Tortillas

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Tortillas

http://www.tortilla-info.com/talk.htm

 

Flour tortillas are a low-fat food and contain iron along with

other essential B vitamins. They have about 115 calories with 2-3

grams of fat per serving.

 

Corn tortillas are a low-fat, low-sodium food and contain calcium,

potassium and fiber. An average serving contains about 60 calories

with 1 gram of fat.

 

Corn tortillas do not contain gluten, making them a great

alternative to bread for those who are gluten intolerant.

 

Nutritional Chart

 

Nutrient Corn* Flour*

Calories 60 115

Protein (grams) 1 3

Carbohydrate (grams) 12 20

Fat (grams) 1 2.5

Calcium (milligrams) 44 44

 

* Source: USDA Handbook 8. Based on the average-sized serving;

serving sizes may vary depending on the brand.

 

 

 

 

According to Mayan legend, tortillas were invented by a peasant for

his hungry king in ancient times. The first tortillas, which date

approximately 10,000 years before Christ, were made of native corn

with dried kernel. Today, corn tortillas are made from either corn

cooked in a lime-based solution or by using corn flour, producing a

dough, forming it like a pancake and finally baking it in an oven.

 

Among native Mexicans, tortillas are also commonly used as eating

utensils. In the Old West, " cowpokes " realized the versatility of

tortillas and used tortillas filled with meat or other foods as a

convenient way to eat around the campfire.

 

 

 

 

Thanks in part to the widespread popularity of Mexican and

Southwestern cuisines, Americans love tortillas. In fact, tortillas

are more popular today in the U.S. than all other ethnic breads,

such as bagels, English muffins and pita bread.

 

In 2000, tortilla sales in the U.S. reached the $4.4 billion mark

and are expected to hit $5.7 billion dollars in sales by the year

2002. As testament to their popularity, the Tortilla Industry

Association (TIA) estimates that Americans consumed approximately 85

billion tortillas in 2000 (not including tortilla chips).

 

Tortillas have found their place in the American mainstream diet,

where they now serve as substitutes for traditional breads in such

popular fare as hot dogs, lasagna, pitas, sandwiches and pizza.

Tortillas can be used to hold a variety of fillings, used as tasty

food scoops, toasted and topped with salad, or served hot and plain.

 

Tortillas are a flat bread made from either corn or wheat. The

versatile tortilla can be warmed in the oven, steamed, grilled,

fried, heated in a microwave or toaster or baked in the oven.

 

Note: For optimal health it is best to obtain non-gmo corn. Corn is

among the grains undergoing genetic modification by the chemical

giant Monsanto.

 

Regards, JoAnn

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Melanoma.html