Monday, April 18, 2016

April 20, 2016 = National Lima Bean Respect Day

Consider yourself warned ---> Wednesday is an important day!

Besides writing, I tend to do a lot of unusual research and public speaking. Sometimes … I combine the two. That’s one of many reasons I belong to Toastmasters, an international organization committed to empowering people to become better communicators. On Wednesday, April 20, 2016, I’ll fulfill the role of Toastmaster at our weekly meeting. This responsibility includes acting as a host, conducting the entire meeting, choosing a theme, and preparing brief remarks to bridge gaps between program segments. It’s actually quite fun.

As I do with most research, I typed my topic into Google, and imagine my surprise when I learned that April 20, 2016, is National Lima Bean Respect Day.



Seriously?
Apparently!

Here are some interesting tidbits for you to consider:
• National Lima Bean Respect Day is something that grew organically (no pun intended) on social media. It’s an “unofficial” national event … because the Internet says it is!
• Official Hashtag: #LimaBeanRespectDay
• Sometimes called "butter beans" because of their starchy yet buttery texture, lima beans have a delicate flavor that complements a wide variety of dishes.
• Humans have been cultivating lima beans since 6000 BC in Central and South America.
• The bean received its name when the Spanish explored Lima, Peru, during the 15th century. Although the two are pronounced differently.
• Introduced to the United States in the 19th century, the lima bean is primarily produced in California.
• Lima beans are great in pot pies, casseroles, and salads.
• The heartiness of lima beans makes them a great soup bean.
• Lima beans are often cooked with bacon and pork.
• But beware: eating raw or sprouted lima beans may cause stomach cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting.
• Eating large quantities of undercooked beans can release cyanide (from cyanogenic glucosides), which can impair tissue oxygenation and cause severe illness.
• Lima beans contain oxalic acid, a naturally occurring substance found in some vegetables, which, may crystallize as oxalate stones in the urinary tract in some people. Therefore, people with known oxalate urinary tract stones are advised against eating certain vegetables. Adequate intake of water is advised to maintain normal urine output to minimize stone formation risk.
• In Japan, green baby lima beans are an important ingredient in bean paste.
• Mix puréed lima beans with chopped garlic and your favorite fresh herbs. Use this spread as a sandwich filling or a dip.
• Lima beans are filled with nutritious fiber, potassium, iron, copper, protein, and manganese.
• They’re also a rich source of B-complex vitamins, especially vitamin-B6, thiamin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and niacin. Most of these vitamins function as co-enzymes in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism.
• Lima beans are an excellent source of folates, essential for DNA synthesis and cell division. Adequate folate in the diet around conception and during pregnancy may help prevent defects in the newborn baby.
• Lima beans are also low in fat and contain protease inhibitors that stall the development of cancerous cells.
• Lima beans are a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber.
• Eating high fiber foods, such as lima beans, helps prevent heart disease.
• In addition to providing slow burning complex carbohydrates, lima beans can increase your energy by helping to replenish your iron stores. A cup of lima beans contains 24.9% of the daily value for this important mineral.
• Lima beans are a good source of protein, and when combined with a whole grain such as whole wheat pasta or brown rice, provide protein comparable to that of meat or dairy foods without the high calories or saturated fat.
• The beans are generally kidney-shaped and appear in several different colors, including green, red and brown.

Feel free to use any of the tidbits above to share on social media, along with the official Hashtag: #LimaBeanRespectDay … and if possible, link back to this post.

If for some crazy reason, you can’t muster up the courage to support National Lima Bean Respect Day, you may be glad to know that April 20th is also National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day.

YAY for research!

For more information about Toastmasters: https://www.toastmasters.org/
For more information about the TM club I attend: http://capitolclubtm.org/
For more information about lima beans:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=59
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/lima-beans.html


1 comment:

  1. If I remember I am so tweeting that hashtag. That is funny.

    ReplyDelete