Did You Know: Poinsettias

December 12th is National Poinsettia Day.

The flowers of the poinsettia plant, called cyathia, are the yellow clustered buds in the center. The red, pink, or white colored parts are actually the leaves.

Poinsettias have also been called the “Lobster Flower” and “Flame Leaf Flower.”

Red poinsettias account for about 75 percent of all sales nationwide.

There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available.

More than 65 million poinsettia plants are sold each year, accounting for one-third of sales of all flowering plants year round and 85 percent of potted plant sales at Christmas.

California is the top poinsettia producer, followed by Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Michigan.

The Aztecs used to use the poinsettia leaves to dye fabric for clothing.

The poinsettia plant is named after Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, an amateur botanist and first U.S. ambassador to Mexico.

The poinsettia plant is not considered a poisonous plant by the National Poison Center, but ingesting it can lead to stomach irritation and discomfort.

Comments

Adopting a Vegetarian Diet

Adopting a vegetarian diet has become a popular choice for individuals looking to improve their health, particularly as heart disease and obesity rates continue to rise in many parts of the world. Vegetarians tend to have lower cholesterol levels and consume fewer trans fats than those who consume meat and dairy products. However, to maintain good health, vegetarians must ensure they obtain the right amount of nutrients from their vegan diets. By taking care to plan their diets carefully, vegetarians can enjoy a satisfying and tasty way of life. While there is no established vegan diet, it is widely agreed that with so many vegetarian diets to choose from, the choice is ultimately up to the individual. However, vegetarians must be cautious not to make their diets too restrictive as this can lead to difficulties in meeting the body's daily nutritional requirements. Commonly deficient nutrients among vegetarians include protein, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. Soy pr...

Is White Wine Good For Your Heart?

Is white wine as "heart healthy" as red wine? Here’s what you should know about the heart health benefits of white wine. The answer is probably -- though researchers continue to debate the question. Some studies have indicated that red wine is modestly better for the heart than white wine (or beer or spirits) because it contains resveratrol -- a polyphenol (plant chemical) associated with cardiovascular benefits, including reduced risk of heart attack. Resveratrol is found in the seeds and skin of grapes, which are crushed together with the pulp to make red wine. White wines, on the other hand, are made with just pulp and therefore contain very little resveratrol. But recent studies have shown that the pulp does contain other polyphenols that may be heart healthy. Moreover, although red and white wines differ in polyphenol composition, both contain similar amounts of alcohol -- which is known to increase level s of HDL ("good") cholesterol and prevent bl...

Does Your Family Encourage Your Obesity?

Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows how difficult it can be. Unfortunately, many times those who should support us the most, our family, make it even harder to succeed. No matter what the reason, family members can sabotage our weight loss goals without us even realizing it. They may sound like loving comments, but if you hear these lines, be aware and walk away. I Love You Just the Way You Are This line is killer. It implies that we don't love ourselves the way we are and that we are losing weight just to make them love us more. With health and self-esteem issues on the line, other people's opinions may be far down the list of reasons why you want to lose weight. The unspoken question behind this statement is, "Will you love me just as much if I change and get healthier?" You should have a frank discussion about this topic with your loved ones as soon as you begin your weight loss journey. You Deserve This One Treat This usually happens on holidays, ...

Daily Health News Blog

Search This Blog