The Beauty of Ugli Fruit

“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder,” Plato once said. When it comes to the uncommon and sometimes weird produce of other countries, often relegated to one stand in the grocery store, we couldn’t agree more. Whether a dragon fruit, whole young coconut, cherimoyas, or star fruit, you may find a prickly or strange exterior belies a delicious adventure for your tastebuds.

On this particular visit, we picked up a fruit with a rather horrendous complexion and took it home, preparing ourselves for what may lie inside.

But yes, it was beautiful and familiar – in both form and taste. The ugli fruit is a hybrid of grapefruit, orange and tangerine and often hails from Jamaica. Nutritionally speaking, it has fiber, vitamin C, is low-calorie, and has a multitude of vitamins and minerals. Consider eating it as you would an orange or freshly squeezed in mineral water. Enjoy!

Fight Free Radicals with a Rainbow Punch!

photo source: http://www.birthgoddess.com.au

Antioxidants are phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients which protect our cells from free radical damage. Studies show antioxidants help prevent the oxidative damage that is associated with heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. So where are these superheroes found? Check out your local garden patch – most fruits, vegetables, and culinary & medicinal herbs can contain high levels of antioxidants.

A study in recent years found that botanical diversity plays a role in determining the bioactivity of antioxidant phytochemicals. Also, and this is exciting, smaller quantities of many different phytochemicals may have greater health effects than larger amounts of fewer phytochemicals. This is why we inspire people to ‘eat a rainbow’ (and we’re not talking about Skittles candy). Here’s how to form a rainbow of protection against free radical damage:

Red, Purple, and Blue

• Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, apples, cherries, pomegranates, red grapes, beets, red cabbage, black rice
• Contains anthocyanin, betacyanin, and proanthocyanidins
• Functions: protect cells from aging, reduce cholesterol and may reduce breast cancer risk

Yellow-Orange

• Carrots, squashes, lemons, apricots, cantaloupe, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, papaya, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and yellow & orange peppers
• Contains beta-carotene and alpha carotene; often also cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin
• Functions: protects against some cancers, supports immune system, healthy skin, and good vision

Green Fruits and Vegetables

• Spinach, kale, avocado, broccoli, swisschard, brussel sprouts, as well as dandelion, mustard, and collard greens
• Contains lutein, beta carotene, and chlorophyll
• Functions: builds resistance to certain cancers, protects eyes from oxidative damage that could lead to diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts

Spring Cleaning the Body

When spring comes around we typically engage in the ritual of the big ‘spring cleaning’ where we open our doors, get the dust out, clean out our closets, have garage sales, and organize our living spaces.However, spring can be a time to clean up our whole life, meaning our diet, mind, and overall health. To detoxify our life, we can focus on de-cluttering our bodies, our environment, and our mind.

To start, lets take a look at our bodies. In order to cleanse them, we need to pay attention to what we are putting in them. Make sure to drink ample amounts of water as it will help flush out toxins. Also certain foods like fruits and vegetables can naturally help detoxify the body. Eat foods like Kale, Asparagus, Grapefruit, and Ginger to aid in cleansing.

In addition to what we put in our bodies, we also need to give them enough time to rest and recover. This is where the importance of sleep comes into play. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night and refrain from watching television or using electronics before bed.