Rhubarb is an excellent source of Vitamin C, which is important to help support a healthy immune system. It is high in dietary fiber which helps to maintain regularity within the digestive system, and is a good source of calcium.”

Rhubarb began to be grown in China thousands of years ago and was used medicinally then.  It made it to the east coast of America around the eighteenth century and then spread across the USA as it followed the population growth.

Rhubarb is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Calcium and Lutein.  It is low in calories, cholesterol, protein, minerals and fat.  It is high in fiber.

Warning:  Only eat the stalks, the leaves are considered poisonous.

References:

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/rhubarb.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/403208-the-health-benefits-of-rhubarb/

http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/The_Amazing_Health_Benefits_of_Rhubarb_a1808.html

http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2393