Fruits A-Z

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.