Tag: fruits

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Fruit Tips

The best fruits to help you during allergy season!

If you have seasonal allergies and you enjoy eating fruits, you are reading the right article!

Some fruits can help you during allergy

There are several fruits that provide you with specific benefits during seasonal allergies. These usually start during Spring season and can go through Fall. It’s very important to have a strong immune system during seasonal allergies. So why not start by eating clean, healthy foods like fruits. We will list here the best fruits to help you during allergy season.

  • Citrus Fruits: they are full of vitamin C! The best way to increase your immunity is to get vitamin C in its most natural form. It’s good to take vitamins in capsules. It’s even better to get it from eating the actual fruit. Whole foods are full of minerals and antioxidants that aren’t found in most supplements.  Oranges, lemons, grapefruits and kiwis are some examples of great fruits to eat during allergy season. Lemons and oranges are in season mostly from March through November.
Slices of citrus fruits
  • Strawberries: they are also in season mostly from Spring until Fall! Which means you can get the best from strawberries to help you fight your allergy symptoms. Fruits are in their most nutrient rich form when they are in season! Strawberries, as other berries like blueberries, are rich in Quercetin. Some of its beneficial effects include anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory activities. Quercetin blocks histamines from cells and other allergic substance acting as a natural antihistamine. It’s ability to prevent allergic effects can help treat asthma and bronchitis.

Most red fruits contains flavonoids known as anthocyanins.

  • Cherries and grapes: also acting as antihistamine, anthocyanins are helpful for reducing congestion in sinuses passages. To get the best out of these flavonoids, make sure to keep them cool. Making blueberry pancakes or boiling strawberries to make jam significantly reduce the amount of anthocyanins. Try making fresh smoothies during allergy season!
  • Tomatoes: full of vitamin C and important source of lycopene. This is a carotenoide that helps reduce inflammation. It decreases the allergic response of eosinophils, a type of cell that promotes allergy symptoms. Different then berries, steaming or boiling  tomatoes bring out more lycopene for optimal nutrition.
  • Pineapples: they have bromelain – an enzyme that can ease sinus congestion. It fights inflammation helping reduce the swelling brought on by pollen and other seasonal allergens. Pineapples are easy to find all year-round. However, enjoy the sweetest pineapples in the Spring season, from March to July! Learn here how to pick the best pineapples at the grocery store.
Big tomato
PIneapple can help you during allergy season
Apple can help you during allergy season
  • Apples: just like berries, apples have quercetin which helps block histamines. Quercetin is found in the peel of apples. So, make sure to eat apples with skin on during allergies season! On the other hand, apples and other fruits, can cause allergy reaction to people with pollen food allergy syndrome. These fruits have proteins similar to those in allergenic trees. People who have birch pollen allergies might have reactions to apples and peaches, for example.

In general, these are the best fruits to help you during allergy season.

Fruits can be a great natural source of protection for your health if you struggle with seasonal allergies. For kids who have difficulties eating fruits, try serving them in a creative way. Check out our post to make a very easy and fun plate with bluberries and oranges. They will enjoy these and get the necessary antioxidants for the allergy season!

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Fruit Benefits

Make the most out of fruits in the spring season

Spring Fruits

Let’s learn and make the most out of fruits in the spring season!

Here at Lovely Mango, we often talk about the importance of eating fruits in season. And it wouldn’t be different this spring! Fruits of the season are healthier and more delicious. When buying fruits in season, it means that they were picked when fully ripened and consequently they taste delicious! Fruits in season also have better nutrition because the nutrients are fully developed once they are completely ripened. So, let’s enjoy fruits in this spring season!

We hope you enjoy this beautiful platter of Spring fruits cut in special shapes! Let’s do an overview of these fruits that are at their best during the springtime!

Orange – Despite oranges being in season in the winter, which is great to boost our vitamin C content during cold and flu season, many orange types continue in season during spring. That is also in our favor if we suffer from allergies. That is because the vitamin C content from oranges will boost our immune system, making us stronger against allergies. Some grapefruits and oranges are in season from winter all the way to May. Check out our article on fruits that will boost your immune system here.

Pineapple – For those who are looking to get back in better physical shape after the winter, pineapple can help! This fruit generally in season from March to July, is full of manganese which helps keep your bones strong. It’s not only beneficial to eat them before working out. Studies have shown that pineapples will help reduce inflammation and soreness after workout sessions.

Kiwi – There is about 80% of the daily vitamin C recommended value in one kiwifruit. But not only it has a great source of vitamin C to keep your immune system stronger. This fruit can also be beneficial in the Spring season especially for those who suffer from allergies that trigger asthma symptoms. A study shows that there was a positive effect on lung function among those who consumed citrus and kiwifruit. Eating these fresh fruits may reduce wheezing in susceptible children.

Strawberry – Not only we can enjoy the taste of fresh in-season strawberries as well as we can benefit our skin by eating them. The antioxidants found in strawberries help reduce skin damage from the sun’s UV rays and reduces inflammatory responses – acne. The vitamin C in strawberries can also work as a toner and reduce dark spots. Therefore, when you are out there enjoying nice weather and strawberry kabobs with your friends, know that your skin will be well assisted.

Mango – How about keeping your heart healthy for the start of the season of running and exercising outdoors? Mangoes are considered heart-healthy because of their high concentration of polyphenols. It primarily contains mangiferin, a bioactive compound that is antioxidant and may protect against inflammation. With a peak season running from May through September, mangos are so delicious and have so many recipes to enjoy in spring.

Most fruits can also be found during any other season or they can also be imported. But try enjoying the fruits in season and you will have the best in nutrition and flavor. In addition, you can feel better during the spring season as these fruits will give you specific benefits to help you obtain a better performance either exercising or enjoying time with friends while outdoors.

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Fruit Crafts

These last-minute gift ideas will save your valentine’s day!

Watermelon heart

Lovely Mango will show you how to make easy Valentine’s day gifts.

On Valentine’s day, we like to show appreciation for the ones we love: our teachers, co-workers, friends, and especially family members. But sometimes we realize Valentine’s day is around the corner and we never got a chance to get anything special to give to our valentines. So let’s check out some ideas that will save your Valentine’s day!

Lovely Mango has some ideas to share so you can create a last-minute Valentine’s fruit gift! The first thing we should think about is colors! Valentine’s Day is about love and love reminds us of the color pink and red. So, let’s say you are at home on February 14th and you realize you didn’t get anything to give to your spouse or kids. However, if you have a few delicious, fresh fruits in the kitchen these can definitely save your Valentine’s Day!

Apples, pomegranates, strawberries, and watermelon; are some examples of “fruits of love.”

So now it starts the fun part: you can make different shapes with them. For example, if you have cookie cutters, find a heart shape or your valentine first letter’s name and go from there. Then, it will be a special surprise and they will love how it looks and how special and sweeter it will be to eat the fruits. Here are some examples that Lovely Mango wants to share with you:

All you need for these lovely kabobs are cookie cutters and wood sticks. We used strawberries and grapes. Strawberries are not only red in color, but they also used to represent perfection and love. They still do! And if you have red grapes at home it will look even better! Just cut the strawberries with a heart cookie cutter, and add them to the wooden stick followed by a grape. Repeat this step a few more times. The smaller the cookie cutter the better, so it can fit on the strawberry to cut well.

You can also try making a LOVE boat!

To make a Love Boat, all you need is a bowl with an elongated shape and add a few red color fruits with romantic heart shapes inside! Feel free to add the fruit kabobs as the boat’s paddles.

Watermelon heart

In order to make slices of watermelon as heart shapes, the watermelon needs to be cut into thinner slices to fit in the cookie cutter. Be creative and make your Valentine’s favorite things using various shapes to make them unique and personal. But you can’t go wrong with a LOVE Boat full of hearts! Try these ideas or use your own creativity to save your Valentine’s day!