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All types of fruit will contain some fruit sugars. This may be a factor for some people who are trying to control their calorie intake. Fruit sugars provide a natural and healthy form of energy. Fruit sugars can give you a quick lift and are far better for you than most consumer snack foods. Ripe fruitSome experts argue that fruit should always be perfectly ripe before we eat it. There is some sense in this as ripe fruit is usually far more tasty and appealing. It is clearly more digestible. Our garden birds display a distinct preference for fully ripe fruit, too. Conversely, eating seriously under-ripe fruit can lead to stomach upsets. However, some of the more acid fruits, such as cranberries appear to have a regulating effect upon our metabolisms. Since growing a lot of fruit in our cool English climate, I have started to develop a taste for the natural tang of relatively sharp summer fruits, eaten without added sugar. It's also worth noting the fantastic benefits of cider vinegar for health. Cider vinegar is made using relatively acidic apples. The purpose of the classifications of fruit into acid and alkaline is simply to aid digestion. Different enzymes are used by our digestive systems to break down different foods. This is a big and complex subject. Perhaps the main point is that some of our best loved fruits do not combine too well with each other when eaten at the same time. Here's a look at the classification of fruit from the perspective of nutrition and digestibility. All types of fruit: Fruits ClassificationAcid fruitsAcids fruits are so called because when the pulp or juice is tested chemically the results indicate an acid reaction. Citrus fruits are generally quite acid. They contain citric acid and ascorbic acid (vitamin C)in varying amounts. There are lots of different types of citrus fruits, from oranges and lemons to minneolas, kumquats and uglis.Among the acid fruits, oranges are a fantastic source of vitamin C - generally better than lemons or limes. They are also a good source of calcium and the calcium they provide is often better absorbed than that from milk and other dairy foods. Uglis were developed as a type of "tangelo" - itself a cross between grapefruit and tangerine and orange. Uglis were developed in Jamaica and are sometimes recommended above grapefruit because they do not contain furanocoumarins which can react with some medicines. They also contain a high percentage of vitamin C. Citrus fruits are often recommended for "detoxifying" the system. They can certainly help put a spring in your step. It is best to avoid eating them with wheat or other grains as this can be a digestive challenge for most people. Other acid fruits include pineapples and the sourer apples and plums. Sour fruits may give you stomach aches, especially if you eat them with other foods or in excess. Acid fruits do not combine well with sweet fruits. If you notice problems digesting acid fruits try them on their own, at least half an hour before eating anything else. All types of fruit: Sub-acid fruitsFruits which are slightly acid in effect are sometimes called "sub-acid" fruits. In this category are most of the common berry fruits, soft fruits such as cane fruits, and apples. Like the more acid fruits above they are best digested on their own. They can provide almost instant energy that way as fruit sugars can be quickly absorbed on an empty stomach.Some of these fruits also provide some of our best dessert experiences but again beware of eating too much fruit on an already full stomach. Sub-acid fruits are also called low acid fruits. Sub-acid fruits include apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, mangoes and strawberries. Sub acid fruits usually combine well with acid fruits or with sweet fruits - but not both at the same time. This is because of the different enzymes produced by the body during digestion. All types of fruit: Sweet fruitsSweet fruits, as the name implies, are noticeably sweet to taste. Pears and dates and sweet grapes fall into this category. Most dried fruits, too are classed as sweet fruits. With some of these fruits there is a danger of concentrated sugars in the fruit damaging your tooth enamel if you eat them too much or too often.Sweet fruits combine well with sub-acid fruits but do not combine well with acid fruits. If you notice sluggishness or any discomfort after eating combinations of fruits, always try them on an empty stomach and/or keep to the food combining rules! Melons are often classified separately from other fruits because they are best digested alone. Nevertheless, if you are only practising food combining as an aid to digestion, it has to be said that melons can be a fantastic addition in many fruit salads! All types of fruit: Berries, berries, berries!One other classification of fruit which is well worth a mention: berries. Berries, it turns out are not really an exact classification - the botany gets complicated. Some such as raspberries are really clusters of fruit. Others such as cranberries are called false berries because they do not form from a flower. But we all know the common meaning - small fruits without pits or stones. Here, small is beautiful! Berries are really super foods. They are so full of vitamins and antioxidants they really deserve to be included in everyone's diets. Often the wild species out-do the cultivars - they are richer in antioxidants, vitamins and phytochemicals. (Phytochemicals are plant chemicals with therapeutic uses.) Some berries have a crucial role in fighting disease. For example, research shows that blueberries are potent anti-cancer agents. Cranberries are now well known for their ability to reduce inflammation and help urinary tract infections. Anthocyanins are found in many reddish coloured fruits and berries in particular. They have been shown to benefit people suffering from cancer, diabetes, ageing and bacterial infections and inflammation. Some neurological conditions can also be helped. Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid (or bioflavonoid). The distinctive red colour is common to many fruits and berries. It is now thought that the cleansing and immune system properties helped by bioflavonoids may be caused by the body's purging of them rather than the bioflavonoids themselves. (See the Linus Pauling Institute for more on this.) Whatever the details of the truth, it is clear that berries are rich superfoods which we ignore at out peril! They are also good for the environment of course, as birds and many mammals thrive on them too. Organic production methods are generally best, both from the perspective of human health and the wider environment.
All types of fruit: What are the very best fruits for your health?Nevertheless we can draw some conclusions about some of the best fruits for particular dietary needs. As always on Greenfootsteps, I have to put in a good word for organic foods. Fruits grown without pesticides or fertilisers based on petrochemicals are generally better for us and the planet. This site is all about green living and taking good care of your own health is a part of that. Organic food is generally healthier food and is far more sustainable than common food. We need to make organic food the norm, rather than something that we need to seek out. Organic foods tend to be more expensive. Please see organic foods for more about them and ways to find organic foods which are not so costly. All types of fruit: Nearby fruitFrom a green living perspective it is important to source a good proportion of our fruit from as nearby as possible.Now, I am not for a moment advocating that we regularly eat fruits from half way around the globe - the carbon consequences are just too severe. But fortunately there are many fruits which are grown in numerous locations so that relatively local supplies can be found. This is not always the case for people in more northern latitudes. Tropical fruits may be in limited supply if you live more than 40 degrees north! On the following pages are some of the very best fruit choices to suit most readers - that is to say, I have included fruit from around the world so that no matter where you are, you can choose high nutritional value fruits from fairly close to home. Please see The Nutritional Value of Fruit for nutritional value of some very common fruits and Fabulous Fresh Fruit Salad Recipes
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