Healthy Fruit: Mangoes

Mangoes are tropical fruits known for their sweetness and juiciness. They grow in warm tropic areas that receive a lot of rainfall. Mangoes have grown to be very popular because of one major characteristic and this is the sweetness of the fruit. Not only are we lucky to eat sweet mango flesh but, the fruit is also known to produce very sweet and quality juice. To add beauty to the mango name, this yellow fruit is also very nutritious.

Mangoes belong to the list of fruits that are most nutritious. They contain more than 20 than 20 different vitamins and minerals. Mangoes are also rich in carbohydrates and calories. The minerals contained in the mango fruit include iron, potassium and copper. There are some that come in small traces and they include minerals such as calcium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium and phosphorus. The vitamins that are found in mangoes include vitamin A, vitamin C, Vitamin K, vitamin B and vitamin E. Also included is folic acid or commonly known as folate.

The vitamins found in the mango give us a lot of health benefits. Vitamin A and vitamin C act as antioxidants. Vitamin A has several other benefits. They induce bone growth especially in children as well as help develop healthy skin and good vision. Vitamin A also contains a very important component known as beta-carotene which protects us from the sun's radiations. This vitamin has other advantages such as improving the functioning of the lungs, mitigating the aging process; reducing the complications that are associated with diabetes and preventing some forms of cancer.

Vitamin C which can be found in abundance in the mango fruit has its health benefits too. It helps in the formation of collagen. This, in turn, helps in the repair and growth of tissues, thus, enabling quick healing of wounds. Vitamin C also goes a long way in promoting the body's immune function. For those who are prone to stress, vitamin B in mango helps relieve the stress.

Mangoes also contain some chemicals that are also extremely healthy to eat. They are known as phytochemiclas. They include lutein, anacardic acid, gallic acid and cryptoxanthin.

The mango contains another important component that the body needs. It is known as fiber. Mangoes are very rich in fiber which has a number of benefits to the human body. It assists a huge deal in the loss of weight especially for the obese people and also helps maintain weight. Mangoes also have the advantage of having low fat content and being cholesterol free. The other advantage would be that it helps fight any cancerous cells that might be growing.

Mangoes are important for the consumption of people with the following ailments - acidity, hair loss, leucorrhoea, menstrual disorders, indigestion, diarrhoea, piles, prickly heat, sinusitis, vaginitis, spleen enlargement, bacterial infections, scurvy, spastic colon, constipation, anaemia and asthma.

The mango fruit comes in many varieties. The good thing is that, despite the size and shape of the mango variety, you still get to enjoy the many health benefits it offers. Take note that mangoes are best harvested and eaten in summer.

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Chocolate Fruit Dip: A Healthy Recipe For You

Eating chocolate is good or bad for health...?

Well chocolate is the most likable and famous things to eat worldwide. In recent times chocolate has been considered to be healthy as it contains a chemical which helps in lowering the bad cholesterol from the blood. Chocolates are made with cocoa which contains antioxidants. These antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, that can cause damage to heart and leads to heart diseases.

Chocolate has more than 300 chemicals and therefore remain the subject of studies by many universities as well as scientific organizations. The main ingredient of chocolate, i.e. cocoa has antibacterial agent that fights tooth decay. The chocolate also contains carbohydrate which raises the serotonin levels in the brain and thus results in a sense of well being.

Try out this healthy chocolate recipe: Chocolate Fruit Dip

This dessert item is not only lower in fat and in calories, but it is very fast to prepare and fantastic to eat.

The ingredients required are as follows: 1-1/2 cup plain yogurt, 2 tbsp fat free milk, 10 marshmallows, 2 tbsp semisweet chocolate chips along with few assorted fresh fruits.

Take a strainer and line it with four layers of cheesecloth and put over a bowl. Put the yogurt in a prepared strainer, cover yogurt with edges of cheesecloth. Refrigerate for 8-10 hours.

Take a small pan and combine the milk, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Cook till chips are melted and you get a smooth mixture. Transfer it to another bowl and allow it to cool.

Remove yogurt from cheesecloth and discard the liquid from the bowl. Stir yogurt into milk mixture. Refrigerate till serving. It can be served with fruit.

The dish is really healthy as it carries healthy fruits. So next time when your children asked for the chocolate...don't say "no" to them...Give them some healthy chocolate recipes and you will find a wonderful smile on your kid's face.

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Fruit - Makes For A Great Healthy Snack

If you step into the average health food store, you can find literally dozens of different items that promise to make your diet healthier. Granola bars. Natural foods. Protein shakes. All of these will definitely make you healthier, but they can be fairly expensive and unsavory. With all these options, too many people are beginning to overlook the most basic of all healthy foods: the fruit. Fruit is very healthy for you, it tastes good, and if you buy it in the right season it is very cheap. So consider fruit next time you're looking for a healthy snack.

Fruit's main benefit comes from the many vitamins and minerals contained within. Oranges and citrus fruits contain large amounts of vitamins C, A and E. These help to protect your body from illnesses, and build up your immune system. They act as anti-oxidants, which you can always use more of.

Fruit also acts as a natural laxative. So, if you've been having problems with your digestion, then you should consider eating a few fruits and gaining the benefits of their roughage. When your body is getting rid of waste, the fruit material will help keep things going.

Diets high in fruit are linked to reduced risk of many maladies such as stroke, heart disease, cancer, cataracts, Alzheimer's, and other symptoms of old age. Nobody can stay young forever, but a few fruits every day will help you stay young longer.

Fruits are great for losing weight. You get a sweet and filling snack, but it is extremely healthy for you. What more could you ask for? The USDA recommends that you eat 5 servings of fruit per day, and few people reach that benchmark. So next time you are at the grocery store, stop by the produce section and get a nice bag of apples or oranges.

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Healthy Smoothie Recipes for Weight Loss

If you are looking for healthy smoothie recipes for weight loss, you have surely come to the right place. At this point in time, the number of people who are becoming more and more health conscious is increasing by the day. With the hype from the media as well as initiatives by the government to promote healthier eating, many people are searching high and low for ways to lose weight responsibly without starving themselves. And there is definitely a solution for that.This is where smoothies come in.

Contrary to popular belief, smoothies can substitute for a meal or two during the day without endangering your health. There are numerous healthy smoothie recipes for weight loss that you can make yourself in your own kitchen. Breakfast is a great time to indulge in a smoothie instead of a calorie-packed and oil-ridden meal. Smoothies are easy to make, delicious and highly convenient as you can take them with you and drink them on the way to work or school. One of my favorite breakfast smoothies is the banana-berry smoothie. For this recipe, all you need is 1 ¼ cup of orange juice, 1 medium ripe banana, 1 cup of frozen berries, ½ cup silken tofu, and 2 crushed ice cubes. Throw all the ingredients in the blender and blend until it is smooth and frothy. You may also add a tablespoon of sugar if you wish. This smoothie is so healthy that it composes 93 percent of the required daily value of vitamin C! It is also nutritionally equivalent to 1 ½ fruit and ½ portion of lean meat.

One smart way to incorporate smoothies into your diet would be to substitute your usual dessert or afternoon snack for a delicious smoothie. There is no shortage to the number of healthy smoothie recipes for weight loss that you can try. You can even turn it into a fun bonding activity with your child by creating the smoothies together! Another delightful recipe that even your child might enjoy is the banana-cocoa soy smoothie. Inspired by the banana split, all you need for this recipe are 1 banana, 1 tablespoon of honey, ½ cup silken tofu, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, and ½ cup soymilk. Slice the banana and then stick it in the freezer. In the meantime, throw in the tofu, honey, cocoa and soymilk in the blender until smooth. While the blender is running, grab the banana from the freezer and add the banana slices one by one through the hole in the lid. Keep the blender running until the mixture is smooth. This smoothie recipe is one of the healthier ones as it contains vitamin A and vitamin C (15% daily value), magnesium (29% daily value), potassium (21% daily value) and iron (20% daily value).

All in all, don't make the mistake of thinking that healthy smoothie recipes for weight loss are impossible to find! They exist and they are delicious and effective.

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List of Foods For Diabetics to Eat - 3 Healthy Fruits

There is no controversy that a diabetic should stay away from eating cholesterol and fat rich foods. These foods should be non greasy, easy to digest and light but must full of dietary fiber.

Most diabetics are in search of list of foods for diabetics. Normally fruits fit well in this category. Here you will find a list of healthy fruits that will help the diabetics to keep their blood sugar level in range. Fruits are naturally low in fats and high in vitamins and nutrients. They give a positive effect on the blood glucose levels. However diabetics must avoid using fruit concentrates and fruit juices; as one glass of juice contains the concentrated sugar of 4 whole fruits and the dietary fiber of not even one.

A diabetic must

Prefer whole fruits over fruit juices.

Prefer fruits without additional syrups.

Eat plenty of citrus fruits like sweet lime, oranges, olives and grapefruit.

Diabetics can have any fruit but it is good to avoid mango, chikoo and grapes. These three fruits are specifically beneficial for the diabetics

1) Apple:  The most popular and beneficial fruit for diabetics is apple. Apples have a high level of pectin; which is beneficial to the diabetics. Pectin is largely found in pulp and rind. It acts as a detoxifier for the body by supplying galacturonic acid. This content aids to remove wastes from the blood stream thus lowering the insulin requirement up to 35%. Apples are also rich in vitamin B1; thus helps in preventing the damage done to cells of the brain because of diabetes.

2) Grapefruit:  It is a citrus fruit with a refreshing flavor. It contains medicinal properties that aid to fight against diabetes. It brings the blood glucose level down within three days of consumption. It is recommended that a diabetic patient with uncontrolled blood sugar levels must contain around three servings of fruits and vegetables. A diet only of grapefruit is not recommended.

3) Jambul:  Jambul is also termed rose apple or jamun. The constituents of jambul have a positive effect on the pancreas. It prevents the formation of bad sugar from starch. The seeds of jambul can be dried, powdered and consumed with water. It not only controls diabetes but also prevents excessive urination and relieves thirst. The bark of jambul tree is also used for the treatment of diabetes.

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What Makes a Truly Healthy Natural Fruit Juice

Discover Super Premium Fruit Juice

In recent times Fruit Juice has been given a bad wrap, with many nutritionists stating that it is low in fibre when compared to eating whole pieces of fruit. But now there's a new Juice category - Super Premium Fruit Juice - and it is growing at a very fast pace.

What is 'super premium' fruit juice

Super premium fruit juice aims to get juice in its most healthy, natural form from the grower to to the consumer. Super premium juice is made up of the whole fruit skin and all, and is more like a juice smoothie. Whole fruit means plenty of fibre and far more vitamins and minerals in your diet. Whole fruit such as mangos, plums, peaches and berries are crushed rather than juiced so all of the fleshy goodness goes into the bottle.

Juice that is heat-treated in the same way as Milk

What makes it super premium is that it is pasteurised (heated) in a way that is similar to milk, that is very quickly and at a high temperature. This form of pasteurisation keeps it as close to its natural state as possible and sustains far more of the fruits' goodness for consumption. The proof that it is truly a super premium juice is that it has a shelf life also similar to milk. Immediately after pasteurisation the juice is cold filtered to 4°C and then must be transported and stored at that temperature to give it a shelf life of around 30 days.

The squeeze on normal fruit juice

Most fruit juice contains only the juice from the fruit, not the flesh. The flesh of the fruit is where most of the goodness is. Most juice is also pasteurised (heated) for a long period of time to give it a longer shelf life. This process also diminishes the nutritional value of the juice, as many nutrients are lost in the heating process. A lot of bottled juice is also made from concentrate where most of the nutrition has been boiled out.

Other that being very healthy for you, these premium juices taste amazing! This must be due to the fact that you are tasting the whole fruit with far less damage to it through pasteurisation. I have tried a range of this type of juice and it is markedly noticeable how much more distinct the flavours are, I think it's the best fruit juice I've ever tasted.

This is an exciting growth category, and it will be interesting to see what wonderful flavours enter the market.

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Healthy Fruit Smoothies and Their Benefits

We are recommended to have our five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Adhering to this requirement means eating a bowl of salad and having fruit with every meal, a task which most of us find quite daunting. Smoothies provide a great way to make us eat healthy. All we have to do is mix together the servings of fruits and vegetables with some liquid, and drink it.

Because of the ingredients they contain, healthy fruit smoothies are full of vitamins and minerals which are essential for good health. There is no limit to the kind of fruit or fruit combination's that you can come up with; they can be simple or exotic. The choice largely depends on taste and nutritional needs. Using fresh or frozen ones does not matter much since they still have the same nutrients. People may vary in their tastes but some fruits are more commonly used than others. Three of the most popular are bananas, blueberries and strawberries.

Bananas are great when mixed with nuts or peanut butter. The result is a very creamy drink which is a favorite for many. To make this banana smoothie, you have to mix 2 medium bananas with raw nuts, vanilla stevia and 1 pear with a half cup of water into a blender and blend for 20 seconds. In less than a minute, a healthy beverage can be enjoyed. This drink is full of potassium, a mineral which has been to help in maintaining a healthy circulatory system and is used in the proper functioning of muscles. It also regulates the acid levels in the stomach and lowers the risk of developing stomach ulcers. The fiber content aids in digestion as well.

Blueberries are one of nature's most powerful antioxidants and their benefits are numerous. This fruit prevents urinary tract infections, prevents macular degeneration of the eyes, slows down aging, promotes brain function, prevents constipation, aids in digestion, prevents and cures cancer and boosts the immune system. This is due to the antibiotic properties of blueberries as well as the carotenoids and flavonoids contained in them, along with vitamins, zinc, phosphorus and selenium. If you want to achieve these benefits, try blending 1 banana and 1 cup of blueberries with vanilla stevia, lemon juice, a cup of water and ice cubes. You can then enjoy your glasses of blueberry-flavored healthy fruits smoothies.

Among the three top fruit ingredients, strawberries are perhaps the most well-known. An easy-to-make smoothie recipe calls for 1 banana, 1cup strawberries, vanilla stevia, a teaspoon of lemon juice, a cup of water and ice cubes. Because strawberry is very versatile, other fruits can be added to this basic mixture. Strawberries are good for the heart. It lowers the level of bad cholesterol and raises the level of the good ones. It regulates blood pressure and keeps it normal. Aside from these properties, the fruit contains antioxidants that combat cell damage. What's more, it is very low in calories and has no cholesterol and sodium.

These healthy fruit smoothies indeed provide us with what our bodies needs. We must be thankful that being fit is within anybody's reach, if only we are willing to commit to living a healthy lifestyle.

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