When is National Pecan Month?
The month of April is always National Pecan Month
Are there other related Holidays? Yes!
Pecan Day - March 25
National Pecan Day - Always April 14th
_____________________________________________________
Pecan Nutrition
Energy! Nuts are mostly a complete protein, containing significant amounts of iron, calcium, phosporous , potassium, magnesium, as well as Vitamin B, C, Thiamin, Niacin, Folacin, Pantothenic acid and Alphatocopherol, an antioxidant.
Pecans are rich in cancer fighting components and fiber.
____________________________________________________
Pecan Pie
____________________________________________________
The Pecan
The Pecan (Carya illinoinensis, commonly misspelled illinoensis) is a species of hickory, native to south-central North America, in the United States from southern Iowa, Illinois and Indiana east to western Kentucky and western Tennessee, south through Oklahoma, Arkansas, to Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana; and in Mexico from Coahuila south to Jalisco and Veracruz.
Pecans first became known to Europeans in the 16th century; the Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca saw and wrote first about this plant. The Spaniards brought the pecan into Europe, Asia, and Africa beginning in the 16th century.
Today, the U.S. produces between 80% and 95% of the world's pecans, with an annual crop of 150-200 thousand tonnes. The nut harvest for growers is typically around mid-October. Historically, the leading Pecan-producing state in the U.S. has been Georgia, followed by Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma; they are also grown in Arizona and Hawaii. Outside the United States, pecans are grown in Australia, Brazil, China, Israel, Mexico, Peru and South Africa.
Pecan Nutrition
Pecans are a good source of protein and unsaturated fats. A diet rich in nuts can lower the risk of gallstones in women. The antioxidants and plant sterols found in pecans reduce high cholesterol by reducing the "bad" LDL cholesterol levels.
Clinical research published in the Journal of Nutrition (September 2001) found that eating about a handful of pecans each day may help lower cholesterol levels similar to what is often seen with cholesterol-lowering medications. Research conducted at the University of Georgia has also confirmed that pecans contain plant sterols, which are known for their cholesterol-lowering ability.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged this and related research and approved the following qualified health claim: "Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pecans, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease." "This nut is an important source of ellagic acid. Pecan nuts are a good low fat source of vitamin E and also have anti-cancer effects. They can also, if eaten correctly, lead to lower cholesterol levels."[13]
State Tree of Texas
In 1906, Texas Governor James Stephen Hogg made the Pecan tree the state tree of Texas. The story goes that Hogg had a Pecan tree planted at his grave instead of a traditional headstone, requesting that the nuts be distributed throughout the state to make Texas a "Land of Trees". wikipedia
Can you name 10 things your grateful for today?
I'm grateful for all the meat available to eat.
I'm grateful for pets which help us heal emotionally.
I'm grateful for the entertainment that animals bring.
I'm grateful for great neighbors who help me catch run away pets.
I'm grateful for the sound of the ocean as it waves crash on the shore.
I'm grateful for the singing birds in the morning.
