7 Unusual Fruits to Try …

7 Unusual Fruits to Try …

One of the things I like best about summer is the abundance of fresh fruits that happen to be in season, at their ripest, juiciest, sweetest best! But already I’m bored with peaches and plums… I want to try something new! If you’re with me, keep reading! I’ve done a little chatting with my local grocer, and he’s recommended 7 unusual fruits to try that you can find at almost any supermarket… and here they are!

1. Kiwi

While many of us have tried a kiwi fruit already, for those of you who haven’t, what are you waiting for? Peel or cut away the fuzzy brown peel and slice the green insides into little ovals. Feel free to eat the seeds and the whitish inner core… they’re delicious, sweet with a tart tanginess.

2. Starfruit

Starfruit, or carambola, gets its nickname because when you slice it, it actually has a star shape. They’re gorgeous for use in fruit salads, but even better, they’re delicious! They’re very juicy, with a sweet flavor and a crunchy texture. They’re also rich in vitamin C!

3. Asian Pear

4. Kumquat

Where I grew up in California, we had a kumquat tree. The fruits are small and sweet, with a slightly fuzzy texture on their skin, like a peach, but they’re actually closer in relation to an orange. They’re very sweet, and rich, so their size is perfect! Anything bigger and you might not be able to finish it!

5. Lychee

I haven’t tried one of these yet, but I really want to! They’re mostly cultivated in China, and are supposed to be very sweet and rich, with a whitish pulpy inside. They have even been featured in an episode of “Ni Hao Ki-Lan,” on Nick Jr. I really want to try one of these!

6. Pomegranate

I know pomegranates aren’t in season until the fall, but I had to include them because (a) they’re my very favorite unusual fruit and (b) they’re going to be available at most grocery stores, so you can keep an eye out for them! They’re a lot of work, but they’re delicious… and I’ve just discovered that some stores (like Costco) sell the seeds in packages… yay!

7. Guava

I first tried guava at a friend’s house. His mother is Hawaiian and she made it with soy sauce, salt, and pepper, which I thought was odd for a fruit… but it was delicious! I see it now as a tropical fruit, added to smoothies and made in fruit salads. I want to try it again!

I’m already a fan of the pomegranate, and I can’t wait to try the lychee! Which of these unusual fruits have you tried, and what did you think? Or is your favorite out-there fruit not on my list? Please share! I’d love to try something new!

Be careful when purchasing and storing these delicious fruits — they bruise very easily! But they’re so tasty, don’t let that scare you off! They’re also very, very juicy, with a high water content and a slightly grainy texture, much like a standard pear. They’re very crisp and sweet, and so good when they’re cold!

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8 Foods that Detox the Body Naturally …

8 Foods that Detox the Body Naturally …

Detoxing is a physiological process that usually occurs naturally whereby the body gets rid of the toxins accumulated within it. Sometimes, however, the body is unable to throw out all the toxins on its own. That’s when detox diets are recommended, which give the body the break it needs from its overworked routine, allowing it to dump waste more effectively and absorb nutrients better. If you are planning to cleanse your body and restore the inner balance, you might want to stock up on these 8 foods that detox the body naturally.

1. Raw Vegetables

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Carrots, onions, asparagus, broccoli, artichoke, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and beet are some of your best allies in your attempt to detox your body naturally. Eaten raw, these foods, rich in naturally occurring glutathione and sulphur, aid the liver in the purging of harmful chemicals and toxins.

2. Fruits

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The body is able to digest fruits really easily. For this reason, they are among the foods that detox  the body naturally. They provide the body with essential vitamins and minerals, not to mention fiber and anti-oxidants. In addition, being high in water content, they successfully help the body in flushing out dangerous toxins.

3. Citrus Fruits

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Vitamin C plays an extremely important role in cleansing and detoxification since it has the ability to convert toxins into digestible matter, allowing for its easier passage through the body. As we all know oranges, lemons, and limes are rich in vitamin C and they can jump-start the process ofdigestion by lending a helping hand in the enzymatic processes. For more benefit, begin your day with a glass of warm water with half a lemon squeezed into it.

4. Green Foods

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Ever heard of chlorophyll – the same chemical that helps plants in the process of photosynthesis? Turns out that chlorophyll is just as beneficial to a human body as it is to plants since it fights against environmental toxins from pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, cleaning products, and smog. Stock up on barley, green algae, kale, wheatgrass, spirulina, spinach, chard, alfalfa, and arugula, which are known to be high in chlorophyll, making them important foods that detox the bodynaturally.

5. Green Tea

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Chinese green tea is rich in catechins – an anti-oxidant that boosts liver function. Have several cups of green tea throughout the day and you will notice a difference in no time at all.

6. Omega-3 Oils

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Food with Omega-3 oils are also considered important foods that detox the body naturally. When on a detox diet, use olive, hemp, avocado, or flax seed oil to cook your meals. These oils are a rich source of omega-3s which lubricate the walls of the intestine, causing the toxins to be absorbed more efficiently and eliminated by the body.

7. Garlic

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This tiny little bulb is one of the most powerful foods that detox the body naturally. Garlic stimulates the liver into producing enzymes that aid the process of detoxification, thereby filtering the toxins in the digestive system. Add a few pods of garlic to any dish you are making and it will work quietly in the background to cleanse your body.

8. Nuts and Seeds

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Generally during the detox period, you are asked to go easy on nut butters of all sorts. However, you can include nuts and seeds into your diet, taking care to pick the kinds that are easily digestible, such as hemp seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, and Siberian cedar nuts.

We all have a really hectic life to lead but that is the worst excuse you can give for ignoring to look after your body. After all money, professional success, and personal happiness will stay with you only so long, whereas your body is faithful to you till the last days of your life. You owe it some tender loving care and the occasional detox diet to help it stay on track with its functioning. Sold on the idea yet? Good! When are you planning to start, then?

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