Because of the wonderful “Healthy Snacking” post from yesterday I thought I would do some random facts on nutrition, enjoy.

-Most likely due to poor nutrition as children, many Greeks and Romans were shorter than people today. Men from Pompeii, for example, averaged 5 ft. 5-½ in. and women averaged 5 ft. 2 in.
Garnsy, Peter. 1999. Food and Society in Classical Antiquity. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

-Nutrients are divided into two major groups: macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients include protein, carbohydrates, water, and fats. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals.
Roday, Sunetra. 2007. Food Science and Nutrition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

-Salt is the most common seasoning mentioned in the Bible. Salt was a vital mineral that was not only essential to life, but also preserved other foods critical for survival. Salt was so important that it was also often used as a form of currency or as a unit of exchange.
Dalby, Andrew. 2003. Food in the Ancient World: From A to Z. New York, NY: Routledge.

-A person will usually swallow around 250 times during dinner.
Roday, Sunetra. 2007. Food Science and Nutrition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

-Eggs contain the highest quality food protein known. All parts of an egg are edible, including the shell which has a high calcium content.
Fernandez-Armesto, Felipe. 2002. Near A Thousand Tables: A History of Food. New York, NY: The Free Press.

-The Okinawans are thought to live longer than any other ethnic group, have healthier heart, bones, largely due to their cultural practice called Hara Hachi Bu, which means they eat until they are 80 percent full. Their diet is rich in complex carbohydrates, plant-based foods, and low fat, and they are physically active.
UCBerkelyWellnessLetter. “Eat Like an Okinawa.” September 2001. Accessed: December 3, 2008.

Facts courtesy of Random Facts: 42 Random Facts About Nutrition