The Good Food

10 Signs to Identify a Fruit Lover

goodie — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:50:44 +0000

Here are 1o signs to identify a fruit lover.

A fruit lover usually is someone who:

Rushes to eat the fruits first even before having the first bite of the main course
Knows what fruits are on the table but doesn’t mind what dessert is there
Usually likes fruits better than chocolate but doesn’t mind dipping it in chocolate fondue
Can be found lining up for Gummy Bears and Jelly Beans rather than Hershey’s
Doesn’t care if he’s roommate hogs on chocolate pudding but fights with his life to protect a slice of fruitcake
Thinks a bar of Toblerone left open for two days is worse than a fruit salad left open for two weeks in the fridge
Stocks the freezer with strawberry ice cream, mango yogurt and blueberry cheesecake
Doesn’t let the apple reach the preschool teacher
Cuts grandma’s fruit basket into half right before reaching grandma’s doorstep
Thinks ice cups are the most nutritious drinks in the world

Fruits for Weight Loss

goodie — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:46:42 +0000

We have heard over and over again about eating fruits to lose weight. And again, I tell you, eat fruits instead of junk food or as a meal alternative and you are sure to make lean good muscles.

It has been recommended that we should be eating at least 5 pieces of fruit every day in order to gain the full health benefits of eating fruit.

Energy consumption is thought to be mainly influenced by the palatability, fiber content, density of energy and the variety of foods. Eating fruit has the benefit of affecting some these factors. Fruit is also low in sodium so they help reduce the chance of gaining water weight.

It can be quite easy to slip 5 pieces of fruit into the diet.

Here are some tips..

Add dried fruit to breakfast cereal
Prepare fruit salads to last few days
Eat apple before leaving for work
Eat small piece 30 minutes before / after light workout
Drink more fruit juices
Find recipes that contain fruit
Always have a bowl of fruit in or near T.V

The Benefits of Fruits in the Body

goodie — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:45:31 +0000

Water is most necessary for human body and fruit is the only natural food that consists of 80% of water. No other food can meet the water requirement for the human body like fruit does
In this junk food dominated society, fruit is the only natural food that contains less bad-cholesterol.
Fruits are the ultimate stimulating factor for your brain. They can be said to be the fuel for the brain. If you want to enhance your memory power, you should consume fruit regularly.
Fiber, fiber and more fiber - nothing else satisfies the fiber requirement for your body easier than fruit. Thus, it helps you fight corpulence, high blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease.

Dried Fruits

goodie — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:43:59 +0000

Today what we get as dried fruits is dried in different ways. Since sun drying depends completely on sunlight, which is different in different climates, various other methods of drying fruits have evolved, like drying in an oven or using the electric dehydrator for drying.

Fruits can also be dried at home. Before drying, check that the fruits don’t have any mold, scars, or soft patches. Cut the fresh fruits in small slices, pretreat them by dipping into citrus juice (to avoid color change) and then dry them.

Drying makes the fruit life longer. Fresh fruits contain moisture, which is good for organisms that spoil the fruits because the organisms feed on this moisture. However, if dried, the fruits become free from moisture and remain edible for a long time.

Dried fruits are rich in fiber and carbohydrates and contain little fat. However, dried foods are a bit more calorically dense than their fresh counterparts. It is recommended to eat a half serving size of dried fruits rather than the full fresh size.

Eating dried fruits is easy since they are already in sliced or diced form. Dried fruits are commonly used in breads, muffins, cakes, and desserts or simply used as toppings on these foods. You can easily enhance the taste of your morning cereal by sprinkling some dried raisins or berries into it

Ten Tropical Fruit Facts

goodie — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:42:47 +0000

Mangoes are loaded with Vitamin A, and high in Vitamin C, Postassium, and Iron.
Chinese medical practitioners use mango to treat dysentery.
Twelve lychees have less than seventy calories.
Passionfruit get its name from its flowers, which Spanish missionaries thought resembled symbols of Christ’s Passion, such as the crown of thorns.
Mangosteen are rumored to have been the favorite fruit of Queen Victoria.
Orangutans love mangoes.
Legend has it that an Emperor of the Tang Dynasty lost his throne because his insisted on having fresh lychees delivered to his concubine on a regular basis - at great cost to the Chinese people.
Many people believe durian is an aphrodisiac.
Mangoes have been used as a type of contraceptive.
Lychee is a member of the soapberry family.

The Fruits We Know

goodie — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 07:40:28 +0000

Apple

The humble apple - it really is true an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Apples contain Vitamins A, B, C, Potassium, Iron & Magnesium. They also contain important Flavanoids and Pectin and helps fight the effects of bad cholesterol.

Banana

A good source of Potassium, Folic Acid, Vitamin A & B6. They are easily digested, high in fibre and help maintain sugar levels and are a great energy boosting snack.

Blueberry

Blueberries are one of natures’s super foods. They are bursting with important nutrients and flavour yet low in calories.

Kiwi

Kiwi fruit is one of the most nutrient rich of all the popular fruits. While most fruits tend to be high in one or two major nutrients Kiwis deliver a whole range of nutrients & vitamins.

They are packed full of cancer fighting Beta-Carotene and contain twice as much Vitamin C as an orange.

They are also rich in minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium & Sodium.

Kiwi fruit is a food, protector and natural medicine. And on top of all this it tastes wonderful.

Mango

Mangos smell and taste wonderful . They are rich in Beta-Carotene ( a cancer fighting agent), Vitamin C & B and are a good source of Calcium, Magnesium & Potassium. They also contain high levels of antioxidants which fight cell damaging free radicals.

Oranges

Oranges are known, of course, for their Vitamin C content but they contain an abundance of other health giving ingredients.

They contain antioxidants that help fight the free radicals that damage and age our skin are loaded with anti cancer Beta-Carotene and are a good source of Calcium and other minerals.

Peach

Peaches taste great and are packed full of nutrients including cancer preventing Beta -Carotene, Folic Acid, Vitamin C & B3.

Pineapple

Pineapple are packed full of Vitamin C and fibre and so help the immune and digestive system. They also have anti-inflammatory effects and they contain the protein digesting ingredient Bromelain.

Raspberry

Raspberries are high in Ellagic Acid which is good for the immune system. Packed full of Vitamins and minerals including cancer fighting Beta -Carotene, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Sodium. They are also full of dietary fibre.

Strawberry

A handful of Strawberries contains 100% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C.They also contain cancer fighting Beta -Carotene, bone building Calcium, Potassium and Iron.

Strawberries also contain natural pain killing substances some of which are included in the manufacture of Aspirin.