In Singapore, the place where I worked was the the first office where I have seen
where fruit days are taken so seriously. This made me think about the lack of
fruit I myself eat. So today I have put together an A-Z guide on fruit, naming
a different fruit with each letter and its benefits to learn a bit more about
why eating fruit is important.
Apple
An apple is a round fruit of a tree of the
rose family, which typically has a thin green or red skin and a crispy flesh.
There are many benefits of eating an apple
including; it is an overall tonic, a good fibre for the digestive system and is
known to reduce the risk of Alzheimers. Apples are also recommended for weight
loss as they contain less than 100 calories and their digestive aid helps your
stomach in holding on to less saturated fat.
Banana
A banana is a long curved fruit which grows in
clusters and has a soft pulpy flesh and yellow skin when ripe.
Bananas have high vitamin and mineral content
especially potassium. They are especially good for fat burning and providing
energy for a long period of time. There is also evidence to suggest they reduce
chances of kidney cancer.
Cherry
Cherries are small, soft round stone fruit
that are typically bright or dark red.
Cherries have a unique combination of
detoxifying, laxative and inflammation reducing qualities. They also have a surprising large
amount of vitamin A which is good for maintenance of heart, lung and kidneys.
Durian
Durians are spiny oval tropical fruit that
contain a creamy pulp. Despite its fetid smell it is highly valued for its
flavour.
Durians like bananas are rich in their vitamin
and mineral levels containing high amounts of potassium, sulphur and vitamin C.
However, because of their warming properties, too much in hot countries can
cause excessive sweating.
Elderberry
Elderberries are the bluish-black or the red
berry of the elder tree or shrub, used mainly for making jelly or wine.
Despite being used mainly for creating
secondary food products, elderberries are extremely beneficial to health. They
can help improve vision, lower cholesterol levels and its high vitamin C levels
mean that it was given to treat a flu epidemic in Panama in 1995.
Fig
Figs are soft pear-shaped fruit with a sweet
dark flesh and many small seeds, eaten fresh or dried.
Figs are extremely mineral and vitamin rich
containing B1, B5, B6, iron and calcium. Dried figs are extremely popular and
they still have all the mineral properties that raw figs have.
Grape
Grapes are berries, typically green, purple or
black, which are grown in clusters on a grapevine. They are eaten as fruit as
well as used in making wine.
Research shows that grapes are a profound
heart and blood vitalising food, contain anti-cancer nutrients and help with
anemia.
Honeydew Melon
Honeydew melon is a variety of melon with
smooth pale skin and a sweet green flesh. It is considered the sweetest of all
melons. t
Honeydew melon is a perfect source of your
daily vitamins and minerals being high in vitamin C, potassium and vitamin
B-6. Vitamin B-6 is in fact a
metabolism booster and aids brain development and so this fruit is often
advised to those on weight management diets.
Iyokan
Iyokan is a small orange Japanese citrus
fruit. Given its slightly sour taste, it is the second most produced fruit in
Japan.
Iyoka has extremely high levels of vitamin C
making it very good for the immune system.
Jujube
Jujube sometimes referred to as the “Chinese
date” is an edible berry-like fruit of a Eurasian plant, formally taken as a
cough cure.
The high levels of vitamin C, zinc and
magnesium is what made its most popular use being cough medicine.
Kiwi
Kiwi is a fruit with a thin hairy skin, green
flesh and back seeds. It is formerly called a Chinese gooseberry.
Kiwis contain unique enzymes that help in
correcting and smoothing the digestive system. They are also said to eliminate
wrinkles and remove excess sodium.
Lychee
Lychees are small rounded fruit with a sweet
white scented flesh, a large central stone and a thin rough skin. They taste
similar to grapes but typically are much more fragrant.
They contain large amounts of copper, vitamin
C and phosphorus. It also helps protect the skin from UV rays.
Mango
Mangoes are fleshy, oval, yellowish-red
tropical fruit which is eaten ripe or used green for pickles, salads or
chutneys.
Mangoes are excellent aids to kidneys; they
help cleanse blood and lower cholesterol levels.
Nectarine
Nectarines are a variety of peaches with a
smooth red and yellow skin which have a rich, firm flesh.
Nectarines are also a digestive aids; they
help to cleanse the body and contain vitamin E and copper.
Orange
Oranges are large round juicy citrus fruit
with a tough bright reddish-yellow rind.
Most famously, they are known for their immune
system benefits. They can also reduce tumors, inflammation and prevent blood
clots from developing.
Pineapple
Pineapples are juicy tropical fruit consisting
of aromatic edible yellow flesh surrounded by a tough segmented skin and topped
with a tuft of stiff leaves.
Pineapples promote joint health, can help with
cleansing mucus specifically and help promote folic acid levels.
Quince
Quinces are a hard, acid pear-shaped fruit
used in preserves or as flavourings.
Quince have anti-allergic and anti-
inflammatory properties. They have also been known to treat cystitis.
Rambutan
Rambutans are red plum-sized tropical fruit
with soft spines and a slightly acidic taste.
In traditional medicine, they are used to cure
diabetes and hypertension. They are high in protein not just vitamins and
minerals such as vitamin C, phosphorus and copper.
Star fruit
Star fruit, more formally called carambola, is
a golden-yellow juicy fruit with a star shaped-shaped cross section.
Star fruit is rich in antioxidants, potassium
and vitamin C. In Brazilian folk medicine, it has been known to suppress coughs
and increase urine output.
Tangerine
Tangerines are small citrus fruits with loose
skin, especially a skin which has a deep orange-red colour.
Similar to oranges; they are great for vitamin
C boosts, calcium and copper. Their fibre is also good for reduction in risk of
arthritis.
Ugli
Ugli is a mottled green and yellow citrus
fruit which is a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerina.
Ugli fruit contains 0g of fat and half your
required portion of fiber; therefore is featured in many weight management
diets.
Voavanga
Voavanga also known as a Spanish tamarind, it
is a round fruit that is green with white dots that turns brown when fully
ripe. The pulp is moderately juicy, with a slightly acidic flavor. It has
been described taste wise as a combination of a Satsuma and a grapefruit. They
are very rare and although featured in the Spanish cuisine, they are actually
from Mexico.
There is no specific breakdown of the vitamins
and minerals they contain; but they are known to add to your overall vitamin
and mineral levels.
Watermelon
Watermelon is a large melon-like fruit of a
plant of the gourd family, with smooth green skin, red pulp and watery juice.
Watermelon interestingly helps to prevent
against sunburn and is said to reduce the risk of prostate and ovarian cancer.
Being a summer fruit it also is great at rehydrating and cleansing the body.
Xigua
Xigua is a fruit very similar to watermelon
only shorter in size.
It has all the same benefits as watermelon
only difference is it is shorter and can be found in a cube shape.
Yuzu
Yuzu look similar to grapefruits only smaller
in size, and are yellow or green depending on ripeness. It is found
predominantly in East Asia.
Yuzu can help replenish dead skin cells, slow
down physical signs of aging and boost vitamin C levels. It is often used in
beauty products too because of its anti-aging properties.
Zalacca
Zalacca have a reddish-brown scaly skin
covering a white pulp which has a slightly acidic taste. These fruits are
native to Indonesia.
The fruits are recommended for those suffering
with diarrhea as they are full of fiber and of course vitamin C.
