One of the most praised of tropical fruits, and certainly the most esteemed fruit in the family Guttiferae, the mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L., is almost universally known or heard of by this name. There are numerous variations in nomenclature: among Spanish-speaking people, it is calledmangostan; to the French, it is mangostanier, mangoustanier, mangouste or mangostier; in Portuguese, it is mangostao, mangosta or mangusta; in Dutch, it is manggis or manggistan; in Vietnamese, mang cut; in Malaya, it may be referred to in any of these languages or by the local terms,mesetor, semetah, or sementah; in the Philippines, it is mangis or mangostan. Throughout the Malay Archipelago, there are many different spellings of names similar to most of the above.
Plate XLI: MANGOSTEEN, Garcinia mangostana—Painted by Dr. M.J. Dijkman
The graviola tree, or Annona muricata, produces the sweet soursop fruit, also called custard apple, paw paw or, in many Spanish-speaking countries, guanabana.
The tree reaches a height of 25 or 30 feet and produces large fruit that may reach a length of 12 inches.
Although its rind is quite bitter, the fruit's flesh is soft, smooth and sweet, and provides carbohydrate as its major nutrient.
Soursop also contains abundant vitamin C and several B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, along with calcium, phosphorus and a small amount of iron
Basil seeds, also called tukmaria seeds, are touted as a weight-loss aid because of their ability to swell in water and, therefore, improve satiety. While there's no harm in including basil seeds as part of a healthy weight-loss diet, no studies support these claims. Consult your doctor before starting any weight-loss diet.
Basil Seed Nutrition
As a rich source of a number of nutrients you need, basil seeds are a healthy addition to your diet. A one-tablespoon serving contains 21 calories, 2 grams of protein, 4 grams of carbs and 0.5 grams of fat. The seed is also a source such vitamins and minerals as vitamins A, E and K, a number of the B-vitamins, iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium.
Recently I was wandering through an Asian market and came across Dried Basil Seeds. In my haste, I thought it just said basil seeds. Hmmm, maybe they were for sprouting, or at the very least I could plant them?
So I bought them, and when I got home saw the “dried” on the label. Like any self-respecting Green Diva, I googled it and learned that they act much like my beloved chia seeds. Like most seeds, they’re chock full of nutrients and are considered by some to be a super food. One difference (that I liked) is that the basil seeds plump up in minutes, whereas the chia seeds may take hours. And I really like the tapioca texture of these seeds. Just because they aren’t as “trendy” yet, doesn’t mean they aren’t fabulous.
Orange juice, as you can probably guess, is the juice squeezed from the popular and delicious citrus fruit, oranges. It is widely considered one of the healthiest beverages because of its wide range of health benefits, which include its ability to boost immune system function, reduce signs of aging, protect against cancer, boost cellular repair and metabolism, detoxify the body, improve circulation, improves blood pressure, reduces inflammation, and lowers cholesterol levels.
Oranges have been a staple of eating healthy for thousands of years, and the fruit probably originated somewhere in Southeast Asia. Historical records of oranges date back as far as China, more than 4,500 years ago. It is one of the most popular citrus fruits, and its scientific name is Citrus sinensis. There are a number of different orange varieties, but this is the sweet orange, the most popular and commonly eaten variety. This provides some of the most delicious types of orange juice, although there are some people who prefer the juice from blood oranges, mandarin oranges, or even bitter oranges.
The orange juice can be just as beneficial as eating the fruit whole, provided it is 100% natural, and is not loaded with preservatives, additives, and sugar. The closest thing to eating an orange would be drinking a glass of unpasteurized, freshly squeezed orange juice. The skin and pulp in oranges do have considerable health benefits, but you can get most of the most unusual nutrients and beneficial components out of orange juice in this way.
Avoid frozen orange juice, canned orange juice, or concentrate, because with all of the processing, you lose a considerable amount of the natural goodness, and producers often turn to adding chemicals to the juice to replenish some of the lost nutritive value. Go natural and make sure you are getting all of the benefits of this miraculous and delicious fruit juice!
