October 22, 2014 – NATIONAL NUT DAY – NATIONAL COLOR DAY

 

                                                NATIONAL NUT DAY

This day is NOT about the neighbor that lives down the street or the crazy co-worker, it is a food holiday that celebrates a healthy and nutritious snack.  National Nut Day is celebrated each year on October 22.

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Nuts are a highly prized food and energy source and are an important source of nutrients for both humans and wildlife.   Many of them are used in cooking, eaten raw, sprouted or roasted as a snack food, pressed for oil that is used in cookery and cosmetics.

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The fats found in nuts, for the most part, are unsaturated fats including monounsaturated fats.

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Many nuts are good sources of vitamins E and B₂ and are also rich in protein, folate fiber and essential minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and selenium.
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Nuts are important to animals, especially those in temperate climates, such as jays and squirrels, to name a few, as they store acorns and other nuts during the autumn months to keep from starving during late autumn, all winter and early spring.

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Several studies have shown that those who consume nuts on a regular basis are less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease. (CHD)  It was in 1993 that nuts were first linked to protections against CHD.   Since that time, many clinical trials have found that consumption of various nuts such as almonds and walnuts can lower serum LDL cholesterol concentrations.

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One study has shown that people who ate nuts lived two to three years longer than those who did not. The results of the longer life may be due to the fact that because they were eating more nuts, they were in turn, eating less junk food.
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Nuts are most healthy in their raw form.
To celebrate National Nut Day, have a snack, or two, of raw nuts during the day and also try the following “tried and true” NUT recipe:
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/mixed-nut-bars
NATIONAL NUT DAY HISTORY
National Nut Day, an “unofficial” national holiday is uncertain of it’s origin in the United States.

National Color Day

NATIONAL COLOR DAY

National Day Calendar is acknowledged with thankfulness of living in a colorful nation, as it is celebrated annually on October 22 .   This day was created as a day to learn how colors influence our mood, productivity and behavior in our everyday lives.

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It is hard to imagine a world without color, one that is all black, white and shades of gray.  
Color has long been used to create feelings of coziness or spaciousness. However, how people are affected by different color stimuli varies from person to person.
Color can carry specific meaning.

Different colors are perceived to mean different things.
Following is one rendition of perceived meaning of different colors in the
United States.

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• Red:  Excitement – Love – Strength
• Yellow:  Competence –  Happiness
• Green:  Good Taste –  Envy – Relaxation
• Blue:  Corporate –  High Quality
• Pink: Sophistication –  Sincerity
• Violet/Purple:  Authority – Power
• Brown:  Ruggedness
• Black:  Grief – Fear
• White: Happiness – Purity.