Apple

This is been a favorite fruit of the kids..Xmas is incomplete without this fruit. Besides this fruit has a lot of benefits..it is good when somebody got sick. According to research it is rich in vitamins ans minerals. picture of apple The old saying “ to eat an apple going to bed, will make the doctor beg his bread” has been justified by its many health-rich properties. A member of the rose family, fossil remains have shown that apples were gathered and stored 5,000 years ago and it’s likely that they were already cultivated during the Neolithic times. Apples are excellent detoxifiers and apple juice can destroy viruses in the body.

STRAWBERRY

this fruit sounds great on my hearing..It seems so yummy! i did not know yet how it taste but one thing i know is that it taste good. Strawberry fruits are aggregates made up of several small fruits, each with one seed called an achene. The flesh of the strawberry is actually an enlarged receptacle, non-reproductive material. In addition to vitamin C, strawberries also provide an excellent source of vitamin K and manganese, as well as folic acid, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

DUHAT

This fruit is a family of berry..It shapes like a grapes but it does not taste as it is. It is one of the favorites of the mountainous children. It is also considered as the forgotten fruit. After you eat this berry type fruit your teeth turns to violet so be careful in eating. It is sweet when it is ripe but bitter if it is not.

Duhat seeds have come into prominence in recent years on account of their suggested value in the treatment of diabetes. Because of the remarkable physiological property of reducing the quantity of sugar attributed to duhat seeds, and the conflicting reports in the literature, the seeds were subjected to more critical chemical analyses by Power and Callan. They summarize the results of their investigation as follows:

A preliminary examination of the seed showed it contained neither an alkaloid nor an enzyme, but an abundance of starch and tannin.

An alcoholic extract of the seed, when distilled in a current of steam, yielded a small amount of pale yellow essential oil, while possessed the following constants:

d 20°/20° = 0.9258; - 2° 51’ in a 50 mm. Tube.

CHICO

Chico is believed to be native to Yucatan and possibly other nearby parts of southern Mexico, as well as northern Belize and northeastern Guatemala. It was introduced long ago throughout tropical America and the West Indies and the southern part of the Florida mainland. Chico is a prolific tree. It bears fruit most months of the year and can be grown in many parts of the country. Even during harvest peaks, chico can still command good market price. Chico fruit are eaten fresh when ripe. They may also be pulped and used for making ice cream or jam. Although a poor source of vitamin C, the fruit a bounds in calcium, phosphorus and iron. The bark produces a milky latex, the source of chicle (a major ingredients of chewing gum), that we still import from Mexico and Central America. Lumber from chico wood can also be used in the manufacture of the cabinets and furniture.

SININGWELAS

My aunt has this fruit. It does not grow taller like many other tress. It taste good and when i was a kid i'm very fond of eating this forgotten fruit of the tropical. Siningwelas – It is a greenish brown small fruit always eaten raw with salt because of its sourer flavor than sweetness. It shape like a grapes but it is medium hard. It grows like a lanzones where the fruits grows on the trunks.

TIESA

Tiesa – It is a squashy tangerine fruit. It is rich in niacin and carotene with a fair amount of Vitamin C this fruit defer in sizes and shape. It is considered forgotten fruit but it taste good. Some considered this fruit as wild and they did not like the taste. Whatever this comments are,still this fruit is God given gift! It is still pride of the Philippines and give satisfaction especially to the children in mountainous region.

MACOPA

There's a lot of stories behind theses fruits. Filipinos has a legendary story that they used to tell in their grandchildren. I have also read about the story and it takes time to tell. Macopa is a crunchy fruit about the size of a tomato. When unripe, it is pink in color. When ripe it is shiny red. Most notable is its bell-shape figure that inspired this myth on how this fruit came to be. This is also considered as the forgotten fruit of the tropical. Forgotten but delicious fruit and pride of the Philippines.

CACAO

The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod, usually egg or melon-shaped, 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. The cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa. Once the tree reaches maturity, fruit pods will sprout from its trunk and branches. The golden-red to purple fruit pods turn brown at maturity, at which time they are split open and the insides scooped out. Each pod generally produces 20 to 40 almond-shaped cacao beans. Cacao has been found to be higher in antioxidant flavanols than either red wine or green tea. Cacao is also higher than most antioxidant fruits and berries.

SAMPALOC_Tamarind

According to Tommy Fassbender..

The tamarind fruit is encased within a brown pod. Inside the pod of the tamarind is a soft, brown pulp with hard-coated black seeds. It is this pulp that people eat to get all the nutritional and health benefits of the tamarind. The pulp of the tamarind has a very sour taste while it is young, but as it ripens the pulp gets sweeter. Though the pulp will sweeten with age, the tamarind generally has a sour, acidic taste.

In countries such as Jamaica, Mexico, Aruba and India, tamarind is mixed with sugar and sold as sweets or snacks on the streets or in local shops. Snacking on tamarind or eating tamarind jelly or other tamarind- related products can be very beneficial to your health. Tamarind is a rich source of vitamins, fiber, potassium, magnesium and other nutrients necessary or good health.


1. Tamarind protects against vitamin C deficiency
2. Tamarind reduces fevers and provides protection against colds
3. Tamarind helps the body digest food
4. Tamarind is used to treat bile disorders
5. Tamarind is a mild laxative
6. Tamarind lowers cholesterol
7. Tamarind promotes a healthy heart
8. Tamarind can be gargled to ease soar throat
9. Tamarind applied to the skin to heal inflammation

MANGOSTEEN

According to Health Report - Mangosteen Juice - Supplement Benefits..

Mangosteen is a small and very slow-growing tropical evergreen tree. The height of the tree attains 20 to 82 feet. The length of its leaves is up to 10 inches. The width of its flowers is 1 ½ to 2 inches. And maybe male or hermaphrodite is on the same tree.

Mangosteen fruit contains compounds that have antioxidant - anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Scientific research indicates activity against several cancer cell lines, including breast cancer, liver cancer and leukemia. In addition, Mangosteen also exhibits anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Traditionally, Mangosteen has been used for many years as a medicinal treatment for diarrhea, skin infection and wounds in throughout South Asia.

The latest in scientific research shows Mangosteen contains a class of naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds known as xanthones. Xanthones may provide beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and thrombosis. Mangosteen also shows vasorelaxant properties.

Mangosteen has demonstrated an inhibitory action against the bacterial organisms Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus. Mangosteen is also proving to be highly effective in supporting and strengthening a weak immune system. There are several important compounds found in the Mangosteen that would appear to make this fruit an active and important nutritional supplement for the human body.

GUYABANO_Soursop

According to vanhal - who has written 121 posts on The Healthy Temple..

Guyabano/Soursoup Fruit Nutrition
Guyabano belongs to the family of Annonaceae, (A. muricata L.). The flesh of the fruit consist of a white edible pulp that is high in carbohydrates and considerable amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Potassium and dietary fiber. Guyabano is low in cholesterol, saturated fat and sodium. No only is guyabano a good health food, it also taste delicious.
The heart shaped / oblong guyabano fruit has a dark green, leathery and spike-like skin that measures from 8 to 12 inches long and can weigh up to 2.5 kilos. The creamy and delectable flesh contains from 60 to 100 black-brown seeds that are indigestible and non-edible.
The guyabano tree is relatively small. It usually grows from 8 to less than 20 feet high and is sensitive to very cold temperatures. The guyabano tree requires a lot of water, warmth and humidity and is usually grown in the tropics. It is cultivated commercially in Central & South America, West Africa, Asia and South Florida in a limited extent.Products made from Guyabano fruit:
Aside from being eaten raw, the guyabano fruit is processed into candies, tarts, shakes, ice-cream, sherbets and other beverages.
Medicinal Uses of guyabano
Guyabano has been used as folkloric herbal medicine in many regions thought the world. It is considered to be antispasmodic, sudorific and emetic. A decoction (boiling in water) of guyabano leaves is used to kill bedbugs and head lice.
To reduce fever, a decoction of leaves can be taken internally or the leaves added to bathing water also has the same effect. The crushed fresh leaves are also applied on skin eruptions for faster healing. A poultice of young guyabano leaves is applied on the skin to alleviate rheumatism and other skin infections like eczema. Applied during the healing of wounds, this can result in less or no skin scars. The decoction can also be used as a wet compress on swollen feet and other inflammations.

CALAMANSI_Philippine Lemon

Calamansi according to wikipedia:

Calamondin or Calamansi (Kapampangan: Kalamunding, scientific name: × Citrofortunella microcarpa) is a fruit tree in the family Rutaceae and a member of citrofortunella that was developed in and is very popular throughout Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines, where it is most commonly used for cooking. In the west it is variously known as acid orange, calamondin orange, or Panama orange. It is a shrub or small tree growing to 3-6 m, and bears small citrus fruit used to flavour foods and drinks. Although sometimes described as a native of the Philippines or other areas of Southeast Asia, the tree is in fact the result of a hybrid between species in the genera Citrofortunella and unknown in the wild. Hybrids between Citrus subspecies have been cultivated for so long that the origins of most are obscure. It is generally held that most species in cultivation are ancient apomictic hybrids and selected cultivars of these hybrids, including crosses with other genera such as Fortunella and Poncirus. The calamansî is usually described as a cross between Citrus reticulata (Tangerine or Mandarin orange) and Fortunella margarita.

Medicinal Uses: The fruits may be crushed with the saponaceous bark of Entada Phaseoloides Merr. for shampooing the hair, or the fruit juice applied to the scalp after shampooing. It eliminates itching and promotes hair growth. Rubbing calamondin juice on insect bites banishes the itching and irritation. It bleaches freckles and helps to clear up acne vulgaris and pruritus vulvae. It is taken orally as a cough remedy and antiphlogistic. Slightly diluted and drunk warm, it serves as a laxative. Combined with pepper, it is prescribed in Malaya to expel phlegm. The root enters into a treatment given at childbirth. The distilled oil of the leaves serves as a carminative with more potency than peppermint oil. The volatile oil content of the leaves is 0.90% to 1.06%.

Source(s):

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morto…

LEMON

Lemon is an oval shape citrus fruit. Lemon is used as a beverage and an ingredient to some dishes to enchance its flavor. Lemon contains flavonoid a compound that contains antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.

Lemon can help relieve many digestion problems when mixed with hot water. These include nausea, heartburn and parasites. Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently. Lemon acts as a blood purifier and as a cleansing agent.


The intake of lemon juice can cure constipation. It is even known to help relieve hiccups when consumed as a juice. Lemon juice acts as a liver tonic and helps you digest your food by helping your liver produce more bile. It decreases the amount of phlegm produced by your body. It is also thought to help dissolve gallstones.

MELON

Melons provide a good source of
potassium and vitamin C. Like
many other fruits, they are also
fat and cholesterol free, high in
water content, and are relatively
low in calories. Many melons
originated in the Middle East and
their popularity was gradually
spread across Europe. Of all the
melons, ancient Egyptians and
Romans mostly consumed
cantaloupes and muskmelons.
Christopher Columbus
transported melon seeds to the
United States and Spanish
explorers eventually cultivated them.
Health Benefits of Melons
The following information states the major nutrients found in melons. It also reveals
research findings on the health benefits of eating melons.
them.

Melons are in the same gourd family as squashes and cucumbers. Most melons are
similar in appearance to winter squash. Both groups have thick flesh and an inner
seed-filled midsection. The main difference between melons and squashes is in the
way that they are used. Squashes are consumed as vegetables while melons are
consumed as fruits due to their much sweeter, juicy flavor.

STAR FRUIT

The star fruit has five lobes covered in an edible waxy yellow skin. The flavor of the yellow flesh is reminiscent of citrus fruit and varies from quite sour to mildly sweet, depending upon the variety. Some contain small dark seeds in the center.

Carambolas are now a fledgling commercial crop with most being grown in Florida. Prime harvesting season is from late summer to early winter, although some will bear fruit year-round in tropical moderate locations. Those with tinges of green on the lobes may be further ripened at room temperature.

Health Benefits of Star Fruit
- Star fruit may lower cholesterol levels and add bulk and moisture to feces.

- A decoction of leaves and roots (prepared separately or in combination) can help cure headaches, ringworm, and chickenpox.

- The fruit is known to cure hangovers and prickly heat. You can also use the pickled fruit for hangover just take one piece of the pickled fruit, steam in water and serve.

- The fruit has also been used to treat sore eyes.

- The star fruit is given to nursing mothers as it is commonly believed to stimulate the flow of milk.

LANSONES

Fruits are ovoid, roundish orbs around five centimeters in diameter, usually found in clusters of two to thirty fruits along the branches and trunk. Each round fruit is covered by yellowish, thick, leathery skin. Underneath the skin, the fruit is divided into five or six slices of translucent, juicy flesh. The flesh is slightly acidic in taste, although ripe specimens are sweeter. Green seeds are present in around half of the segments, usually taking up a small portion of the segment although some seeds take up the entire segment's volume. In contrast with the sweet-sour flavor of the fruit's flesh, the seeds are extremely bitter. The fruit taste has been compared to a combination grape and "perfect" grapefruit with no bitterness. Yet the seeds if bitten have the bitterness of a grapefruit yet stronger. The sweet juicy flesh contains sucrose, fructose, and glucose.

The fruit pulp is succulent and delicious, and may be candied or preserved in syrup.
Food value per 100 g of edible portion: Moisture 86.5 g; protein 0.8 g; carbohydrates 9.5 g, fiber 2.3 g; calcium 20 mg; phosphorus 30 mg; vitamin A 13 IU; thiamine 89 mcg; riboflavin 124 mcg; ascorbic acid 1 mg.

WATERMELON

No other fruit says summer like the subtly crunchy, thirst quenching watermelon. Although watermelons can now be found in the markets throughout the year, the season for watermelon is in the summer when they are sweet and of the best quality.

Sweet, juicy watermelon is actually packed with some of the most important antioxidants in nature. Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, notably through its concentration of beta-carotene. Pink watermelon is also a source of the potent carotenoid antioxidant, lycopene. These powerful antioxidants travel through the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause a great deal of damage. They are able to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to blood vessel walls, where it can lead to heart attack or stroke. They can add to the severity of asthma attacks by causing airways to clamp down and close. They can increase the inflammation that occurs in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and cause most of the joint damage that occurs in these conditions, and they can damage cells lining the colon, turning them into cancer cells. Fortunately, vitamin C and beta-carotene are very good at getting rid of these harmful molecules and can therefore prevent the damage they would otherwise cause. As a matter of fact, high intakes of vitamin C and beta-carotene have been shown in a number of scientific studies to reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce the airway spasm that occurs in asthma, reduce the risk of colon cancer, and alleviate some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. A cup of watermelon provides 24.3% of the daily value for vitamin C, and, through its beta-carotene, 11.1% of the DV for vitamin A.

AVOCADO

Botanical name for avocado plant is Persea Americana. Avocado can grow in a variety of geographical locations but it is native to the Mesoamerican region. Avocado is an evergreen plant, and can grow in diverse environmental conditions. Avocado plant can grow any where from central highlands to the rain forests of northwest Columbia (Smith et al., 1992).

The avocado has various names. In the past it was called as alligator pear, midshipman's butter, vegetable butter, or sometimes as butter pear. Avocados may grow well in the mild-winter areas of California, Florida and Hawaii. Some sub varieties of could be seen in the northern parts of California and along the Gulf Coast.

An average avocado tree produces about 120 avocados annually. Commercial orchards produce an average of 7 tonnes per hectare each year, with some orchards achieving 20 tonnes per hectare (FAO statistics). Biennial bearing can be a problem, with heavy crops in one year being followed by poor yields the next. The fruit is sometimes called an avocado pear or alligator pear, from its shape and green skin. The avocado tree does not tolerate freezing temperatures, and so can be grown only in subtropical and tropical climates.

Avocados can be grown from seed, but the plants are usually propagated by grafting. They are set in the grove 20 to 40 feet apart depending upon whether the type of growth is spreading or upright. Sometimes they are set at 15 to 20 feet with the alternate plants removed after a few years. Older orchards with spreading trees may have as few as 40 trees per acre. Orchards with upright trees may have 150 trees per acre. About 90 trees per acre is average (Lee and Burns 1967). Fruit bearing begins at 3 to 6 years of age and may continue for 50 or more years.

COCONUT

The coconut is a large, hard-shelled nut. On the inner side of the hard nut, is a white shell of about half a centimeter. It's the coconut flesh, nice to eat. The nut has a hollow center filled with milky fluid. Very good to take if you are thirsty! The coconut palm tree is known as the "tree of life". It yields timber, food, coconut milk, alcohol (tuba), vinegar and the tree delivers material to make all kind of products like for instance baskets, rope, brushes. The palm tree also gives the opportunity to make oil for food and cooking and is used for feeding domestic animals and for fertilizer. Last but not least, the coconut oil is used for health benefits as well. Coconut is rich in B vitamins.

Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a "functional food" because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut oil is of special interest because it possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations. Pacific Islanders consider coconut oil to be the cure for all illness. The coconut palm is so highly valued by them as both a source of food and medicine that it is called "The Tree of Life." Only recently has modern medical science unlocked the secrets to coconut's amazing healing powers.

ATIS

The atis fruit has a scaly skin. The fruit is almost round and about 10 cm wide. It is called a 'sugar apple'. The taste of the flesh of the ripe fruit is slightly sweet and soft. The many black pips are scattered through the flesh of the atis.


* The leaves served as a purgative.
* Bark decoction is used to stop diarrhea.
* Decoction of the leaves and/or root is taken in cases of dysentery.
* Decoction of the leaves is good to cure diabetes.
* The leaves are applied to abscesses and open wounds and used to cure skin itches.
* The crushed leaves are sniffed to overcome fainting spells and hysteria,
* The mashed, ripe fruit, mixed with salt, is applied on tumors.
* Decoction of the leaves is used to aid digestive problem, and to treat colds.
* Decoction of the leaves is employed in baths to alleviate rheumatic pain
* Decoction of the leaves is used to clarify urine.
* The seeds immerse in coconut oil is a traditional treatment for head and body lice. The seed is also made into powder and can be applied on head to kill lice in hair.

PINEAPPLE

Pineapple, try it if you are thirsty and if you want to eat something which is good for your health! The taste is not too juicy or too sweet, just nice. Many Filipinos will eat this fruit in the way like they eat (unripe) mango or other fruit: with a bit salt. Pineapple is very rich in vitamin C.

Pineapple is Beneficial also in the following condition :

*
It is regulates the gland and found to be helpful in cases of goiter(enlargement of the thyroid gland).
*
Dyspepsia (chronic digestive disturbance).
*
Bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial tubes.)
*
Catarrh (secretions from mucous membranes).
*
High Blood pressure.
*
Arthritis (diseases of the joints)
*
Fresh pineapple juice is also used in removing intestinal worms.
*
Fresh pineapple juice has been used to combat diptheria and other infections of the throat or other parts of the body.
*
Prevents nausea (includes morning sickness and motion sickness), Take 230 cc. of pineapple juice or papaya juice.
*
Constipation

PAPAYA

The papaya has a long shape like a pear and can have a yellow or orange color when ripe. Each fruit may have a weight of about one pound to even more than 3 kilo! The length can be 75 to 500 mm. The shape of papaya can differ from a rather long to a rather round shape. It is very rich in vitamin A en C.

Papaya contains arginine which is known to be essential for male fertility and also carpain, an enzyme thought to be good for the heart. Fibrin also occurs and this substance is not commonly found in the plant kingdom; in man it forms part of the blood clotting process. The papaya is an excellent source of vitamin C, with 82mg per 100g (4oz), and is rich in carotene. After treatment with antibiotics the use of papaya juice will quickly assist the restoration of the normal bacteria in the gut which will have been destroyed by the treatment. Papaya is good for many digestive disorders and is excellent for improving poor digestion. It has also been recommended as part of the treatment for cancer. Therapeutically it can often be combined with pineapple juice in which there is another important enzyme. bromelain.

RAMBUTAN

Rambutan fruit has a thick skin that is covered with fine, short hairs. It's a small fruit, not bigger than the size of a hen's egg. Inside is a small seed covered with half transparent flesh. The color of rambutan is red or yellow. The fruit has a soft sweet taste. The name "rambutan" comes from the Malay world "rambut", which means 'hair'. There is a great demand for this fruit. This resulted in the establishment of many plantations, among others on the islands of Mindanao, Panay, southern Luzon (region Batangas) and Mindoro.

Rambutan fruit contains carbohydrate, protein, fat, phosphorus, iron, calcium and vitamin C. Skin tanin and fruits contain saponin. The seeds contain fat and polifenol. The leaves contain tannin and saponin. Skin stem contains tannin, saponin, flavonida, pectic substances, and iron.

There are usually a light brown seeds are high in some Fats and oils (mainly oleic acid and eicosanoic acid) valuable to industry, and is used in cooking and the manufacture of soap. Rambutans roots, bark, and leaves have various uses in the production of dyes and drugs.
Part of this plant can be used as a medicinal fruit and have benefits for health.

BANANA

In the Philippines grow many different varieties of bananas. There are bananas which are not sweet and only used for cooking and there are sweet and tasteful bananas. Bananas can differ remarkable in size as well as in color; from yellow to red-skinned to green bananas. One variety is not loved by foreigners. That is the banana, rather small in size, with seeds in it. Bananas healthy? They regulate bowel flow.

Bananas contain tryptophan, an aminoacid that can be converted to serotonin, leading to improved mood
Anemia
Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body's hemoglobin function

Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the most important is potassium, contained in high amounts in bananas). They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

Research published in the Archives of Ophthalmology has proven that adults consuming at least 3 servings of fruit per day have a reduced risk (by 36%) of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide, a compound that nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon. These beneficial bacteria produce enzymes that increase our digestive ability and protect us from unhealthy bacteria infections. Thanks to fructooligosaccharides, probiotic bacteria can increase both in number and functionality, increasing our body's ability to absorb calcium.

SANTOL

Ask children what their favorite fruit is and a big chance that they will say "Santol".

The santol fruit is round and as big as a big apple. Inside the fruit there is a white juicy pulp around 3 to 5 brown seeds. The seeds are up to 2 cm long. The pulp is mostly sub-acid or sour. When the fruit is not ripe, the fruit is very sour. The Filipinos like it in that (sour) condition and eat this fruit with some salt. The fruit is usually consumed raw without peeling. In the local markets of the Philippines the santol is always for sale. Santols are also used to make marmalade. In glass jars the marmalade is exported from the Philippines to oriental food dealers in Europe and the United States.