Fruit You Might Love That You Don't Know About

Fruit is an amazing little food. Chocked full of all things good—vitamins, minerals, water, and flavor. However, the “apple a day” mentality gets old. Bananas and oranges are great, but I am an adventure seeker. I want to look past the ordinary and discover the extraordinary. According to Wikipedia a fruit is, “a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.” In this sense, beans, nuts, and many vegetables would be considered “fruit.” We don’t have enough time and space to cover everything, so let’s focus on the modern day society’s “fruit,” sweet, edible, and delicious.

*Remember, fruits get their bright colors from the nutrients they contain. Go for the rainbow, and try to eat green, yellow, purple (blue), red, and orange fruits.

Super Fruit

Blueberries

This cousin of the cranberry is loaded with antioxidants (a molecule that cleanses the body of free radicals, the molecules that damage cells), Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. It has been shown to prevent certain types of cancers and bladder infections. You can put these little berries in yogurt, smoothies, cereal, and deserts. Due to the sweet mildness of the blueberry, the cooking possibilities are endless.

Pomegranates

The juice company POM has really boosted the sale of this super fruit because consumers no longer have to stain their hands and clothes navigating through seed pods to recover a minimal amount of juice. Drinking the juice provides the same reduced risk of breast cancer and blood clots, without the mess.

Oranges

How many times did your mother try to force orange juice down your throat, insisting that “a healthy dose of Vitamin C” will make your cold disappear? Mom is wrong, but not completely. It’s not just the work of Vitamin C, but the anti-oxidants and folic acid combined that help keep up immune systems. One orange a day can reduce your risk of colon cancer, lower high blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and help you feel great.

I Bet You've Never Tried it Alone

Combo fruits—we’ve all had a “tropical pineapple, mango smoothie” or “strawberry-kiwi” Capri Sun, but if you’ve never broken down America’s trendy flavor combinations, and tried these fruits alone, you are missing out.

Mangoes

Where do we start with this Indian native? Mangoes protect against cancer, skin problems, digestive problems, heart disease, low immune systems with the power of Vitamins A, C, E, B6, and K, fiber, minerals, seven different Polyphenols (a type of anti-oxidant), and five other anti-oxidants. Not to mention, it’s delicious. Mango has a sweet, tropical flavor with a texture similar to a peach. They can be eaten peeled and chopped, just be careful for the pit which generally constitutes 45% of the fruit.

Kiwi

Kiwi is short for kiwifruit, and it didn’t get its name until the 1950’s. It’s a great source of anti-oxidants, Vitamin A, and potassium (almost as much as bananas). If you have never had this delicious fruit, they are very easy to find, and are located in the produce section of your supermarket.

Figs

Have you ever had a fig that wasn’t in a “Newton?” Probably, not. According to health experts, you should. Figs are one of nature’s best resources for potassium (Vitamin K) and fiber. In our modern day society, salt is added to about everything we eat out of a package. High sodium intake combined with low potassium intake can wreak havoc on your blood pressure control. Not to mention that figs can aid in promoting bone density, lowering insulin, improving your eyesight, and preventing cancer. So, how can you get more? Eat them dried, find dried fruit assortments that contain them, make a figgy pudding—the possibilities are endless.

Getting Risqué with Fruit

Now that you know the basics of these power foods, let’s take it a step further and explore those dangerous fruits—you know, the ones your mom didn’t let you hang out with in high school because they smoked cigarettes and drove motorcycles. Wait—what were we talking about?

Durian (Stinky Fruit)

When I first heard of this coveted fruit of Southeast Asia, I thought, “Why would you eat that?” But this “king of fruits” is supposed to taste like custard and almonds. Sounds delicious, but the smell of this fruit even with the husk on is putrid. Certain hotels and public transportation in Southeast Asia have banned it due to its offensive smell, but apparently, when it comes to durian, the stinkier the better. It can relieve fever, and is a great source of fats, Vitamin C, and potassium, which aid in blood pressure control and immune system function.

Goji Berry (Wolfberry)

Native to China, the Goji berry was said to have helped Li Qing Yuen, a Chinese man, live to be 252 years old, earning the Wolfberry acclaim and notoriety in the Western world. It’s no surprise then that their content of 6 vitamins, 33 minerals, 18 amino acids (cells’ building blocks) and 5 anti-oxidants is insurmountable. They protect against inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and vision related diseases, earning them a huge surge in the health food market. Their beautiful color and nutty flavor make them really tasty as well. Have them dried, in tea, or baked into bread.

*Note: The Durian and Wolfberry can be difficult to find if you don’t live in Asia. Try health food markets and whole food stores if you want to find these fruits.