Tag: healthy

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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

Pineberries are the new berries. Try them!

Pineberries are the new berries. Try them!

Let’s learn about these new berries!

When you see pineberries at the grocery store you may wonder if you should try these new berries – as they don’t look like your conventional fruit.

Pineberries taste very sweet and they are delicious! You may think they taste a little tart because of their pale color. But don’t get confused with an albino fruit when you see these new berries! The pale color is just one of their characteristcs.

Even though they look like strawberries, they taste different. The rather sweeter side of it comes from the similarity they have from pineapples. Pineberries have a soft bite to it if compared to strawberries, which feels firmer. Their bite also feel soft like pears. But pineberries feel firm like strawberries when you are holding them while rinsing them off or cutting out their stems.

Try pineberries with pancakes!
Chocolate lava pancake

The pineberries get their name because it is a combo of the words pineapple and strawberry. They are a novelty type of strawberry, because they range in color and flavor. They are usually white with red achenes (seeds) but they can turn pink when they grow in sunlight. Berries are harvested when the achenes turn from green to red – that is when you should try them!

Pineberries taste delicious on their own! They are great for kebabs with other fruits, which gives a unique touch. Pineberry is also delicious with hazelzut and chocolate spread – a great way to get the kids to eat them! They are also good with oatmeal or pancakes. You can be creative on how you eat pineberries, they are just another form of berry anyway and go well in so many dishes!

Here is a little bit of history on these newer berries: white-fruited strawberries of Fragaria chiloensis (Chilean strawberry) have been traced back to Chile where the native peoples cultivated them more than a thousand years ago. They were then introduced into Europe around the 1700’s. Only about 20 years ago,

the Netherlands developed the pineberry through crossbreeding the red and white varieties.

Ten years later, pineberries started selling in the U.S. and they are now more popular.

These new berries are delicious with hazelnut spread. Try them!
Pineberries are delicious with hazelnut spread.

Pineberries are high in vitamin A and vitamin C which helps the immune health. They are antioxidants and rich in fiber. This pineapple flavor berry also helps support gut health, weight loss efforts and they may even support healthy blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Pineberries are sold most of the year from different regions. Florida growing season runs from November through April and the pineberries from California, from January through September. Other great news about pineberries is that they are non-GMO!

Check out our blog post on how to clean fruits properly so you are ready to try the new berries: pineberries!

Pineberries are the new berries. Try Pineberries in kebabs!
Fruit kebabs with pineberries for Valentine’s day
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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

How to make a green- looking dessert

How to make a green-looking dessert

How to make a green-looking dessert that includes chocolate!

Chocolate fondue can be healthy too! And making chocolate fondue is so easy! The food you need to dip in it can be super easy to make too, especially when all you need to do is cut fruits! Most fruits taste delicious with chocolate, but this time we decided to have an all-green-skinned fruit to dip in the fondue.

Eating green fruits is very important because they are not only full of vitamins and minerals,

but they also have phytochemicals, which have different proposed benefits for the body. More specifically, green fruits are beneficial to our eye health, our immune system, and digestion. But let’s get to it and learn how to make a green-looking dessert! We chose green apples and pears for this dessert, great for the Fall season!

Kiwi, green grapes, and honeydew are also other delicious green fruit options.

Start by adding your favorite chocolate bars into a pot on medium to low heat. You can also melt the chocolate gently in a barely simmering water bath. We use a 70 % dark chocolate bar, as well as a milk chocolate bar. By mixing both kinds, we are able to benefit from the dark chocolate and also to taste the creamy milk chocolate. You can also add half a cup of milk or cream to just the dark chocolate bar if you prefer. While the chocolate is melting, make sure the fruits are cleaned. You can cut them into medium size chunks or however you prefer to eat and serve to your guests. Make sure to leave the skin on the fruits. By doing that you will benefit from more antioxidants, as well as make a green-looking dessert!

Once the chocolate is melted, take it to the base of the fondue set to keep warm. But if you don’t have a fondue set, you can also keep the chocolate in a regular pot and take it to warm up on the stove once more as it gets cool. And if fruits are not enough, feel free to add pretzels, rice crispies treats, or another great snack that goes well with chocolate. Just remember to include some fruits to make a healthier and green-looking dessert!

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Fruit Tips

Try eating grapefruit in a different way

Grapefruit in yogurt is delicious!

I often hear that eating half of a grapefruit a day is very good for our health. Well, in fact, one half of a grapefruit has about 34 mg of Vitamin C, nearly half of the recommended daily intake. You can benefit from eating grapefruit not only because it has lots of antioxidants, but also because its vitamin C helps maintain healthy skin, bones, and teeth, as well as our immune system.

In one of our blog posts, 8 fruits that will boost your immune system, we talk about the importance of fruits that makes you stronger for the winter season, grapefruit is one of them! Another important benefit of this citrus fruit is its amazing anti-inflammatory and bone-regenerating powers. This is because grapefruit is a rich source of naringin. But there is more to that. Narigin found in most citrus fruits can help you against all of these: atherosclerosis, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, osteoporosis and rheumatologic illnesses. No wonder why we hear that eating half a grapefruit a day is so important!

Grapefruits are in season from Fall to Spring because they grow in different parts of the US with different climates. But you are able to find them year round at most grocery stores because they ship well due to their resistant peel. The longer grapefruits are left to ripen on the tree, the sweeter they get. So stay tunned when January comes around.

If you think grapefruits have a tart taste, try eating them with your favorite yogurt. It’s very simple!

Slice half of one grapefruit then cut around the perimeter. In a cup, add a little bit of yogurt then a couple of pieces of grapefruit. Repeat by adding the yogurt and the grapefruit one more time. My daughter Isabella thought this combination tastes sweet and delicious! We hope you enjoy it too!

Cut around the perimeter of the grapefruit slices
Add the slices in a cup with yogurt.

Enjoy it!