EXOTIC FRUITS

Have you noticed that modernized grocery stores are starting to introduce fruits you may not have seen or heard of before? You find yourself walking down the produce isles looking at a type of fruit and asking yourself, “What is that”? Supermarkets and grocery stores these days are motivated to expand their collections of fruits as consumers become more knowledgeable. However, there remains an abundance of exotic fruits out there that we may never be able to buy in modern grocery stores. But, we may have some luck finding them by visiting a specialty grocery store or an authentic supermarket. So move over apples and oranges, it’s time to try other tasty fruits with heaps of nutritional value and lots of fun to eat.

PASSION FRUIT – you may have tasted passion fruit juices, but never experienced the highly fragrant, egg shaped fruit. This fruit originates from southern Brazil through Paraguay to northern Argentina. It has gained popularity, especially among those who are health conscious. When mature, the color of this fruit is purple, red or yellow. To eat, just cut the passion fruit in half with a sharp knife and scoop out the fruit and seeds with a spoon. It’s crunchy in taste, but the membrane that separates the fruit is a bit tart. This fruit is packed with antioxidants and contains a range of vitamins C and A, good source of fiber and plant compounds like carotenoids and polyphenols. A single 18 grams of passion fruits contains only 17 calories.

STAR FRUIT – is also known as Carambola fruit. The tree of this fruit is mostly found in Southeast Asia and other tropical areas including the Caribbean and Latin America. When ripe, it is light yellow in color with brown edges. The smaller green color carambola fruits are generally quite sour and unpleasant to eat. The nutritional value includes an exceptional amount of anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. This fruit is extremely low in calories and rich in dietary fiber which can help prevent the release of glucose after eating, making this an ideal snack for diabetics or people who are at risk of developing the condition. It also includes vitamin A, B and C along with minerals like zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, iron and potassium.

DRAGON FRUIT – originated in Central America and is the fruit of a Cactus. They are found in over six continents and grown in many colors such as white, red and magenta. It has a scaly appearance, much like a dragon. This fruit has been ignored by mainstream fruit traders, but recently has become one of the top exports of Vietnam. It has grown in interest by juicers and fruit giants. It’s mainly composed of water and best used after refrigeration. Its flower buds can be used in cooking. The nutritional value for this fruit is packed with Vitamin C, fiber, and minerals and an abundance of antioxidants. What’s interesting is the seed of the dragon fruit contains multiple essential oils and added to many types of drinks. The benefits of this fruit supports bone health and density, fights fungal and microbial, supports weight loss and prevents cancer cells from thriving. Oh, and let’s not forget that the benefits include slowing down the aging process. weight loss, boosts Because of its high damaging cells.

Fruits we find in our local grocery store like apples, bananas and oranges are filled with nutritional value as well, but they are what we call “familiar fruits”. Don’t stop eating them just try new ones. Stretch your palate a little by adding one of these tropical fruits to your grocery list. You may be surprised with its taste and wonder why you haven’t tried them sooner especially since they are chock full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that help fight diseases and boost your health.

So

long

for

now,

GUAVA FRUIT – is a tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical regions.

It’s a small tree native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America. Depending on the variety, the color of a guava is pale green or yellow. When ripe, the flesh of a peeled guava is reddish in color. It’s a delicious, sweet fruit with a unique flavor and fragrance. It’s very easy to eat too. Wash it off, slice in halves, eat the whole fruit or scoop out the insides. Guava is a nutritional powerhouse highly valued by the people where it’s cultivated because of its health benefits and experience. This fruit is packed with fiber, vitamin A and C, folate, antioxidants and potassium. It also helps to relieve painful symptoms of menstruation, aides in heart health, and is shown to have an anti-cancer effect. level of antioxidants, it may prevent free radicals from

live

life

and

be

happy.