What are the benefits of citrus fruits? Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, tangerines, mandarin oranges, pineapples and even tomatoes are all those fruits that come to mind, the moment we hear citrus fruits. All these fruits are very rich sources of Vitamin C, which is a very vital vitamin for a healthy body, as well all know. The fruits mentioned above are also known as antioxidant fruits as they counter the harmful effects of free radicals.

What are the nutrients that are found in citrus fruits?

• Vitamin C
• Folic acid or Folate
• Potassium

Vitamin C helps protect the body’s immune system and is very vital to safeguard it from common cold and flu. Folic acid prevents neural cord defects such as spinal bifida during pregnancy and potassium helps in regulating body fluids.

Citrus fruits are very important for a day to day healthy lifestyle. You can have the citrus fruits either whole or in the form of juices, making them among the highest antioxidant fruit juice known to mankind.

Benefits of citrus fruits can be classified as:

• Skin care – Antioxidants such as flavanones, anthocyanins, polyphenols and vitamin C are found in citrus fruits and as they counter the harmful effects of free radicals they help your skin stay healthy and young.
• Strong bones – Vitamin C helps in absorbing calcium in the human body, which is necessary for strong bones
• Protects heart – Citrus fruits like oranges are known to reduce bad cholesterol.
• Helps in digestion – Lemon water which is acidic has been found to aid in digestion. Orange peels have also been known to be very effective in aiding digestion.
• Protects eyesight – A diet rich in citrus fruits has been found to prevent cataracts.
• Enhances mood – Citrus fruits are known as great mood enhancers.

Include citrus fruits in your everyday diet and reap big health benefits.  Go grab an orange!

Want to learn more about one of the super fruit wolfberry? The health benefits of wolfberry are amazing and have been written about as far back as 230 A.D. Commercially, wolfberry is known as goji berry and often there are over-exaggerated claims of the benefits of the goji berry. One internet site claims that a Chinese man consumed the berry everyday and lived to be well over 200 years old. Often times these claims, made injunction with pyramid sales opportunities make it difficult to weed out what the true benefits are. Science is studying this super fruit, and they have come up with some concrete evidence that wolfberry have benefits.

Wolfberry

Wolfberry has been linked with immune health. It is found in studies of both animals and a group of seniors in China that using wolfberry increased antibody production in the T-cell, thus, improving the patience immune system.

Another claim is that wolfberry reverses the aging response. While it is difficult to believe that it reversed it so much as to allow a human to live to 200 it does seem to reduce the signs of aging. In a study in China it was found that there was an increase in antibody agents in the blood of those that took it.

Cancer prevention has also come up. While not cure, long term acute cancer patients in China reported that while taking Wolfberry, they had a longer remission between reoccurring cancer and showed signs of cancer regression. It is thought that Wolfberry would also be very effective in helping patients with Liver Cancer because of the ability to heal damage to liver cells. It also helps with the patient?s immune system and allows them to have a higher success rate with radiation therapy.

China also performed a study with cell growth and noted that while patients took Wolfberry cell growth increased stem cell proliferation.
Lastly, wolfberry has been known to help with vision. There are very few foods that contain zeaxanthin, wolfberry is one of them. Zeaxanthin is a sister pigment with Lutein. They are known to protect the retina by neutralizing free radicals caused by sun damage. Wolfberry also contains a high level of beta-carotene which helps strengthen eye function as well.
While the scientific study of wolfberry is relatively new, there is no doubt that there are many health benefits of wolfberry. Wolfberry may not allow you to live to 200 but there is certain biological evidence that it can give your body much of what it needs to function the best that it can.

Many people wonder what the true wolfberry nutritional value really is. They hear of the health benefits of wolfberry. They hear about the cardiovascular health wolfberry improves. What proof can science offer to back up these claims that wolfberry is truly a super fruits?

Commercially, the wolfberry is known as goji berry. The Chinese have used wolfberries for years as a food laden with many health benefits. This fruit has recently hit Europe and America with many websites touting the benefits of goji berry and selling the health drinks marketed as goji juice. It is important to note that many of these juices are not made strictly from wolfberries but a blend of many different fruit juices. The juice is still very healthy but might not be the miracle juice that some of the marketing suggests.

The wolfberry itself contains many of the human bodies daily macronutrient needs. The seeds are high in both omega 3 and omega 6 which is important for heart health. Wolfberry also contains at least 11 essential minerals, 22 trace minerals, 7 vitamins and 18 amino acids.

A 100 gram serving of Wolfberry contains 8-10% of our daily calcium requirements that help with bone and teeth development. It also contains 24% of daily potassium, crucial in lowering high blood pressure and managing electrolytes and enzymes. Also, its amazing iron content is thought to be almost twice that of soybeans which is often regarded and one of the highest iron rich foods. Wolfberries will give 20% of daily Zinc requirements that helps with cell growth and repair. It takes care of almost all of a daily dose of Selenium that helps element free radicals. It also takes care of our whole daily requirement of Riboflavin that synthesizes other vitamins and enzymes. Lastly, Wolfberry compares to fresh oranges, blueberries and soybeans with its vitamin C content.

If that is not enough to convince you that Wolfberry is very healthy it is also know to have dozens of phytochemicals, such as Beta-Carotene, Zeaxanthin and Polysaccharides. These are important in helping your body function and cell development and repair.

If one can get beyond many of the marketing ploys and pyramid schemes that surround this fruit you will find a healthy alternative too many of the fruits on the market. It may not make you live to be 252 like one such marketing ploy suggests but you will certainly feel better and might just be healthier

Good Belly Probiotic Fruit Drink

So, I’ve tried the Blueberry Acai GoodBelly ToGo and Mango GoodBelly ToGo, but now it was time to try the family sized Cranberry Watermelon.  The flavor alone was excellent.  It tasted just like I was drinking watermelon.  It is excellent.  As I stated in earlier posts, the folks at GoodBelly sent us coupons, so we could go buy the product at our local supermarket and try it out.

Cranberry Watermelon GoodBelly in glass

GoodBelly is named that way because drinking it consistently will help you achieve a balanced digestive system.  How?  GoodBelly probiotic fruit drinks have 20 billion live and active probiotic cultures that help to improve your digestive health and strengthen your immunity.

GoodBelly is dairy-free, soy-free, wheat-free and vegan.

How Does It Work?

GoodBelly gives your body good bacteria that it needs in order to balance the bad bacteria in your system.  As a result, it does wonders for your digestive health.  GoodBelly uses Lactobacillus plantarum299v (Lp299v) and Bifidobacterium lactis (Bi-07), chosen to prove digestive health, regularity and immunity.

GoodBelly by the quart is made with natural and organic fruits and juices.

I really like GoodBelly, especially because I do not care for yogurt.  Finally there is an alternative way of getting my probiotics rather than in yogurt.

GoodBelly is sold at Whole Foods and is priced between $2.00-$5.00/quart.

aronia berries

Despite their not so appetizing alias, the aronia berry, or choke berry, is actually a superfruit that is both easily accessible and practical for human consumption.  Aronia berries grow naturally in the United States but are becoming a profitable industry as well because of their health benefits.  Insects, animals, and disease are inclined to leave the fruit along, making them easy to grow, care for, and profit from.  The black chokeberry has the highest concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but red chokeberries are just as tasty.  Despite their namesake and initial bitter, dry flavor, choke berries can be consumed in a variety of ways.  In Eastern Europe, the berries are popular for wine and tea, often combining the aronia with apple to temper its bitterness.  Drying the berries and combining with white tea leaves or other dried fruit produces a unique breakfast tea.  The juice of the aronia berry is not just good for drinks, but also for syrup. Berries and chocolate are a classic dessert, and combining the two in a muffin is even better. These aronia white chocolate muffins sound delicious.  Here’s to flavorful snacks and good health!

Elderberry, boysenberry, huckleberry, and…choke berry? This off-beat fruit doesn’t just have an unusual name (as many berries do); it also merits recognition as one of the rare fruits and, of course, as a uniquely healthy fruit. The black chokeberry is especially full of antioxidants. This super-fruit that is abundant in the United States. Choke berries are known for their bitter, or “choking,” flavor that must be tempered by other sweet and savory ingredients when eaten. They are otherwise known as aronia berries.

The juice of a choke berry is such a dark, saturated purple that has been used in inks and dyes as well as for healing purposes by Native Americans. In spite of a dissuasive name, choke berries have extensive health benefits as they are packed with vitamins and minerals. Like many berries, chokeberries are most enjoyable when blended with sweeter fruits. Mixing with apple juice for a more enticing flavored drink can alleviate the sour taste of the berries.

Black choke berries should be used for optimum antioxidant intake, though the juice of other aronia berries (such as the red choke berry) taste similar. Substitute aronia berries for cranberries or blueberries in common recipes for muffins, scones, or other pastries for a unique treat.  Use all three – why not?

Want more choke berry?  You can buy the plant online, Black Aronia Berry (Chokeberry) Plant, Hefty 30-40 Inch.  Or simply get the berry in the form of a gel cap – Chokeberry Extract Aronia Melanocarpa 150 Mg 60 Caps. 

Ripe Spring Peaches

Spring is only a few weeks away, and it’s time to start thinking about the planting season ahead. This lush peaches picture inspires an informational post for anyone interested in planting peaches.

Peaches are thought to originate in China and were most likely introduced into the West by the Romans. Today peaches are enjoyed in all parts of the world and can be easily introduced into a small garden. Though farmers’ markets are excellent sources of fresh fruit in the summer, dwarf peach trees can be accommodated in the backyard. They stay small, usually within seven feet in height and require only basic care such as pruning and spraying for pests. Dwarf trees produce fruit sooner after planting than regular peach trees even though the fruits of both are the same size.

The best feature of growing a peach tree in the backyard is direct access to the fruit for canning and for delicious summer treats like peach pie, peach cobbler, and peaches and cream. A great crunchy peach cobbler recipe calls for:

• 2 cups of sliced peaches (15 to 17 oz can)
• 2 cups of sugar divided
• a stick of butter sliced into pieces
• 3/4 cup of milk
• 3/4 cup of all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

The directions are also easy:

1. Preheat the oven to 350

2. In a 11×7 inch pan, place butter. Place the pan with the butter in the oven to melt.

3. While the butter is melting, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt (if you’re not using salted butter) in a bowl with the milk.

4. Remove the butter from the oven and pour the batter over the top, DO NOT STIR.

5. Combine remaining cup of sugar with the sliced peaches and spoon over the batter, liquid and all.

6. Bake for about 1 hour until it is golden brown, but check it around 50 min

7. Serve warm, cold, or with ice cream.

Reference: http://www.delange.org/PeachDwarf/PeachDwarf.htm

Here are some more great books with recipes for peaches:

• Peach Delights Cookbook: A Collection of Peach Recipes (Cookbook Delights Series)
• Peach Recipe Journal
• Peaches and Other Juicy Fruits: From Sweet to Savory, 150 Recipes for Peaches, Plums, Nectarines and Apricots

Apple pie may be an American icon, but peach pie can be just as delicious. Moms make some incredible homemade apple pie during the holidays, but peaches are a close second as a tasty (and potentially healthy) dessert ingredient.  Before becoming a Western favorite, the fuzzy fruit originated in the Far East but is now grown all over the world.  Peach trees are appearing more and more in residential yards instead of the traditional apple tree.

Very few ingredients are required for a wide range of delicious peach desserts.  The same basic ingredients can be used as a recipe for peach pie, a crunchy peach cobbler recipe, and a fresh peach cobbler recipe.  A crust or “cobbler” crumble simply requires cold water, butter, flower, and some sugar while sliced peaches, cinnamon, and sugar make an easy filling.  For greater ease, trade fresh peaches for a good canned brand to create a canned peach cobbler recipe.  While the standard peaches and cream recipe is a classic treat, some recipes add a twist with fresh berries or unexpected spices.  In place of cream, a dollop of plain Greek yogurt on any fresh fruit can be a nutritious substitute for cream.

For folks who are crazy about peaches, consider a recipe for peach salsa and one for peach jelly.  Peach orchards have grown in popularity for those who like to pick the fruit straight from the tree, or fresh peaches can be purchased at local farmers’ markets.

Reference: http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/blog/goodness-of-peaches/

Remember Jack Lalanne?  His juicing infomercials have been around for a long time and always give me the urge to eat healthier.  I really enjoy fruit and berries at breakfast, but I seem to waste a lot of the carrots and greens I buy for cooking. 

With some Jack Lalanne juicer recipes, I think I can put to use some of the leftover vegetables I usually have in my refrigerator after a week of cooking dinner.  Some juice extractor recipes treat specific health problems as well if used in the proper combination – and not just during cold and flu season! 

We all know that fruits and veggies are good for the heart, so why not make homemade juice that can help protect the heart, skin, eyes and even liver?  Weight loss programs often require a complete system flush.  Juicing can help with this detox.  Juicer detox recipes often include the very vegetables I have leftover – carrots and spinach. 

Many power juicer recipes blend both fruits and vegetables.  I’m looking forward to the cucumber celery cooler.  Though I wouldn’t have believed celery and cucumber make a tasty drink, combining them with the apple and lemon actually makes for a refreshing, slightly sweet snack that I feel good about.  After making one of my favorite dishes, shepherd’s pie, the next morning I can pop the two or three carrots that are always left into the juicer with practically any fruit for a healthy breakfast drink.  Maybe I can get my kids to eat spinach this way!

Post by Andrea L. Gillespie

Good Belly Probiotic Fruit Drink

On a warm Saturday afternoon in Boulder, Colorado, I went into Whole Foods. I was going in to find a few items and came across the Good Belly drink. It was on sale (2 for $5), so automatically that caught my eye.

Also, with a student budget (I’m a Sophmore at the University of Colorado), it is important for me to watch what I spend and how much use I am going to get out of the product. I am a big mango fan so I was naturally drawn to that particular flavor. I was a little skeptical in trying it because I have had health food drinks in the past that have tasted so awful. But surprisingly, the Good Belly drink tasted really good.

It was a little tart at first, but after another glass, it became a drink that I craved. It comes in a variety of flavors: Cranberry Watermelon, Mango, Black Currant, Blueberry Acai and Pomegranate Blackberry. I am eager to try more of the flavors. It also comes in two types of packaging. The first is a quart container and the other is a to-go style in yogurt looking containers (But, I assure you, it is nothing like yogurt and the consistency is like a drink). I highly recommend this product not only to maintain a healthy digestive system but also because it is great for your health in general.