We all know that fruits and vegetables are good for health. This is something that has been spoken about, written about and rarely followed. But for those who actually follow them, small tweaks will go a long way in ensuring that you get the best out of what you eat. Have you noticed that the banana skin is quite thick? I am sure you have, and I am sure you have not tried eating it. The skin of the banana is meant to protect it. I am also sure that you have never tried eating the skin of the jack fruit.

But on the same line, a few fruits have soft skins and are meant to be eaten with the skin on, the apple being the prime example. The apple is also a fruit that has to be cut and eaten fresh. It is not without reason that nature has given us a sign of apple turning dark when exposed to air. Yeah, scientifically we call it oxidation of the iron and all other fancy words, but the bottom line is apple is best eaten with the skin and without cutting it or consuming it as soon as it is cut. It is not dangerous to eat an apple that has been cut and left outside, but remember we are talking of getting the best out of fruits.The other wonderful set of fruits are the berries. Blueberry, strawberry and the ‘difficult to get in india’ berries like goji berry, acai berry and raspberry are excellent health foods.

These berries are very high in antioxidants and go a long way in maintaining a healthy heart. These berries are also wonderful detox foods. They are used extensively in detox programs and people see a huge difference when using these berries as supposed to not eating them during a detox. When taken right, they also aid weight loss.

Obviously you cannot take a boat load of berries, sit on the couch and expect the weight to melt away, but during a weight loss effort, the berries can make your job easier.A patient once proudly brought a bottle of capsules with ‘extracts from blue berry and acai berry’ she said. However, the fruits are in nature for a reason and have ingredients for a reason. The active ingredient alone is not sufficient for good health and that is why you need to stay away from these capsules and resort to eating the fruit as a whole.

Remember wellness is not about popping a few pills, but about doing things the right way to stay healthy. The closest alternative is fortified tea, which has the dried version of the berries and when taken with green tea, do justice, but we shall discuss that another day.


BDST: 1535 HRS, Nov-12, 2013
SIS/RK