HEALTH TIDBITS

DECEMBER TIDBIT

MAXIMISING BENEFITS OF FRUITS

An ancient tale from the Middle East told of a serpent that tempted the earliest humans to taste the Fruit of Knowledge. The pair of humans were banished from the Garden of Eden for eating the Fruit. Fast forward to the present; the offspring of this couple have splintered into numerous races and tribes, spread across all the continents of the world. Although we may not have the Fruit of Knowledge now, a myriad fruits of every size and shapes still tempt us with their kaleidoscope of colors, textures, flavors and aromas. Through the enticing packaging of their fruits, plants hope to attract other more mobile living creatures to propagate their seeds far and wide. In return for their services, the creatures [including us] are rewarded with many nutritional benefits that enhances health and help fight diseases.

We get to know many of the beneficial nutrients and compounds packed into fruits that enhances our health in the last article in Jumblebox./ How do we extract the maximum benefits from them?

A study by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on nutrients of papaya at different stages of ripening showed that the fruit at the height of maturity has the most nutrients. Other studies indicated this is true of other fruits as well. Therefore, eat ripe fruits for maximum benefit.

On the other hand, decay sets in on over-ripe fruits, and the sugars are changed to carbon dioxide, alcohol, acetic acid and other harmful by-products. Once a fruits starts to rot, nutrients diminishes rapidly.

Unripe fruit is not wholesome for us either. When the fruit is not ripe, it produces compounds with unpleasant taste such as bitter, biting or astringent flavors. Some of the compounds may be toxic as well to protect the fruit and deter creatures from eating the fruit before its seeds are fully mature and ready for propagation.

Fruits are cleanser of the body, flushing out toxins and metabolic waste . The recommendation is to eat 2-3 servings of fruit each day.

Eat a colorful variety of fruits of different taste as they contain different nutrients .

Eating a whole guava fruit is more nutritious than drinking its juice, since the fiber and some vitamins and minerals may be processed out of the juice. Moreover, in the process of chewing, your saliva help to digest some of the carbohydrate, lessening the workload for your stomach and pancreas.

It is believed that all fruits, even acidic ones, become alkaline in your intestine provided that no sugar or carbohydrate is taken together with your fruit. When concentrated starches and sugars are included in a meal in which fresh, raw fruits (with the exception of bananas, dates, figs and raisins) are present then the fruits no longer have an alkaline reaction in the body but tend to become acidic.

Wash fruits thoroughly, especially if they are inorganic ones.

Grapes, guava, apples and berries can be eaten with their skin. However, when you eat fruits that have to be peeled such as orange, lychee, banana etc. consume them before they oxidize. Peeled fruits that have turned brown indicates lost of nutrients due to oxidation. To get the best that any fruit has to offer, eat it fresh.

avoid canned and preserved fruits as they contain excessive sugar or salt, additives and preservatives.

Fruits dried naturally or with dehydrators is preferable to those that uses chemical preservatives.

My friend was once given a box of preserved fruits. Rashes broke out after she ate some of them. Her doctor told her she was allergic to sulfur nitrite used to preserve the fruit. To derive the most benefits, eat fresh, ripe organic fruits.

There are groups who think early man live on a diet of raw fruits, nuts and seeds. These raw food diet advocates championed following such a diet. they pointed to the increasing number of people suffering from allergies and other chronic diseases and blamed the modern diet for their ills. A group calling themselves ‘Fruitarians’ said “fruit is the source of health and energy because fruit contains all the vital nutrients the human body requires to maintain it in a healthy and balanced state. it is a LIVE food… wonderful for long term health, weight control, longevity and detoxification.”

In the next article we will look at some 'food combining rules' developed by these groups to get the maximum benefits from raw food.

For older Health Tidbits, click on the link below:

• ARCHIVED TIDBITS [1A]- FLAVOR & HEALTH
• ARCHIVED TIDBITS [1B]- YIN-YANG IN MEDICINE
• ARCHIVED FRUIT TIDBITS

Plants 4Health

DELIGHTFUL LYCHEE

Click to choose articles below:

• PAPAYA - Power-Packed With Powerful Enzymes+ Remedies
• MANGOSTEEN- Consort To The King
• LUOHAN GUO- Natural Sweetener For Diabetics And Weight-watchers + Remedies
• CALM, COOL MINT + REMEDIES
• GINGER FIGHTS FLUE & INDIGESTION + REMEDIES
  [Dr. Hiroshi Ochiai and His team found that the traditional use of ginger to ward off influenza does have some basis]
• BLACK PEPPER- KING OF SPICES + REMEDIES
• BITTER MELON- DETOXIFY AND IMPROVE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR TOLERANCE
• LEMON- REFRESHING FRUIT OF MANY USES
• HE SHOU WU- The Revitalizing Herb
• TONGKAT ALI- Malaysia's Herbal Viagra
• HEMPADU BUMI- Bile Of The Earth
• MISAI KUCING- Whisk away your joint pains and metabolic waste

Medicinal plants should be taken with care, just like other medication because they can interact with other medications or any underlying health problems or allergies you may have and cause side effects. Give your healthcare provider a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe healthcare.

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