Description:
Scientific name = Allium ampeloprasum.
related to garlic onions and shallots - ALLIUM vegetables
Allium is latin name for garlic
The edible part = long white cylindrical stalk of layers of tightly wrapped leaves. = a pseudostem white base is called the shank
about 300mm high and 50mm in diameter
more delicate and subtle flavour cf onions
wild leeks = ramps – smaller in size and have stronger flavour
?native to Central Asia
History:
Dried specimens found in archeological sites in Egypt along with wall carvings and drawings - about 2000 BC
Ancient Greeks - “prasa” In Homer's odessey Odysseus returns to Ithaca to find his father digging and said to him – There is never a plant, neither a fig tree nor yet a grapevine nor love nor pear tree nor leek bed uncared for in your garden
They were prized by Romans for supposed beneficial effect on the throat – Nero supposedly ate Leeks everyday to make his voice stronger
English word Leek is a corruption Latin "Loch" – medicine licked to cure a sore throat
Romans introduced Leeks to UK where they became the national emblem of Wales after they were used in a battle in 1620 as an id on the Welsh soldiers caps. Still appears in the cap badge of the Welsh guards
more delicate and subtle flavour cf onions
wild leeks = ramps – smaller in size and have stronger flavour
?native to Central Asia
History:
Dried specimens found in archeological sites in Egypt along with wall carvings and drawings - about 2000 BC
Ancient Greeks - “prasa” In Homer's odessey Odysseus returns to Ithaca to find his father digging and said to him – There is never a plant, neither a fig tree nor yet a grapevine nor love nor pear tree nor leek bed uncared for in your garden
They were prized by Romans for supposed beneficial effect on the throat – Nero supposedly ate Leeks everyday to make his voice stronger
English word Leek is a corruption Latin "Loch" – medicine licked to cure a sore throat
Romans introduced Leeks to UK where they became the national emblem of Wales after they were used in a battle in 1620 as an id on the Welsh soldiers caps. Still appears in the cap badge of the Welsh guards
Introduced into Australia with the First Fleet
French call leeks poireau = simpleton = poor mans asparagus. Agatha Christie named her most famous char Poirot after the leek
Leek is a key ingredient in some famous soups – vichyssoise
and Scottish cock-a-leekie soup
Growing:
Like rich well drained soil but actually hardy and pest free
Main disadvantage is they take about 6 months to be ready for harvesting
Can be cut off at ground level and will regrow
biannual - two years to flower
planting - drop into a hole with leaves showing -do not fill the hole in
Medical : Fructans and Akkermansia mucinophilia - Obesity and Diabetes
Defn – fructans are chains of fructose with a glucose on the end and are not digestible in the stomach and small intestine -however bacteria in our colon can digest them
There is increasing evidence that our gut bacteria have a significant effect on our health - they seem to influence our metabolism and energy balance
Obesity and diabetes are characterised by altered gut microbes, inflammation and disruption in the gut lining.
Akkermansia mucinophilia seems to be a key player
There is an inverse correlation with the presence of this bacteria and body weight in humans - ie less AM → more obese
- when present in good numbers it controls gut barrier function, improves glucose homeostasis and reduces fat storage around the abdomen.
Fructans increase the abundance of Akk M by >100 fold
How does all this tie in with Leeks ?
Fructans especially occur in Leeks onions garlic asparagus yacon artichokes jicama chicory and some other foods
Thus a way to improve your metabolism and weight is to eat these sort of vegetables nearly every day
French call leeks poireau = simpleton = poor mans asparagus. Agatha Christie named her most famous char Poirot after the leek
Leek is a key ingredient in some famous soups – vichyssoise
and Scottish cock-a-leekie soup
Growing:
Like rich well drained soil but actually hardy and pest free
Main disadvantage is they take about 6 months to be ready for harvesting
Can be cut off at ground level and will regrow
biannual - two years to flower
planting - drop into a hole with leaves showing -do not fill the hole in
Medical : Fructans and Akkermansia mucinophilia - Obesity and Diabetes
Defn – fructans are chains of fructose with a glucose on the end and are not digestible in the stomach and small intestine -however bacteria in our colon can digest them
There is increasing evidence that our gut bacteria have a significant effect on our health - they seem to influence our metabolism and energy balance
Obesity and diabetes are characterised by altered gut microbes, inflammation and disruption in the gut lining.
Akkermansia mucinophilia seems to be a key player
There is an inverse correlation with the presence of this bacteria and body weight in humans - ie less AM → more obese
- when present in good numbers it controls gut barrier function, improves glucose homeostasis and reduces fat storage around the abdomen.
Fructans increase the abundance of Akk M by >100 fold
How does all this tie in with Leeks ?
Fructans especially occur in Leeks onions garlic asparagus yacon artichokes jicama chicory and some other foods
Thus a way to improve your metabolism and weight is to eat these sort of vegetables nearly every day
