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Information on Digestive Enzymes

May 18th, 2012

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the human body produces 10,000 different enzymes, and some of these support digestion. Digestive enzymes break down food so it can be used by the body. Enzymes, a Food additive, are manufactured and released by different parts of the body. Individuals with enzyme deficiencies may need to take enzyme supplements or refrain from eating certain foods.

Carbohydrate Enzymes
Enzymes responsible for breaking down carbohydrates include salivary amylase, pancreatic amylase and maltase. Salivary amylase is produced by the salivary glands and secreted in the mouth. Pancreatic amylase and maltase are produced by the pancreas and small intestine, respectively, and digest carbohydrates in the small intestine. Enzymes break down complex carbohydrates, such as starch, into simple carbohydrates, or sugars. Once carbohydrates are broken down, they can be absorbed by the body and used for energy.

Protein Enzymes
Pepsin, trypsin and peptidase are enzymes that break down protein. Pepsin is produced and secreted in the stomach, while trypsin and peptidase work within the small intestine. According to the NIDDK, proteins are broken down into smaller molecules called amino acids, which are used to build and repair tissues in the body. According to Clinton Community College, other enzymes that digest proteins include chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase and aminopeptidase.

Lipase is produced by the pancreas and released into the small intestine to break down fat. According to the NIDDK, lipase works with another digestive substance, bile, to break large fat molecules down into fatty acids and cholesterol. Once fat is broken down, it can be transported to different parts of the body for storage. An enzyme deficiency can be related to a medical condition or inherited. According to the NIDDK, a common enzyme deficiency is lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. Individuals who do not produce enough lactase may be lactose intolerant. They have to avoid dairy products or take lactase supplements to properly digest dairy products. Medical conditions that can cause a digestive enzyme deficiency include chronic pancreatitis, certain cancers, cystic fibrosis and digestive disorders that prevent enzyme production.

Digestive enzyme (Foodchem) supplements are available as pills, capsules and powders. Enzyme supplements can be extracted from animal organs or plants and have been used to treat cancer and other illnesses. Alternative medical practitioners have used digestive enzyme supplements to treat ulcers, food allergies, obesity, sore throat and arthritis. The ACS warns that digestive enzyme supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and that many have not been proven safe or effective. Enzyme supplements may interact with prescription medications, food and other herbs and supplements, and the ACS says they should not be used by people with weakened immune systems or by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Enzyme supplements should not replace or be used in conjunction with traditional medical treatments without consulting a physician.

What Are Antioxidants?

May 17th, 2012

Antioxidants are components of foods and can also be taken as dietary supplements. They can be vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, flavonoids or other compounds. Antioxidants act as food additives to restrict the oxidation process, which occurs via the loss of an electron on the molecular level. The loss of an electron can result in a free radical, which can cause damage to the human body on a cellular level. Antioxidants cancel the negative effects of free radicals, thereby being beneficial to good health. The International Food Information Council cites studies that show that antioxidants have beneficial effects on conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular health. Knowing what antioxidants are can help people make good dietary decisions.

Flavonoids
This group includes flavonols, which are found in tea, onions, apples and broccoli, and flavanols, which are found in chocolate, cocoa, tea, grapes and apples. Flavonols and flavanols help to eliminate free radicals, thereby strengthening the antioxident defenses of cells. This group also includes flavanones, which are found in citrus foods and anthocyanidins and help to neutralize free radicals. This group also includes anthocyanidins, which can be found in red grapes, cherries and berries and may contribute to the maintenance of healthy brain function. It also includes proanthocyanidins, which are found in grapes, wine, cranberries, cocoa, apples, strawberries and cinnamon and is believed to contribute to the function of a healthy heart.

Isothiocyanates
Isothiocyanates strengthen the antioxidant defenses of cells. They can be found in broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and horseradish.

Phenols
This group includes caffeic and ferulic acid, which are found in citrus fruits, pears, apples and some vegetables. Phenols can contribute to a health of the heart and help maintain healthy vision.

Sulfides and Thiols
This group includes diallyl sulfide and allyl methyl trisulfide. These substances can be found in leeks, scallions, garlic and onions. This group also includes dithiolthiones, which are found in cabbage, broccoli and collards. This group can contribute to the maintenance of a healthy immune system.

Whole Grains
These can be found in cereal grains and might reduce the risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease. This group may help reduce the risk of cancer and coronary heart disease.

Vitamins and Minerals
The vitamins that fall under the antioxidant classification include vitamins A, C and E. Selenium is a mineral that is considered an antioxidant. Vitamin A is found fish, dairy products and liver. Vitamin C (Foodchem) is found in citrus fruits and bell peppers. Vitamin E can be found in fortified cereals, sunflower seeds, mixed nuts and oils. Selenium is found in tuna, meats, plant foods and Brazil nuts. These vitamins and minerals help to eliminate the damage to cells that is caused by free radicals.

Potential uses for pectin in medical practice

May 15th, 2012

 Diarrhea is a very serious and debilitating condition.  If left unchecked, diarrhea can kill.  I have used pectin to control diarrhea in a variety of mammalian species, both livestock and pets.  Pectin as a food additives by itself is not enough to permanently control diarrhea.  The first victims of this condition are the GIT microflora.  Long-term treatment involves both the cessation of nutrient and electrolyte loss, as well as the replacement of the indigenous microorganisms.  Probiotic microorganisms temporary fill the physical and chemical roles performed by the indigenous microflora.  They also allow these beneficial microorganisms to proliferate.

 Illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are marked by chronic diarrhea.  I have used a combination of pectin and probiotics to control and reverse this stress-induced disease in dogs.  People and dogs who suffer from EPI often have chronic diarrhea.  This is a result of highly digestible material reaching the colon.  Normally, less than 5% of these food components survive passage of the small intestine   Highly digestible material selects for colon microflora which cause diarrhea and may be detrimental to the host in other ways.

 Additionally, conditions that promote the development or urinary calculi are ameliorated by the entrapment ability of fiber in general, and pectin in particular.  The entrapment quality of a fiber is enhanced by its degree of solubility.

 In addition, recent research (Ou Limm, et al., 1997) suggests that pectin may trap the immunoglobulin responsible for triggering allergy symptoms (IgE). Animal trials at Natur’s Way, Inc. show that most dogs show reduced allergy symptoms when fed a pectin-based probiotic.

 Because pectin absorbs moisture very quickly, it swells. If this swelling occurs in the esophagus, it can trigger regurgitation. Dogs should be fed pectin in the dry form, either on dry food or on a dry treat.

 Pectin(Foodchem) is inert to the host, it has no side effects and remains within the confines of the GIT.  It needs to be replenished on a daily basis to provide continuous benefit.  Pectin combined with a daily probiotic supplement will encourage GIT health.  Complicating conditions such as IBS and EPI will determine the probiotic concentration employed.

2 Absolutely Mouth-Watering Zucchini Bread Recipes

May 12th, 2012

For many years now, I have been growing zucchini & looking for other ways and means to make use of them aside from your usual dishes like salads and etc. So I have experimented a lot of times to get interesting dishes that feature zucchini as the main ingredient.

Here are 2 delicious bread recipes that star the zucchini as main ingredient and they’re absolutely delicious.

Moist Zucchini Quick Bread Recipes With Nuts & Spices

6 cups unbleached white flour, or a combination of half white, half whole wheat

2 tsps salt

2 tsps baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tbsps cinnamon, ground

6 large eggs

3.5 c sugar

5 tsps pure vanilla extract

1 3/4 c canola oil

5 c zucchini, finely grated

2 c walnuts/pecans, chopped

Preheat your oven to around 350 deg. F. Butter/spray with vegetable spray & flour 4 (8½ X 4½ X 2½ inch) loaf pans and set aside.

Using a food processor Calcium acetate, grate the zucchini until it is fine. Set aside. Inside a big bowl, mix flour Acidity regulators Suppliers, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon and set aside. Beat eggs in an another large bowl, preferably with a stand mixer, or a hand-held mixer.
Next 21590, add sugar, canola oil & vanilla then mix again until blended well. Scrape sides of bowl. Add grated zucchini then mix, scraping down sides of bowl once or twice.

Using a large rubber spatula, fold in your flour mixture until it is all combined and there are no dry ingredients left in the bottom of your bowl. Fold in the walnuts/pecans. Spread batter into the 4 prepared pans and bake at 350 deg. for 1 hour (60 minutes) or just until knife comes out clean.

Allow cooling for 5-10 minutes and then gently removing them from the pans and let them cool completely on wire racks before wrapping and freezing. Serve at room temperature or chilled.Refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Make 4 regular size zucchini breads.

Delicious Blueberry Zucchini Bread

3 pcs eggs, lightly beaten

1 c vegetable oil

2 1/4 c white sugar

2 c zucchini; shredded

3 c flour (all-purpose)

1 tsp salt

3 tsps vanilla extract

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

1 pint fresh blueberries

Preheat your oven to around 350 deg. F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 4 mini-loaf pans. Inside a large bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, & sugar. Fold in the zucchini. Beat in the flour, salt, baking powder Fish oil, baking soda, and cinnamon.

Gently fold in the blueberries. Transfer to the prepared mini-loaf pans. Next, bake 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or just until a knife inserted in the middle of a loaf comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

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The Lipton Brands Of Tea

May 12th, 2012

When it comes to brands of teas, Lipton is considered as one of the top brands in the world. Although if one would visit any country around the world and asks if the Lipton is best tea brand, many would usually defer and introduce a brand which is popular on their country. However, the fact that they know the tea brand Lipton and buy lipton tea is enough to differentiate its popularity against other brands of teas. This is because Lipton is the only brand known globally.

Marketed under Unilever, a multinational company that basically owns most consumer products from foods and beverages to cleansing agents and personal care products, Lipton is said to be one of company’s few billion-Euro brands as well as the only brand of beverage to hit this mark. This success was mainly due to Lipton’s different blends which gave rise to its yellow label teas as well as the number of who buy lipton tea.

Brands of Lipton

Other than the Yellow Labelled Lipton tea brands E332, which was the original blend of teas, Lipton has also been known to incorporate a number of products. Apart from black leaf teas (with the long-standing Lipton Yellow Label brand) 7722-88-5, the company also markets a large range of other varieties, both in leaf tea as well as ready-to-drink format. These include green teas, black flavoured teas 1492-18-8, (herbal) infusions fibre, Lipton Linea (a ‘slimming tea’) in Europe and Lipton Milk Tea in various Asian markets.

Another popular brand of Lipton is the Lipton Iced Tea. Lipton Iced Tea, in many markets known as Lipton Ice Tea is an iced tea brand sold by Lipton through two joint ventures with PepsiCo. The operations are 50-50 ventures, in which PepsiCo contributes its bottling facilities and distribution networks and Unilever the brand (Lipton) and recipe. Lipton Iced Tea is also considered as one of the best-selling brands of Lipton which is why many people buy lipton tea.

However, other than these brands, the Yellow Label has always been the most popular brand of Lipton. Lipton Yellow Label has been sold since 1890, when Sir Thomas Lipton created the first version of the Yellow pack with a red Lipton shield, which to this day typifies the Lipton Yellow Label brand. It is sold in 150 countries worldwide. Lipton Yellow Label is a blend, meaning that up to 30 teas from many different origins are blended together to create a consistent quality and taste.

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A Kosher Merlot From Mendoza, Argentina

May 10th, 2012

Our previous wine came from Argentina. Maybe this explains why we are reviewing another Argentinian wine 8008-99-9, one that is kosher to boot. The Mendoza region is Argentina’s most productive wine area, responsible for some two-third’s of the country’s wine. One of Mendoza’s best zones is the Uco Valley where the days are hot E270, the nights are cold, rainfall is hardly abundant dextrose powder, and the growing season is long. The Andes Mountains are close by and supply the water.

Today’s wine comes from Finca La Celia, founded in 1890. Its name comes from the founder’s daughter, who took a very active role in the winery’s expansion. The winery makes a wide variety of wines on its 600-hectare (about 1500 acre) kilometer-high (about three fifths of a mile) vineyards.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Don Mendoza Reserve Merlot (V) 2007 Argentina 13.5% alcohol about $9.50

Let’s start with the marketing materials. Description: Like a bowl of mixed berries (blackberry, raspberry, blueberry) in a bottle. Dry and fruity with good balance and a very solid finish. Great for your best gourmet pizza. And now for my review.

At the first sips the wine was long and powerful. The initial meal consisted of slow-cooked beef ribs with sliced potatoes and a side of eggplant roasted with the skin in lots of olive oil and garlic. The meat intensified the wine’s taste but the eggplant weakened the wine somewhat; however, it was still powerful. This wine expanded when I added some spicy green jalapeno pepper sauce.

The second meal included zucchini and onions stuffed with rice and ground beef, cooked with potatoes and spices including pepper, garlic powder and cumin. The wine was long and flavorful, dominated by dark cherries. It was rather acidic and surprisingly light.

The final meal centered around store-bought barbecued chicken wings in a sweet and sour sauce and chicken thighs whose skin was dusted with paprika. The sides were rice and green beans in a homemade tomato sauce. With the wings the Merlot tasted of oak and dark cherries. The thighs brought the cherry taste to the forefront. In both cases the wine was pleasantly acidic and round.

I tasted this wine with two cheeses; a goat’s milk cheese and a Swiss Emmenthaler. The goat’s milk cheese flattened the wine. But with the Swiss the fruit 1414-45-5, mostly black cherries, came back.

Final verdict. No doubt about it, I will buy this wine again. It’s very well priced, even more so if you are looking for kosher wine whose processing requirements increase the cost. I plan to review more of Finca La Celia wines if and when they become available in my area.
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Dextrose and Pregnancy

May 9th, 2012

 Dextrose as a food sweetener  is an important source of cellular energy, meaning that it’s a key nutrient that helps you maintain health. However, it’s possible to eat too much dextrose, which can lead to pregnancy complications. The dextrose molecule is a monosaccharide, meaning it consists of a single sugar unit, explain Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book “Biochemistry.” The molecule has the chemical formula C6H12O6 and is common in nature both on its own and chemically combined with other monosaccharides to form larger sugars and starch molecules. While chemists tend to call the sugar by its alternate name, glucose, you’ll more frequently see it referred to as dextrose on nutrition labels.

During pregnancy, just as when you’re not pregnant, when you consume dextrose your digestive tract absorbs it into the bloodstream without needing to digest it first. Once in the blood, dextrose becomes a source of energy for the cells, which pull it out of the bloodstream as they require. Your cells chemically burn dextrose in the presence of oxygen, a process that generates ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. ATP is a sort of “chemical currency” that cells then use to fuel various processes.

If you consume more dextrose than your cells need at a given time, they can convert it into one of two storage forms. Glycogen is a carbohydrate that the liver and muscles make from dextrose, explains Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book “Human Physiology.” Alternately, you can convert excess dextrose into triglycerides, which are fat molecules. You then store these in adipose tissue, and they become a source of energy for later periods of fasting.

Dextrose is perfectly safe to consume during pregnancy, such as Dextrose Monohydrate or Dextrose Anhydrous, provided you don’t overconsume it. If you overeat dextrose when you’re pregnant, you can gain body fat, just as you would if you weren’t pregnant. Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz note in their book “You: Having A Baby” that it’s best to gain about 25 to 35 lbs. during pregnancy; excess dextrose consumption easily can put you over the recommended amount, and predisposes you to gestation diabetes and other complications.

Using Oregano Herb For Cooking

May 9th, 2012

The oregano herb, an herb with a very flavorful and aromatic leaves, is said to have originated from Greece. In fact Functional red yeast rice manufacturer, the term oregano came from the Greek word “oros” meaning mountain or hill and “ganos” meaning joy or happiness. As such, oregano literally means “joy of the mountain”. The early Greeks even regarded it as a symbol of joy and used it extensively for its medicinal properties. Overtime, the culinary uses of oregano became prominent in many Mediterranean dishes.

Oregano, despite of its popularity in Greece, Italy and other Mediterranean countries, was almost unknown in the US until after the World War II when soldiers brought home the “pizza taste”. Its popularity around the world rose with the popularity of Italian foods, particularly pizza. Today, oregano is a staple herb in Italian cuisine and is greatly famous for enhancing the flavor of tomato-based dishes. It is used in meat, fish, and poultry dishes. It’s great in salads, soups, vegetable dishes, pasta sauces and scrambled eggs.

The versatility of the oregano herb was probably because there isn’t just one oregano herb. The oregano plant is classified into many types Soybean extract, and each type has its own distinct appearance, aroma, flavor and use in cooking.

Greek Oregano is often referred to as the true oregano. With its classic pungent and spicy flavor, it perfectly complements any tomato, cheese and egg based dishes and is also known as the pizza herb. Toss fresh oregano leaves in salads for a zesty kick or use it with meat, fish, poultry, pasta, soup and stew. It’s also great for stuffing and dusting for grilled dishes.

Mexican Oregano, which is native of Mexico, is actually more closely related to Lemon Herbena than the oregano family. It has a deeper and more intense “oregano” flavor with a slight citrus twist. It goes well with barbeque, seafood and chicken kebobs, and sausages.

Italian oregano (also called Sicilian Oregano) is a cross of oregano and sweet marjoram and inherits the pungent and sweet flavors of both plants. Use it as regular oregano if you want your dish with a hint of sweetness, or use with “marjoram enhanced” recipes for an added spice.

Marjoram is sometimes confused with true oregano, but marjoram is of the sweeter variety. In fact, aside from main dishes, marjoram is also used to flavor desserts such as ice cream E637, custards food ingredient, pies and fruit desserts.

There are also other varieties like the Hot and Spicy which obviously is spicier than the regular oregano; Cretan, Syrian and Turkish oregano are the types with an intense pungent and spicy flavor but are slightly more bitter; Russian oregano is more similar to Greek oregano in taste and aroma. With different varieties of the oregano herb, it’s no wonder why it flavored some of the most famous cuisines.
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Bill The Butcher’s Handmade Sausage In Seattle

May 4th, 2012

William “Bill the Butcher” Von Schneidau wants everyone to not only eat well, but to eat mindfully. That’s why he went into business, in May 2009, with his “Bill the Butcher” shops in the Seattle area, selling organic and locally sourced meat from area farmers and ranchers, including handmade sausages in Seattle.

One of Bill the Butcher’s most popular products is his handmade sausage in Seattle. In addition to organic beef, steaks and free range poultry, his charcuterie selection includes the best handmade sausage in Seattle.
Unlike his competitors E955, Bill ensures the meat sold in his shops comes only from certified organic farms, and farms utilizing organic practices. The animals are fed a grain-based diet GDL, and are ethically raised to produce more nutritious meat, free of hormones Punicalagin, pesticides while promoting sustainable farming practices. His natural pork products, including handmade sausage in Seattle, are made with the same exacting standards as the rest of his products, and have a taste unlike anything you can find in a conventional butcher shop or supermarket. Once you get used to eating Bill the Butcher’s handmade sausages in Seattle, you’ll wonder how you ever ate anything else. Bill the Butcher’s handmade sausages in Seattle, along with the rest of his products, are not only delicious; they also teach people the value of eating locally and healthfully. You can still enjoy beef and pork products by purchasing them from local businesses that patronize area farms and ranches, cutting down on the distance your food has to travel before it arrives at your table. That way, your steaks, hamburgers and handmade sausages in Seattle, arrive fresh at your home, and you feel better serving them to your family. Your handmade sausages in Seattle haven’t been sitting in a supermarket for an indeterminate period of time; they are fresh from the butcher shop, and they come from animals that were not factory farmed, but raised ethically to produce the best handmade sausages in Seattle.
In addition to local sourcing and humane treatment of animals 501-36-0, Bill the Butcher endeavours to employ a more transparent system to ensure the identification and tracking of the meat that is sold in all his shops. That way, when you go to purchase your handmade sausages in Seattle, you can inquire about the origins of the pork in the handmade sausages in Seattle you are purchasing, so you are certain the meat comes from where Bill says it comes from. Information on meat sourcing is available in each store, as well as from the highly trained and experienced butchers who work in them.

Bill the Butcher’s handmade sausages in Seattle are a delicacy that will thrill your taste buds. Not only will these handmade sausages in Seattle please the most finicky palates, they will make you feel good serving them, knowing they are fresh and ethically produced with the highest possible standards.
The first name in handmade sausages in Seattle is Bill the Butcher, for more information on his organic beef and handmade sausages in Seattle, go to Billthebutcher.
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How To Make Friends With Lentils

May 3rd, 2012

I’d like to introduce you to the humble lentil. While the lentil has something of a reputation of being a flower-child or hippy, it’s not that alarming or weird. Yes MSM, the lentil is a vegan staple – and is a staple protein source for many people around the world where meat is harder to come by and/or forbidden.

However, the lentil can also be a welcome guest at many a British table without appearing out of place. According to the Book of Genesis, Esau (who was, admittedly, a bit dim-witted) sold his rights as the firstborn son in exchange for stew made from red lentils… which may have had an indirect effect on some of the conflict in the Middle East today, as Esau was the ancestor of some of the Palestinians Non Dairy Creamer manufacturer, while Jacob (who cooked the stew) was the ancestor of the Israelis. It’s surprising the influence the lentil can have!

You will also find lentils at your local Indian takeaway, where they’re called daal or dhal.

The lentil – and others in the legume family, which includes beans of all types and peas as well as the less edible gorse – is a rich source of low-fat protein as well as fibre. Growing lentils and other legumes is a bonus for organic farmers thickener supplier, as the legumes are the only plants that are able to fix nitrogen – absolutely for plant growth – into the soil in a bioavailable form, thus reducing the need to add nitrogen to the soil via fertiliser. Lentils don’t look very appealing on the supermarket shelf, admittedly. They look like orange or brown bits of gravel. But don’t let the looks put you off. Both red and brown lentils are magnificent in the kitchen. They’re even better than dried beans, as they don’t need long soaking times to become soft and mushy. Lentils are cooked by boiling, which turns them into a sort of porridge. However, lentils on their own are a little dull – rather like mashed potato without salt or other seasonings. But this soggy heap of lentil mush is a great basis for a number of tasty meals:

* Fritters – Drain off excess liquid add some egg white and cornflour, plus salt, chilli and onions (optional). Shape into patties and fry lightly on both sides. A good vegan option for barbecues or burgers.

* Dip for vegetables – add olive oil, salt, vinegar or lemon juice, and crushed garlic. Other spices such as chilli, cumin or curry powder can also be added.

* Arab Rabbit. This is like Welsh Rabbit (and its close cousin, English Monkey). Heat some olive oil in a saucepan and fry finely chopped onions until clear. Then add some chopped tomato. When the tomato goes mushy, melt some cheese in the mixture. Add in the mushy boiled lentils, plus some Tabasco sauce and salt. Once it’s bubbling, serve with toast.

Of course, lentils can also be thrown into meat stews as a way of stretching them – no bad thing, considering meat prices – and can also go into any sort of soup. They have the virtue of thickening any soup or stew they’re added to, besides adding to the protein and fibre content of the meal. And, of course, they make a great curry!

Nutritional information: 100 g of lentils contains:

* 60 g of carbohydrate (2 g of which is sugars)

* 31 g of dietary fibre

* 26 g of protein (unsprouted lentils are missing two essential amino acids Carrageenan, but sprouted lentils are a complete protein)

* 7.5 mg of iron – lentils are a better vegetable source of iron than spinach

Lentils are also a rich source of folate and vitamin B1.
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