Medicinal benefits of star fruits

Posted on January 23, 2012 by fruitsinfo-admin

The carambola fruit is rich in ascorbic acid, which is important for the physical state of your body because it helps to keep bones, teeth, mucous membranes, skin and immune system improves.one cup of sliced carambola has 37.2 mg of vitamin C.

* The star fruit provides small amounts of B vitamins such as vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid, and derivatives can help lower cholesterol and speed recovery from injuries. It also contains folic acid or vitamin B9, essential for preventing birth defects, and reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
* The fruit is beta-carotene, which can be converted into retinol or vitamin A in your body for good vision and appetite.
* The fruit contains both antimicrobial activity and antioxidants. Fruit extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, E. coli, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus.
* The star fruit contains small amounts of potassium, which regulate the level of blood pressure, red blood cell iron balance, as well as calcium and magnesium, which work together to help strengthen bones.
* The carambola is rich in soluble fiber, which can be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels and maintain healthy intestine.
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Pineapple Fruit Facial-Promotes Elasticity

Posted on January 20, 2012 by fruitsinfo-admin

The extract made from pineapples provides variety of positive effects on the  skin and maintain  skin elasticity by removing dead damaged skin, and  improving hydration and moisture and promoting a more elastic and clear looking skin.This fruit facial can be done at home itself.

pine apple fruit facial

Ingredients:

  • pineapple
  • few tsp of wheat flour or honey
  • cold milk

Procedure:

Pineapples are an excellent source of bromelian which can revitalize the skin and eliminate dead cells that leads to clogging of pores. Extract pineapple juice and mix it with a few tsp of wheat flour or honey and beat it nicely. Once the mixture achieves the desired texture, apply it on your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water and repeat the session whenever you need a treatment for your complexion.

Clean your face with cold milk. After that, soak a cotton ball in it and rub in a circular motion over the face and neck. Milk removes the dirt from deep pores and gives an instant brightness to the skin.

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Papaya: Introducing high yield varieties key to healthy profits

Posted on December 19, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

Papaya-high-yield varieties-healthy-profits

Papaya is a tropical fruit widely consumed across the world with growing popularity over the past few years.

It is native to southern Mexico and Central America, but has long been known and cultivated in the home gardens by the people of tropical and subtropical areas. It is one of the few crops which fruit throughout the year, offering quick returns.

Over time, it has grown from the status of a home-garden crop to that of a commercial crop in many tropical countries as it is one of the highest producers of fruits by per-hectare.

Area and output

Over the last two decades global papaya production has more than tripled to 105 lakh tonnes in 2009 from 31 lakh tonnes in 1989. This growth in production has been accompanied by an increase in productivity to 25 tonnes a hectare from 14 tonnes a hectare. India is the leading producer of the fruit and has increased its share in world production to 37 per cent in 2009 from 11 per cent in 1989.

Other major producers are Brazil, contributing 17.1 per cent (17.92 lakh tonnes) of world tonnage, followed by Indonesia at 7.3 per cent (7.66 lakh tonnes), Nigeria at 7.3 per cent (7.63 lakh tonnes) and Mexico at 6.7 per cent (7.07 lakh tonnes).

A growing population and increasing per-capita incomes have generated robust demand for fruits in India. Besides, there has been a growing trend towards healthier food consumption reflected in the growing interest in the nutritional aspects of tropical fruits.

This change is borne out by a multi-fold increase in production of papaya over the last two decades, primarily on domestic demand.

Between 1991-92 and 2009-10, the area under cultivation for papaya more than doubled to 95.7 thousand hectares from 45.2 thousand hectares in India, whereas production witnessed an almost five-fold increase to 39.14 lakh tonnes from 8.05 lakh tonnes. This was due to an increase in productivity to 41 tonnes a hectare in 2009-10 from 18 tonnes a hectare in 1991-92.

This compares well withto the world average of 25 tonnes a hectare but lags the other key producers like Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico.

Andhra Pradesh produces a significant proportion of the crop at around 38 per cent, with an output of 15 lakh tonnes and a yield of 80 tonnes a hectare.

Gujarat ranks second with a production of 8.32 lakh tonnes, followed by Karnataka (4.19 lakh tonnes), West Bengal (3.21 lakh tonnes), Chhattisgarh (2.12 lakh tonnes), Madhya Pradesh (1.93 lakh tonnes), Assam (1.19 lakh tonnes), Kerala (0.8 lakh tonnes) and Tamil Nadu (0.74 lakh tonnes). Of these, the top four accounted for 79 per cent of the total production in 2009-10.

Global Trade

In 2008, global exports of papaya were 2,45,937 tonnes and worth about Rs 940 crore. Mexico is the largest exporter of papaya by volume accounting for 37 per cent of the exports, followed by Brazil and Belize at 12 per cent.

The US accounts for over 50 per cent of papaya imports by volume and over 30 per cent by value. Other key importers are Singapore, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Spain and Portugal.

India exports less than 1 per cent of its produce primarily to West Asia. This accounts for 3-6 per cent by volume and a miniscule 1-2 per cent by value of global papaya exports.

The ripe fruit is eaten raw or processed into juices, jams, canned cubes, candied slices, ice-cream flavouring, etc. The unripe fruit is usually cooked before consuming.

Green papaya fruit and the tree’s latex are rich in an enzyme called papain, which has uses in medicine and industry. Papain is used as a protein digestive and in the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations for digestive disorders.

It finds extensive use in the manufacture of proteolysed preparations of meat, liver and casein. It is also used in tenderising meat, softening leathers, degumming natural silk and wool fabrics, chewing gums, tooth paste and cosmetics.

Post-harvest

Papaya is highly perishable with a shelf-life of four to six days after harvest under tropical conditions and up to three weeks at low-temperature storage. Post-harvest losses can be significant if harvesting, packing and handling techniques are inadequate or inappropriate.

Moreover, sellers require the fruit at specific stages of ripeness for optimum sales, which is around 50-70 per cent of yellow colouring. Therefore, for the fruit to arrive in markets properly ripened, attention has to be paid when packed, with adequate time buffer built in for transport.

Productivity has been lower in India as compared to most major producing countries due to cultivation of local low-yield varieties. Additionally, papaya is highly susceptible to pests and diseases, which further lower productivity. On the other hand, lack of information on post-harvest handling, storage and transport practices leads to losses.

Way Forward

Demand for papaya in the domestic as well as export markets and its profitability for farmers requires a deeper look at all opportunities for its commercial exploitation.

The Government and the private sector must work towards introduction of higher yielding varieties and focus on infrastructure, transport and human-resource development to minimise pre- and post-harvest losses. Papaya is still primarily consumed raw.

Developing more processing options and markets for processed products can reduce post-harvest losses, besides adding value to the produce.

Source: YES Bank

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Britons consume more fruits and veggies than Americans

Posted on November 10, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

fruits-veggies

Britons consume more fruits and veggies than Americans


A Gallup Poll point out Britons has more access to produce and consume more fruit and vegetables than Americans.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey was conducted from March 1 to Sept 30. 6893 Britons and 211,232 Americans were involved under the survey.

Gallup asked respondents to report on how many days in the last seven they had five or more servings of fruits and vegetables. And also whether it is easy or not easy to get reasonable fruits and vegetables in the city where they live.

High-income Britons were easy to get reasonable fruits and vegetables and were more likely to consume them regularly compared with low- income Britons. About 7-in-10 Britons in high-income households reported eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables at least 4 days each week. But this fell nearly 6-in-10 for the lowest income households.

Women and all subjects age 65 and older were more likely than are men and those younger than 65 to consume fruits and vegetables.

Gallup officials stated Britons’ better eating habits shows that obesity and chronic conditions such as heart disease rates are lower than in the United States.

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Best way to clean fruits and vegetables

Posted on October 4, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA doesn’t recommend any soap or liquid detergent to wash the commercial fruit and vegetables. All should be thoroughly washed under running water, whether it’s grown conventionally or organically.

University of Maine’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition backed up this claim by testing three store-bought produce rinses and washes against regular tap water and distilled water. Finally the study reveals that distilled water was the most effective way to remove pesticides and microbes. Since the distilled water is filtered and purified to remove any contaminants. The researchers also believed that very clean cold tap water can be used instead.

how-to-clean-fruits-veggies

Best way to clean fruits and vegetables

Wash your fruits and vegetables even if you are peeling them. For ex: Slicing an unwashed cantaloupe can transfer bacteria from the outside of the melon onto the cut fruit. Thick skinned fruits or vegetable that grows underground, like beets and carrots need an extra scrub to remove excess dirt. The University of Maine suggest soaking fruits and veggies produce with a lot of nooks and crannies for one to two minutes in clean, cold water before eating.

Experts recommend once your fruits and vegetables are clean, drying them with dish towel or paper towel is another step. Also wash utensils with hot, soapy water after cutting and peeling produce. The FDA also advises a solution of one teaspoon of chlorine bleach to one quart of water.

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Consuming White fruits and vegetables may lower stroke risk

Posted on September 20, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

Consuming White fruits and vegetables may lower stroke risk

Dutch researchers report shows that, fruits and vegetables whose edible sections are white may lower your risk of stroke than other fruits and vegetables. Intake of 25 grams of white fruits and vegetables per day led to a 9% decrease in the risk of stroke. According to the study, published in the November issue of Stroke, apples and pears were the most commonly consumed white fruit.

Author Linda M. Oude Greip, a postdoctoral fellow at Wageningen University in the Netherlands study said, the risk of stroke incidence was 52 percent lower for people with a high intake of white fruits and vegetables, compared to the people with a low intake.

Linda M. Oude Greip also pointed out that the findings don’t mean it’s better to stop eating other fruits and vegetables. Because other fruit and vegetable color groups may protect against other chronic diseases, she stressed. She said past research has shown that higher fruit and vegetable consumption can lower the risk of stroke. But none of that research looked at specific fruits and vegetables to see if any contributed more to the reduced risk than the others.

She used data collected by the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands that included more than 20,000 people. Study participants were between the ages of 20 and 65 at the start of the study, and none showed any signs of cardiovascular disease. All of the study volunteers completed a 178-item food frequency survey. The study then included 10 years of follow-up information on the participants’ health. During the follow-up period, 233 people had a stroke.

The only group that was associated with a significant decrease in stroke risk was white fruits and vegetables. Oude Greip said it’s not clear what components in white fruit might be protective for stroke, but she believes that the dietary fiber and the flavonoids play a role, where apples and pears are high in a flavonoid called quercetin.

Shapiro also pointed out; it’s difficult to single out what it is about white fruits that might reduce the risk of stroke. It’s really the whole foods. She said that she wouldn’t recommend limiting your diet to just white fruits and veggies. She added, “Eat the rainbow of fruits and vegetables”. It provides certain nutrients that combine and interplay with others.

Read about stroke prevention: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

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Apple Fruit- Health Benefits and Nutrition news

Posted on September 5, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin
September begins the season for apples. We all heard the motto “An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away”. Apples are known as “The American Fruit”.

Statistics show that Americans each consume roughly 40 pounds of apples yearly. Apples come in thousands of varieties, which are grown in the U.S. Most of us are familiar with at least half a dozen varieties.

Why apples are good for us? 

Apple-fruit- health-benefits-nutrition-news

Apple’s most common nutritional value is its fiber contribution since it has both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Most of its fiber is the soluble type called Pectin. Pectin and other soluble fibers slow down our food’s digestive transit time, giving us a slow steady rise in blood sugar.

Apples may cause some of us to feel bloated. But if we bake them, we reduce the large amount of air they contain.

According to the American Institute of Cancer Research, Disease-fighting substances have been found both in the fruit’s flesh and peel and the phytochemicals in apples protect against breast, colon and liver cancers.

Apples are pretty chewy, juicy, fibrous, and the pulp doesn’t stick to our teeth. As apples contain Vitamin C, and when we eat their peel, we get some beta-carotene and extra fiber. A large apple has about 125 calories. Apples are also one of the most versatile fruits. They’re great eaten raw as a fruit. We can also add them to a salad; eat them sliced with some cheese.

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High prices fruits in open market

Posted on August 17, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin
fruit-price-open-market

High prices fruits in open market

Prices of fruits in open market are much higher as compared to rates in the wholesale market. There is wide difference of rates between these open and wholesale markets. This is due to lack of proper check in this regard.

The majority of the fruit shopkeepers and vendors are not displaying the fruit rate lists properly. Vendors said that the district administration only had given them the price list in case of visit to the market.

In wholesale market Mango’s crate of 10 kg is available at Rs 500-600, where it is being sold at Rs. 100 per kg in the open market. Likewise, apples’s crate of over 15 kg is sold at Rs. 1000-1100 in wholesale market where it is being sold at Rs. 100 per kg in the open market. Banana Rs 80-100 per dozen in the open market while Rs 1100-1200 per bunch of around 20 dozens in wholesale market. Grapes are sold at Rs 150-200 per kg in open market while crate of 5 kg was available at Rs 700-800.

The visitors to Sasta bazaars of twin cities complained that stall holders do not allow anyone to properly check fruits.

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McDonald’s to automatically include fruit in Happy Meals

Posted on August 11, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

McDonald's to automatically include fruit in Happy Meals

Michele Obama praised McDonald’s after announcing it will automatically include a portion of fruit in children’s Happy Meals and reduce servings of French fries.  The world’s largest hamburger chain, which has come under increasing pressure from consumer groups to sell healthier food, said it would start making the changes in September. The new Happy Meals will be available in all of its 14,000 US restaurants early next year. They will include a quarter-cup of peeled apple. The new child’s French fry portion will be 1.1 ounces, down from 2.4 ounces previously. The company said the changes to Happy Meals will reduce the annual consumption of America’s children by 49 billion calories.

Michelle obama, who as US first lady has campaigned against childhood obesity, said: McDonald’s is making continued progress today by providing more fruit and reducing the calories in its Happy Meals. She also stated that everyone has a role to play in making America healthier, and these are positive steps toward the goal of solving the problem of childhood obesity. McDonald’s also promised to reduce sugars, saturated fats and calories across its menus in the US by 2020. Cindy Goody, McDonald’s senior director of nutrition, said: “We are going to be casting our gaze more closely on portion management as well as how we can introduce more food groups such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.”

The fast food chain acted after San Francisco and nearby Santa Clara County, California, passed laws that would stop free toy giveaways with unhealthy restaurant meals for children. Happy Meals have been sold by McDonald’s for more than 30 years and traditionally include a burger, French fries, drink and toy. Apple slices had in the past been offered as an alternative to French fries if a customer asked, but they will now be included automatically in every meal. McDonald’s said some restaurants may serve carrots, raisins, pineapple slices or oranges instead of apples.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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National Watermelon Day

Posted on August 2, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

National Watermelon Day

Celebrate National Watermelon Day on August 3. July is considered to b e the National Watermelon Month. So any fruit that has both a day and a month to be recognized must be of significant nutritional value. Today China is the No 1 producer of watermelons. In U.S watermelon is the most consumed fruit followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.

Watermelon is believed to be originated in the Kalahari Desert of Africa and was often placed in the burial tombs of ancient Egyptian kings to nourish them in the afterlife. Egerton, the southern food historian believes that watermelon made its way to the United States with African slaves.

Watermelons are best during summer which contains 92 percent water, so it should be heavy for its size. Seedless watermelons are not genetically modified. They are hybrid watermelons that have been grown in the US for more than 50 years. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, only 16 percent of watermelon sold in grocery stores has seeds.

Recent research has shown that Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin A, which is a powerful antioxidant, essential for vision and immunity. It also helps regulate body fluids, and control heart rate and regulate blood pressure. Vitamin C in watermelon helps the immune system defend against infections and viruses. . Vitamin B6 in watermelon also helps the body to maintain normal nerve function and form red blood cells.  The most nutrient found in watermelon is lycopene, an antioxidant that protects against cancer.

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90 percent of teen girls in UK fail to get enough fruits and veggies

Posted on July 23, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

 

In UK; more than 90 percent of teenage girls fail to get sufficient fruits and vegetables every day. They are unable to get enough nutrition during their growing years.  These results were found by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey conducted by the Department of Health.

The survey mainly notifies that over 44 percent of the girls did not get the recommended levels of iron in their diet. The boys were slightly better with just 13 percent managing to eat recommended levels of fruits and vegetables amounting to 3.1 portions each and every day.

More than 2,000 adults and children took part in the poll with the average portions of fruits and vegetables. It rises up to 4.2 per day among adults between 19 to 65 years of age and 4.4 per day among those over 65 years.

The lack of proper diet among teenagers could affect their long term health. Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies reported, “It is really important that teenagers eat a balanced diet  including eating five portions of fruit and veggies a day”. Eating healthy and being active can help prevent serious illnesses such as cancer and heart disease later in life.

 

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Eight public schools share $116K for fresh fruits and veggies

Posted on July 8, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

According to northern Wisconsin elementary schools apples, bananas, kiwi, mushrooms and spinach are not just vocabulary words. Federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture provide fruits and veggies as a snack-time food for students of five regional school districts.

Federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program allocated $150 million among nationwide. Eight public schools in northern Wisconsin will share $116,425 in funding to provide students with fresh fruit or veggies snack at least three times a week during the school day in the 2011-12 school years. Selection for the grants was based on schools with the highest percentage of students certified for reduced-price school meals.

State Superintendent Tony Evers announcing the grants as “Children from low-income families generally have fewer opportunities to consume fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis”.


In previous years, schools participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program have had kickoff activities, used colorful posters to promote healthy snacking, and integrated lessons on healthy eating.

A number of schools have partnered with various community groups. They work with the Farm to School program to purchase locally-grown produce. Some schools are learning to grow their own gardens to support the Fresh Fruit and Veggies Program.

Previously 25 schools are participated in Wisconsin for fresh fruits and Veggies Program. Now, 166 schools will participate in 2011-12.  The students participating in this program will receive approximately $50 per child to provide snacks to all students during the school day.

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Can fruits and veggies help Menopause?

Posted on May 24, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin
Menopause is the hardest part of times for women in her life. But it’s a nature’s principle that one has no control over. So instead of feeling worried, it is clever to understand menopause to take precautions.

fruits-veggies-menopause

Can fruits and veggies help Menopause?

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain cereal products that are rich in vitamin C and carotene. It mainly includes oranges, grapefruit, carrots, winter squash, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and green leafy vegetables. Consumption of fruits and veggies during menopause gives rise to the formation of certain kind of bacteria in the intestine. It likely causes the indigestion of food and the bowel movement is also in a weak position. It gives rise to growth of fat all over the abdomen making it look like a bulky part of your body. This condition is termed as menopause bloating.

It is advised to follow a pre-planned diet pattern that goes hand in hand in supporting you to face them with the suitable strength. Fruits and veggies have to be strictly incorporated in your diet. Consumption of fresh fruits could also benefit in improving your bowel movement. It also helps to get rid of symptoms like menopause spotting, vaginal dryness etc, where menopause bleeding may sometimes be a sign of cancer.

Choose 100% whole cereals and consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every single day. It contains full of vitamins, minerals and bioflavonoid that keep you young and healthy.

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Fruits- New price records in Ukraine

Posted on May 18, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

Fruits_new_price_records_in_Ukraine

Fruit and vegetable index shows that, the price have been again increased in Ukraine last week. The growth of prices amounted to 1.4% weekly. Hence Ukrainian consumers’ fruit and vegetable basket kept on setting new price records in the country.

Borsch vegetables such as onions, cabbage, beets, carrots and potatoes increased in price averagely by 0.9% last week, primarily due to continued growth of prices for beets and carrots which are mainly imported now. 4% increase of fruit prices last week is mainly due to the growth of citrus and apple prices. Moreover, strengthening of the US dollar in Ukraine can lead to further increase of prices for imported fruits and vegetables in the near future.

Fruit-Inform Project’s analysts think that seasonal decrease of fruit and vegetable prices can be delayed by 10-14 days in 2011 due to cold spring.

The only product decreased in price was garden strawberries. Strawberry prices remain too high for this certain period of season due to relatively cold weather causing delays in crop ripening in southern regions of Ukraine.

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Durian peel helps to clear oil spill from water

Posted on May 4, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

durian peel

Durian fruit –king of fruits. An expert says, Durian peel is efficient oil absorbent that can aid in the recovery of spilled oil at coastal areas. The durian peel is considered as an agricultural waste but it helps to remove oil from water. This was found by Dr S. Kathiresan of AIMST University.

The lecturer in the university’s Biotechnology Department said laboratory results indicated that chemically-modified durian peel powder was also an efficient absorbent for recovery of spilled oil in water.

durian peel

He also stated that, the bio-absorbent can be used for cleaning oil spills along coastal areas that cause adverse effects not only to all living sea organisms, but also human economic activities. Agro-waste has a huge commercial potential due to its efficiency in oil absorption, cost effectiveness and biodegradability.

A simple experiment was made with durian peel. Dr Kathiresan said, the durian peel is collected and washed several times with tap water to remove dirt and ground into powder and modified with a variety of chemicals. The modified durian powder was also able to retain its original efficiency to absorb spilled oil.

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Strawberries fruit facts

Posted on April 22, 2011 by fruitsinfo-admin

Strawberries Nutritional facts:

  • Strawberries are the only fruit which has seeds on the outside.
  • The fruits have low fat, low calorie and high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium.
  • It helps to reduce the risk of cancer and heart attacks where seven to nine-year-old picked strawberries as their favorite fruit.
  • Strawberries are rich in nitrate which may increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the muscles by 7%. It helps to prevent muscle fatigue.

Make Your Kids to Eat Healthy fruit:

kids eating Strawberries


  • Cut strawberries into high fiber cereal and calcium-rich low fat yogurt.
  • Mix frozen strawberries with orange juice to make a tasty smoothie.
  • Toss strawberries in a salad.

Health benefits:

  • The anti oxidants like vitamin-C, Flavonoids, Phenolic Phytochemicals and Elagic Acid, present in strawberries can help avoid drying up of eyes, degeneration of optical nerves to a great extent. Strawberries contain potassium, which may also help to maintain pressure.
  • Strawberries contain vitamin-C and the phytochemicals that helps to neutralize the effect of oxidants and also rejuvenate the system.
  • Strawberries are rich in iodine that helps for proper functioning of brain and nervous system.
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