Driving Notes

What do those two have in common?

Today we shared about Frappe Day…

Who knew that the original ‘frappe’ (yes, pronounced frap-PAY) was developed by a Greek man in Thessolaniki – the same city that inspired Paul’s letters in I and II Thessalonians??

The invention almost happened by accident in 1957 – a Greek man, working for Nestle, was looking to make a cup of coffee, but couldn’t find any hot water. So, since the company was demonstrating an instant powder for chocolate milk (probably Nestle Quik), he tried the same thing with instant coffee, ice and milk, using a shaker.

Frappe may be a Greek invention, but it is a French word, meaning simply a drink filled with ice.

Congratulations to David from Fredericktown – he got the answer right to our trivia question – the company involved, Nestle – and wins the $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

Today we shared news about International Sign Language Day, See You at the Pole and WNZR’s anniversary.

First things first. Tonight, September 21 will see the return of See You At the Pole, but with a twist. This time, it will be Saw You at the Pole to promote social distancing. Invite your friends to join M.V.N.U.’s praised band and 3 other youth groups in praying for our nation. It starts at 7pm at the Mount Vernon City Square.

Next up we have our topic for Who Knew Wednesday. The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf. The theme for 2020 International Day of Sign languages is “Sign Languages Are for Everyone!”. Read more here!: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/09/1073132

We had a stumper for our Who Knew Trivia Question today! We’ll be sure to bring it back next week!

Todd and I shared information about the United Way of Knox County’s kickoff week!

Find out more from the Morning Thing’s Monday blog by clicking here.

We also gave away a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup – Tammie from Howard correctly guessed this year’s Uinted Way campaign slogan!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

Beans might be the super foods that get a bad rap. One article we read called them the ‘black sheep of super foods..”

But…beans offer a lot of nutritional benefit. Here are some tidbits from The Bean Institute – read the full article here.

Beans are a simply delicious, naturally nutritious food. We’re talking about dry edible beans, beans that are harvested when the beans are dry in the seed pod.

All types of beans—including black, cranberry, Great Northern, dark red kidney, light red kidney, white kidney, navy, pink, pinto, and small red—are good sources of protein, excellent sources of fiber, and naturally fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free. Many types are also good sources of potassium.

• Being rich in complex carbohydrates, as well as a good source of protein, beans have a low glycemic index.  This makes them an ideal food for the management of insulin resistance, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. (Foster-Powell, 2002; Rizdalla, 2002)

• Dry beans are rich in both soluble and insoluble fibers. (Tosh, 2010). Soluble fiber traps dietary cholesterol inside the digestive tract. The cholesterol is then excreted versus being absorbed, which helps to lower blood levels of LDL cholesterol, especially if LDL cholesterol levels were high to begin with.
  
• Dry beans also provide substantial amounts of insoluble fiber, which help attract water to the stool and keeps you regular.  This may help to combat constipation, colon cancer, and other digestive health conditions (Lanza, 2006).

• Most types of beans are good sources of potassium, a mineral that promotes healthy blood pressure levels.
  
• Beans are excellent sources of copper, phosphorus, manganese and magnesium—nutrients that many Americans don’t get enough of.
  
• Most types of dry beans are rich sources of iron, which makes them important for vegetarians and vegans who do not get an animal source of iron.
  
• Dry beans are an excellent source of the water-soluble vitamins thiamin and folic acid and a good source of riboflavin and vitamin B6.

Today’s Who Knew? Trivia to win a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup:

According to the USDA, what state in the U.S. produces the most beans?

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

More super foods today, this week from the land of nuts! I personally love a handful of low-salt cashews in the morning to start my day, or as a snack when that mid-afternoon drag starts…

Here are some thoughts about the benefits of nuts for heart health from the Mayo Clinic:

Eating nuts as part of a healthy diet may be good for your heart. Nuts contain unsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients. And they’re a great snack food — inexpensive, easy to store and easy to pack when you’re on the go.

One drawback to nuts is that they’re high in calories, so it’s important to limit portions. But choosing nuts instead of a less healthy snack may just help you stick to a heart-healthy diet.

Research has found that people who are at risk of a heart attack can cut their risk by eating a healthy diet that includes nuts.

Research suggests that eating nuts may:

• Lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which play a major role in the buildup of deposits called plaques in your arteries
• Improve the health of the lining of your arteries
• Lower levels of inflammation linked to heart disease
• Reduce the risk of developing blood clots, which can lead to a heart attack and death

As a result, nuts can improve your heart health and lower your risk of dying early from heart disease and other causes.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

Last week, super fruits…this week, super vegetables!

Here’s a link to the article we shared from Rachel Link of Healthline Media: CLICK HERE TO READ

Spinach

This leafy green tops the chart as one of the healthiest vegetables, thanks to its impressive nutrient profile.

One cup (30 grams) of raw spinach provides 56% of your daily vitamin A needs plus your entire daily vitamin K requirement — all for just 7 calories. Spinach also boasts a great deal of antioxidants, which can help reduce the risk of chronic disease.

One study found that dark green leafy vegetables like spinach are high in beta-carotene and lutein, two types of antioxidants that have been associated with a decreased risk of cancer. In addition, a 2015 study found that spinach consumption may be beneficial for heart health, as it may lower blood pressure.

Carrots

…are packed with vitamin A, providing 428% of the daily recommended value in just one cup (128 grams).

They contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant that gives carrots their vibrant orange color and could help in cancer prevention. In fact, one study revealed that for each serving of carrots per week, participants’ risk of prostate cancer decreased by 5%.

Another study showed that eating carrots may reduce the risk of lung cancer in smokers as well. Compared to those who ate carrots at least once a week, smokers who did not eat carrots had a three times greater risk of developing lung cancer. Carrots are also high in vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium.

Broccoli 

…belongs to the cruciferous family of vegetables.

It is rich in a sulfur-containing plant compound known as glucosinolate, as well as sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is significant in that it has been shown to have a protective effect against cancer.

In one animal study, sulforaphane was able to reduce the size and number of breast cancer cells while also blocking tumor growth in mice.

Eating broccoli may help prevent other types of chronic disease, too.

A 2010 animal study found that consuming broccoli sprouts could protect the heart from disease-causing oxidative stress by significantly lowering levels of oxidants. In addition to its ability to prevent disease, broccoli is also loaded with nutrients.

A cup (91 grams) of raw broccoli provides 116% of your daily vitamin K needs, 135% of the daily vitamin C requirement and a good amount of folate, manganese and potassium (11).

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd