Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Grape fruit health facts

Grapes fruit have an ability to treat constipation, indigestion, fatigue, kidney disorders, macular degeneration and prevention of cataract. It also reduces the damage caused by free radicals and slackens ageing.

  • Grapes used for cure of asthma and increases the moisture present in lungs.
  • It reduces the chances of heart attacks and prevents cholesterol, which blocks the blood vessels.
  • It relieves chronic constipation by toning up intestine and stomach.
  • It relieve heat and cure indigestion and irritation of the stomach.
  • Grape juice also helps in preventing breast cancer.
  • Red grapes have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. It helps to protect you from infections.
  • It inhibits the growth of cancer causing agents.
  • Grapes enhance brain health and stall the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.
  • It helps to enhance the overall immunity of the body.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Banana health facts

Fruits like Bananas are a very much healthier where one medium-sized banana contains about 1 gram of protein and 27 grams of carbohydrates.

  • Bananas are good for heart and nerves that contains a high dose of potassium. It is essential for proper muscle contraction and normal rhythmic pumping of the heart. Take banana daily for your diet.
  • Bananas will act as mood enhancers or mild sedatives. It contains tryptophan that helps the body to produce serotonin. Bananas are one of the easiest ways to get tryptophan, since it doesn’t produce naturally.

  • Bananas are good for your blood that helps the body to make hemoglobin. It helps to convert carbohydrates to glucose and maintains proper blood sugar levels. Vitamin B6 is necessary for antibody production.
  • Bananas are good for kidneys and bones where minimizes the risk of kidney stones. It also minimizes the loss of calcium from the body and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
  • Bananas were also best recommended for weight loss. Bananas are high in potassium that helps to reduce water retention.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Christmas Fruit Cake Recipe

Christmas festival to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ looks to be not complete without Christmas cakes.
Lets here is how to make Christmas fruit cake recipe:

Ingredients:
• 1 1/2 cups whole blanched almonds
• 2 cups light and dark raisins
• 1 cup currants
• 2 1/2 cups chopped dates
• 2 1/2 cups candied citron peel
• 12oz of maraschino cherries
• 1/2 cup fruit juice
• 19oz of crushed pineapple
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup reserved cherry juice
• 1 cup strawberry jam
• 4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

How to prepare?


Take a large bowl and add the ingredients of almonds, light & dark raisins, currant, dates, candied citron peel. Drain a 12oz bottle of maraschino cherries and add them to the mixture in the bowl. Pour fruit juice and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Leave it at room temperature for the whole night.

Take saucepan; simmer one 19oz crushed pineapple with 2 cups granulated sugar and stir it for 45 min until it gets thickened.
Mix the cooled pine apple and strawberry jam. Make sure to cool good before you add it to the cake batter.

In second day, add the ingredients of flour, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, allspice, salt, and baking soda in a large cup. Add about a cup of the flour mixture to the fruit and nuts.

Cream granulated sugar with 1 pound butter in a large bowl. Beat 12 eggs. Add flour mixture and pineapple mixture and stir them into the butter and egg mix. It becomes pink color and pours over flour-coated fruit and nuts and mix well. Pour into pans and chuck them in the oven and place a shallow pan of water on the bottom rack of the oven to keep the cakes moist. Bake in oven for 4 hours, for the larger cakes. Removed the cakes from the oven let them cool completely. Overlay with plastic wrap and add cheese cloth. Plop cake in centre and wrap the cheesecloth tightly around the cake.
Finally the cakes will be good eating on three weeks, for the holidays.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Do you want more energy? Eat fruits for breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives you energy to pay more attention in class and tends to score higher on tests.

Eat fresh fruits such as apples, grapefruit, strawberries, cherries, oranges, kiwi, melon, and grapes for breakfast.

Eating fruit for breakfast will get you on the road for healthier body without having to pump a lot of iron at the gym.

Diets on fruits for breakfast make it simple and its raw form is exactly what your body needs for energy. It’s easy to digest sugar from fruit that your body can easily turn into energy. Cut all your favourite fruits. Add yogurt, honey or almonds for taste and make a fresh fruit salad.

Smoothies are one of the easiest breakfasts, no need of sugar since it contain natural sugars that'll sweeten your drink.


Here is a simple recipe for breakfast:
5 fresh strawberries
1/3 fresh cantaloupe
1/2 cup of fresh pineapple
1 fresh kiwi (peeled)
1 cup of orange juice

Blend all ingredients until it gets smooth, recover your health, and reduce your weight. Get your metabolism the right way in the morning and enjoy a bowl of fresh fruit.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Make your kids to eat fruits

How do you get your kids to eat fruits and vegetables?
In today's society, the appearance of overweight, unhealthy children is too familiar. Intake of cakes, burgers, sweets and fizzy drinks by kids is not surprising where it makes the children’s into a terrible lifestyle and digging them early graves. Snacks are a bigger part of kid’s diet. It can even make positive or negative contributions to them. Introduce apples, cherries, apricots and even more exotic fruits like kiwis, pomegranates and guava to kids which keeps them much healthier.

Nutritionists said: Every kid needs a new food to taste each time before they'll even try it. So make sure to give them new varieties of fruits and veggies.

Babies were like to eat fruit and vegetables as one of their first solid foods. But after one year, children become fussier as they become more independent eaters were this fussiness may include fruit and vegetables. Many parents were worried if their child starts to eat less fruit and vegetables. But it’s not possible to force children to eat more fruit and vegetables.

The finest way is to set a good example for child by making fruit and vegetables a daily part of family’s diet. So keep trying.

Here are some ideas to make your kid eat their healthy food:
  • Give them foods like strawberries, mandarin oranges, cherries, tomatoes, sweet peas, and corn.
  • Add also chopped fruits to gelatin salads.
  • Finely slice carrots and mix them into spaghetti sauce.
  • Make fruit breads like banana bread, pear bread, and apple bread which also good for health.
  • Choose 100% fruit juice, but limit juice to no more than 6 ounces for 1-6 year olds.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Best Fruits for weight loss

Won’t it be good to lose weight without requiring a diet of tasteless food or hours and hours of sweating over a tiresome treadmill?? The answer would definitely be YES. You can lose weight by eating an unlimited amount of sweet satisfying food which is nothing but FRUITS.


Fruits are one of best choice to lose weight since it has low calories and fat. Also it helps you to stay full because of its water and fiber content. Apples, watermelon, grapefruit and papaya are some of the fruits which favor weight loss. To get better results, eat fresh fruit rather than fruit juice or dried fruits because dried fruits have more energy density than whole fresh fruits.

Citrus fruits are another food which aids for weight. Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C which helps to dissolve and liquefy the fat and eliminate it from the body. Apples are also the best choice not only since it is low in calories, but also has high pectin content which lowers the insulin levels and promote weight loss. So you can very well say, “An apple a day keeps the fat away”.

The uncommon fact about papaya is that the skin of this unripe fruit contributes to weight loss. The skin contains an enzyme called papain which is used as a diet tenderizer and helps in effective digestion.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Amazing Facts About Fruits

Fruits are highly nutritious and are part of a healthy diet. But most of us consume them without knowing much about them. Here are some interesting and amazing facts about fruits which you may be surprised to know about.

Eating apple can make you stay awake which is equivalent to consuming a cup of coffee.

Olive trees can live for more than 1,500 years.

Strawberries are the only fruit having their seeds outside.

When tomato, which contains vitamin C, is eaten with burger or meat, the body makes better use of iron in the protein food.

Blackberry juice can be used to dye cloth navy blue or indigo.

Dwarf apple trees produce larger fruit than semi-dwarf trees.

Banana plants grow an inch or more during night.

Many years ago, explorers used watermelons to carry their water.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

What fruits can a diabetic eat?

Diabetics usually avoid eating fruit because of the high sugar content present in most of the fruits. But fortunately, there are fruits that do not affect the blood glucose level which a diabetic can enjoy.

Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fat which helps to increase the good cholesterol and reduce the bad cholesterol in the blood. This reduces the risk of heart diseases which is more common to diabetics. Also the vitamin E content found in avocados reduces the nerve damage in diabetic patients. But it should be consumed cautiously since the fat content in it may lead to obesity and complicate diabetes. Half of the medium-sized avocados can be served for diabetics.

Grapefruits are good in treating diabetes. The rich amount of antioxidant in it lowers the blood sugar levels. Naringenin which is found in grapefruit never hinders the insulin production, in turn increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin. It also promotes weight loss which is a vital part in diabetes treatment. Grapefruit shows better results when consumed during meal times.

Apples are proved beneficial in curing diabetes because of its rich pectin content which improves the glycemic control in diabetic patients. It also decreases the insulin requirements of the body by up to 50%. Apples are abundant in Myricetin, a plant polyphenol which protects the diabetic Red Blood Cells (RBC’s) from the harmful effects of oxidative stress and reduces the risk of diabetes.

So next time when you visit a diabetic friend, gift him these fruits which might help your friend to fight against the complications of diabetes.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Health facts of citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are much powerful of vitamin C. It has numerous health benefits. Oranges are one of the major powerful citrus fruits. It also keeps your heart healthy and protects against cancer. They are low in fat, free of cholesterol and sodium. Lemons helps to reduce the pain caused due to bee stings.

Citrus fruits are the sources of essential oils, used in perfumes and other cosmetic products. It doesn’t have any negative effects on the health. But it should be avoided that if you are suffering from cold and flu as they can make you sicker.

Citrus fruits help in the prevention of birth defects. It leads to positive benefits for a healthy, happy life.

It prevents the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines from nitrite and secondary amines in the stomach and also regenerates the intracellular fat soluble antioxidant vitamin E. Eating citrus fruits and drinking an 8 oz glass of orange juice daily may helps to prevent kidney stones.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Health facts of fruits and veggies

Dieters can eat all the fresh fruits and vegetables, under a new system unveiled Monday by Weight Watchers.

The new Points plus System replaces Weight Watchers' Points plan, which has been used by tens of millions. According to Karen Miller-Kovach, the company's chief scientific officer, Weight Watchers wanted to reflect the latest nutrition science. The formula to calculate the new Points Plus values is based on the amounts of protein, fiber and fat in foods. She also said, it also factors in how hard the body has to work to process food into energy.

In the Points Plus system, a medium croissant with a pat of butter gets a 7, 3 oz of ham and one slice of whole wheat toast with a pat of butter gets a 6 where both breakfasts have 270 calories.

Miller-Kovach says, Fresh fruits and most veggies were given zero points so they would be more enticing since most Americans don't eat enough of them.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Tips for buying fruits

While shopping fruits from your grocer make sure that you are selecting the best ones so that you enjoy the fruit as well as save your money. Here are some tips which will help you to buy fresh fruits:
  • Bananas should be free from blemishes, bruises and other injuries. Ripe bananas should be firm and bright yellow in color. Do not buy bananas which are overripe.
  • While buying oranges, see to that it is bright orange in color, firm and heavy. Do not buy oranges which are light weight and having rough skin texture since it lacks flesh content and juice.
  • Pineapples should have dark green leaves and must be heavy in size. Larger the fruit, more the edible flesh. It can be ripened quickly by making it stand upside down. Avoid pineapples which have discolored and decayed skin.


  • Buy grapes which are bright colored and firmly attached to the stem. Do not buy soft or wrinkled grapes which are symptoms of decay.
  • Lemons should have firm, smooth and lustrous skin. Smaller and firmer lemons give more juice than larger ones. Avoid lemons having dull yellowish color since they might have high acidity content.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Sapodilla health benefits


Sapodilla is a delicious tropical fruit which has season all round the year. The pulp of the fruit is soft and is made up with sugars like fructose and sucrose which rejuvenates the body with energy. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and also has a high content of fiber.

 Not only the fruit, but also the leaves and seeds of sapodilla have medicinal values. Decoction of its leaves cures cough and cold whereas the liquid extracted from crushed seeds removes stones from kidney and bladder and also acts as a medicine in treating venomous stings and bites.

Minerals such as potassium, copper and iron present in sapodilla are very essential for health as they involve in various metabolic activities.Since it has a ratio of good potassium and low sodium level, it reduces the risk of heart related diseases.

The fruit is also rich in vitamin c and vitamin A. vitamin C protects the body by developing resistance against various infectious agents and vitamin A enhances vision and helps in maintaining healthy skin.


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Top 5 healthy fruits



Fruits are not only delicious but also have a rich source of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which prevents us from many diseases. All fruits are healthy, but the following are the top five healthiest fruits:

Apples:





As per the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, it has many health benefits. It also may keep away from asthma, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many other diseases. Apigenin, an antioxidant that is present in apple suppresses asthma and allergies. Eating an apple a day cuts the risk of mouth cancer. They also help to throttle blood clots and plaque in arteries, which lead to heart disease.
The pectin content in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which reduces the risk of diabetes.

Banana:

Banana is a tropical fruit which mainly consists of sugar and fiber acting as a good source of energy. The fiber content in it regulates the bowel movement and helps to cure constipation.  Potassium is present in high amount in bananas which prevents blood pressure; stabilize the heart beat hence acting as a stress reliever.

Apricot:


Apricots are a rich source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, fiber and potassium. Beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the body protects the eyes and helps to keep the teeth and bones stronger. The fiber content in it prevents constipation and maintains the digestive track. Vitamin C develops resistance in the body against infectious agents.

Plum:




Plums have a huge amount of minerals and vitamins which mainly improves the digestive system and immunity against cancer related diseases. Minerals such as potassium, fluoride and iron are present in abundance in plums which is essential for RBC formation and to control blood pressure. Plums also reduce the risk of heart diseases.
 
Strawberry:



Strawberries are one of the best health remedies. The anti-oxidant present in them protects us from vision defects. Strawberries are a rich source of iron which is helpful for the proper functioning of brain and nervous system. Also the folate content in it protects from birth-defects.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Strawberry health benefits

Strawberry is a bright red colored fruit which is very tempting to eyes.It has a great taste and is commonly liked by everyone. It is an aggregate fruit since it has seeds on outside rather than inside.
Strawberry is a very nutritious fruit which has the ability to clean the blood from harmful toxins. It helps to relieve from high blood pressure since it has a rich content of potassium and magnesium.

The anti-oxidants present in strawberries helps in reducing the risk of cancer and other heart diseases.The ratio of vitamin c content is high in strawberries compared to other nutrients which neutralizes the effect of the oxidants and prevents from infections and cold.

Also the iodine content in strawberry is responsible for proper functioning of brain and nervous system enhances the memory function.

It also has beauty benefits for skin. The strawberry facial mask removes the impurities and reduce the inflammation in the skin.The salicylic acid present in it destroys the dead cells present in the skin thereby making it look brighter and shining.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Avocado health facts



  • Avocados contain vitamin E, lutein and beta-carotene in abundance.
  • Vitamin E is an antioxidant which prevents the damage of cells and tissues
  • The beta-carotene content in avocados helps to maintain the cholesterol levels.
  • The fat content in it is good for health and it can be given for babies at the initial stage.
  • Avocados raises the level of high density lipoprotein(HDL), which is considered as the bad cholesterol thereby reducing the risk of heart problems.
  • They contain a healthier monounsaturated fatty acids which absorbs the phytochemicals from other foods and helps in digestion, which also contributes to weight loss.
  • Their potassium content lowers the blood pressure
  • Folate and vitamin k are other important nutrients found in avocados. folate helps in cell development and vitamin k helps in calcium absorption.
  • Avocado is a fruit which has a rich nutrient content consisting of vitamins, minerals and proteins protecting us from a number of diseases.

health facts of lychee fruit

Lychees are brightly colored strawberry shaped fruits with thin large skin and sweet musky aroma.


Health Benifits of Lychee Fruits:
Lychee, Chinese translated the best one as ‘gift for a joyful life’, of course lives up to its name. The lychee fruit contains vitamins and minerals that help a healthy diet, it is sweet and delicious and it has been enjoyed joyfully by natives of southeast Asia for centuries.

Everybody who eats the lychee fruit immediately falls in love with it. But if the information that lychee is so delicious doesn’t not influence you to try it, maybe hearing some of the health benefits of lychee will make you give this tropical fruit a second look

Many studies enclose publicized that eating lychee fruit may reduce the risk of cancer. One such study was a published in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology showing that lychee fruit inhibits the construction and development of breast cancel.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Health benefits of kiwi fruit

  • Kiwifruit contains an antimutagenic component, which helps in preventing the mutations of genes that may initiate the cancer process. The presence of glutathione in the fruit also reduces the chances of cancer in the body.
  • The fruit contains ample amounts of Inositol, which, as studies indicate is an excellent way of treating depression
  • Inositol, is a sugar alcohol, which is a naturally occurring substance in in kiwifruit. It plays a substantial role in regulating diabetes. Inositol supplements
  • Inositol also plays a key role in intracellular responses to hormones and neurotransmitters. It acts as a second messenger in cell signaling processes
  • Regular consumption of kiwifruit ensures good Eye Health prevents Macular Degeneration
  • Many scientists believe that the Sodium-to-potassium ratio is critical for heart health. This ratio is extremely favorable in kiwifruit
  • The high content of Vitamin C in the fruit makes it an effective immunity booster
  • Kiwifruit contains the amino acid arginine, a well-known vasodilator that has been used to treat impotency in men
  • Kiwifruit contains a wide range of minerals (electrolytes) essential for replenishing those lost during exercise, especially during hot weather
  • Kiwifruit has the best balance of nutrients per calorie, and thus, is the best fruit to opt for, when on a weight management diet.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Grapple fruit

Grapple fruit is a combination of both grapes and apple. Grape + apple= grapple.

+
grape


=
apple
grapple

The fruit tastes like grape and looks like apple. It is a brand name for Fuji or gala apple and it has been specially treated to make the taste of the fruit flesh looks like a grape. The grapple fruit typically looks large and have a flesh that is sweeter and crisper. The grapple fruit is one of the varieties of Fuji apple.

Grapple fruit

  • It is a cholesterol free fruit that reduces the level of cholesterol
  • Eating this fruit also reduces the chance of cancer
  • When kept at room temperature, this fruit become soft, mealy and mushy
  • The Grapple season begins late October or early November.
  • It gets paired with some cheese varieties for a tasty treat.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Fruits carving

A list of fruits carving:

fruit expo 2011


Fruit expo is to be held on Sunday, 16 October 2011 and Monday, 17 October 2011.

Overberg Fruit and Wine expo takes place at the Villiersdorp. It is presented in the year 2011 by Agri Mega as a partner for the Villiersdorp Agricultural Society.

The expo, focusing on the Overberg’s Fruit and Wine industry, will, like the Agri Mega week of the small grain sector, make its mark in the Western Cape.

It promises to be a display window of great substance where producers, input providers and the general public can be interactive to the advantage of all concerned parties. They invite all input and service providers in the fruit and wine industry to get applications forms early and book display and demonstration space to present and market products.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Facts of Apple fruit

Apple is a round fruit with firm juicy. It becomes red or yellow skin when ripe. A famous Adam’s apple story tells that in the Garden of Eden, Adam ate a piece of the forbidden fruit that got stuck in his throat. It looks like a small, rounded apple just under the skin in the front of the throat.



Facts of Apple fruit:
  • It contain vitamins like Vitamin C, Beta-Carotene, iron and potassium etc.
  • It have very high mineral contents, pectins, malic acid good in normalizing the intestines.
  • Apple Fruit is used for treatment of anaemia, dysentery, heart disease, headache, eye disorders, and kidney stones.
  • Eating and drinking apples and apple juice, in conjunction with a balanced diet, can protect the brain from the effects of oxidative stress.
  • The best known apples are from Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh etc. Imported apples like Washington apples and Australian apples are available at big departmental stores.
  • It also represents as a symbol of love and beauty.

The rose apple tree may be merely a shrub but is generally a tree reaching 25 or even 40 ft (7.5-12 m) in height, and has a dense crown of slender, wide-spreading branches, often the overall width exceeding the height.

Velvet Apples are rated short on the glycemic index which means they supply a steady stream of sugar to the blood rather than a sudden point. Other apple nutrition facts point to that apples are a good source of potassium, fiber and vitamins A and C.

Eating fruit and vegetable skin could fight cancer

Eating the skins of fruit and vegetables could boost your dietary intake of vitamins, battle cancer and increase your energy levels. All fruit and vegetables have a bio-synergy; means the nutritional ¬benefits of each part are non-breakable by the others.


Kiwi fruit


Kiwi fruit is high in antioxidants and have anti-cancer, anti inflammatory and anti allergenic properties. The skin contains three times the antioxidants of the pulp. It fights off bugs such as Staphylococcus and E-coli, responsible for food poisoning.

If regular kiwi skin is too bitter for you, go for gold kiwi fruit, which is sweeter, less hairy skins, but with the same benefits.






Pineapple


Along with fibre and vitamin C, a pineapple’s real benefit lies in an enzyme called bromelain, that breaks down food and dead human tissues linger in the digestive system quickly, and protects the stomach. Don’t panic it’s the tough core of the pineapple, not the prickly skin you should be tucking into. The core of a pineapple contains twice the bromelain concentration of the surrounding fruit.

Press and crush the core and add the juice to smoothies. It can be gristly, but the left-over pulp can be added to soups or casseroles.





Broccoli



Broccoli stalks can be less flavorful than the florets, but they are notably higher in calcium and vitamin C and the stalks are also high in soluble fibre. Those little florets might look more tempting, but there’s every reason to eat the stalks.


Shred the stalks into thin strips and add to stir-fry or serve steamed.

Monday, November 1, 2010

healthy fruits and vegetables


Fruits and vegetables are part of a well balanced and healthy eating plan. There are many ways to maintain a healthy weight. Using more fruits and vegetables along with whole grain, nuts, and beans is a healthy one. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and also other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other substances that are significant for good health.

Follow the below tips to cut calories and eat fruits and vegetables throughout your day:

  • Substitute some spinach, onions, or mushrooms for one of the eggs in your morning omelet.
  • Substitute vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, or onions for 2 ounces of the cheese and 2 ounces of the meat in your sandwich.
  • Add a cup of chopped vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, beans, or red peppers, in place of 2 ounces of the meat.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Nutritional fruits for skin

Most of the women spend rather a bit of money to make their skin looks younger and good. But many of us don’t realize that eating items are also affects their appearance.


Follow the below steps:

Consumes large amount of water as you can Your skin loses wetness to the air, especially in the wintertime. You must want to drink at least eight glasses per a day.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables Try for 5-9 servings per a day. Fruits and veggies are high in antioxidant vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and beta-carotene are especially helpful for skin appearance. Rich sources of these includes are Strawberries, navel oranges, sweet red and yellow peppers, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, nuts, and seeds.