FRUITS - NUTRIENTS
Earlier certain fruits were available only in certain seasons. But now with widespread importing, we have an access to a wide variety of fruits all-year-round. Importing also allows us to benefit by providing different types of nutrients from a variety of soils and different farming techniques. It should always be remembered that fruit should never be cooked but should be eaten fresh and raw. The process of cooking transforms the alkalinity of the fruit to acid and also destroys most of the nutrients. Never purchase fruit in bulk as storing fruits for a longer period destroys not only its nutritional value, but also causes fungal infection of the fruits. Buy only those fruits that you are going to consume within twenty-four hours.
1. Apples - The varieties are New Zealand Gala (yellow) and Red delicious (Himachal Pradesh).
2. Apricots.
3. Bananas-especially the yellow variety (elaichi of Vasai or from Madras). Always buy bananas that are ripe or else the consistency will be very starchy.
4. Berries-Raspberries and strawberries.
5. Dates-Khadrawi (the dates are soft and almost skinless), Medjool (the largest of all dates, also called as 'the king of all dates').
6. Dried fruits-especially the ones that are sun-dried -apricots, currants, figs (anjeer), prunes (dried plums), raisins, etc.
7. Figs (anjeer) -Kadota.
8. Grapes - grapes from Nasik are excellent quality-wise.
9. Guava (a shiny green-skinned fruit, oblong in shape).
10. Kiwi (a fuzzy fruit, brown-skinned but bright lime-green inside, the size of a lemon, with tiny edible black seeds).
11. Lychee (a small nutlike fruit with a hard brown or reddish skin, which when peeled, a juicy white pulp is discovered with a brown seed in the center).
12. Mango -Alphanzo from Ratnagiri.
13. Melons - Cantaloupe, muskmelon (kharbooja) and watermelon.
14. Oranges - Blood and Valencia.
15. Papaya (a yellowish orange fruit when ripe, which is round or oblong in shape, with black seeds in the center which are bitter and should not be eaten).
16. Peach - Indian red.
17. Pears.
18. Pineapples - Hawaiian variety.
19. Plums - That are also called as prunes.
20. Pomegranate (a pinkish or reddish fruit about the size of a tennis ball with a hard skin. The fruit should be cut into quarters and then the tiny juicy segments with seeds should be had).
