Facts About Pineapples

1.It takes almost 3 years for a single pineapple to reach maturation.
Which makes the price tag a bit more understandable. 

2. Pineapple plants have really pretty flowers. 
The pineapple plant's flowers -- which can vary from lavender to bright red -- produce berries that actually coalesce together around the fruit's core. So the pineapple fruit itself is actually a bunch of "fruitlets" fused together. 

3. If you'd never seen one, it'd look like a pinecone to you.
When European explorers first encountered the fruit in the Americas, they called them "pineapples" because of the resemblance to pine cones.

4. Pineapple plants look like giant, buried pineapples.
What if all of these were giant pineapples, planted underneath the soil with just the top part visible. Freaky, eh?

5. Which is actually kind of accurate. 
You can plant your own pineapple plant by cutting off the top of a pineapple and planting it in soil. Unfortunately, a giant pineapple won't grow underneath it.

6. Baby pineapples are the most adorable fruit you've ever seen.
It's impossible to see a little pineapple, sprouting off the leaves of its mama plant, without releasing a collective, "Awwww." 

7. Once harvested, pineapples don't continue to ripen.
That means that every single pineapple in the grocery store is as ripe as it will ever be so don't buy one and save it for a week, thinking it will ripen. The difference in colors is mostly based on where the pineapples were grown so a green pineapple can be just as sweet and delicious as a golden brown one.

8. In fact, a fully ripe pineapple is quite perishable. 
You should eat it within two days if it's stored at room temperature and within about a week if it's refrigerated. 

9. Here's how you should cut a pineapple: 
After lopping off the top and the bottom, stand the pineapple up and use a sharp knife to shave off the skin. The sweetest part of a pineapple is its outermost flesh, however, which means you should slice the skin off the sides as thinly as possible and you should leave the eyes (brown spots) or you will lose too much yumminess. You'll notice that the eyes all line up in diagonal rows and you can easily cut them out in a small "V" cut to preserve as much outer flesh as possible.

When you put the pineapple on its side again and slice it, you'll notice the rounds look like flowers because of the"V" cuts. You can keep the core in (it's edible and healthy) or you can cut it out. 

10. There is actually a really cool pineapple gizmo you can buy. Which will help facilitate this whole process:

11. Besides fruit salads and tropical drinks, pineapples are also used to make wine. In Maui at least.

12. They also make excellent jack-o-lanterns.

Either terrifying or hilariously doofy, depending on your preference.
13. They've influenced Hawaii slang. 

When it drizzles on a sunny day in Hawaii, locals call it “pineapple juice.” And when older parents are "surprised" by a pregnancy, the baby is called a “ratoon crop,” the bonus fruit that grows after a pineapple plant’s initial harvest.

14. Pineapple cores contain high levels of bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme, which has a whole slew of health benefits. 
Bromelain has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, and digestive aid, and it also includes chemicals that interfere with the growth of tumor cells, making pineapple a good food to prevent cancer. Pineapples were once believed to cause miscarriages, but a pregnant woman would need to eat about 10 whole pineapples for it to be a concern. 

15. Pineapple is also great for tenderizing meat. 
Because Bromelain breaks down proteins.

16. Although the fruit originated in South America, the majority of the world's pineapples now come from Southeast Asia.
Namely the Philippines and Thailand. For the freshest pineapples in the U.S., look for Costa Rica- or Hawaii-grown pineapples.

17. There is a recurring legend that pineapples make a man's seminal fluids taste "sweeter." 
But all evidence appears to be anecdotal, not scientific. 

ref:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/04/facts-about-pineapples_n_4726366.html

10 Fun Facts about Grapes

1.       Grapes are one of the world’s favorite fruits, regularly listed in the top 10 (other are mangos, bananas and tomatoes).

2.       Around the world there are more than 8,000 varieties of grape. There are 7 different grape colors: red, green, white, black, purple, blue and golden.

3.       Grapes have been thought to have healing properties since ancient times. In China, wine was mixed with frogs, snakes and other animals to create a cure for illness.

4.       America’s oldest grapevine is 400 years old and is in North Carolina.

5.       Wine has been made from grapes since 5,000BC.

6.       About a quarter of the grapes used in the US come from Chile.

7.       While grapes are 80% water, when they become raisins the water content is just 15%.

8.       You can get about 15,000 glasses of wine from an acre of grapes.

9.       72 million tons of grapes are produced around the world each year.

10.   With more than 200, California’s Napa Valley has the world’s highest concentration of wineries.

Benefits of Blackberry Fruit

Like other berries, blackberries are commonly eaten out of hand. You can also use these versatile fruits in baked goods, add them to fruit or vegetable salads or turn them into jellies or sauces. Mix blackberries with apples, kiwi and strawberries to make a delicious fruit salsa you can eat with chips, use to top ice cream or other desserts or use as a condiment with meat or seafood. Blackberries are a good source of fiber and essential vitamins and minerals and have a number of potential health benefits.

Macronutrients

A 1-cup serving of blackberries contains 62 calories, 1 gram of fat, 2 grams of protein and 14 grams of carbohydrates, including 8 grams of dietary fiber. This is 32 percent of the daily requirement for fiber, which helps keep you feeling full for longer and limits your risk for diverticulitis, constipation and heart disease.

Micronutrients

Eating a cup of blackberries provides you with 30 milligrams of vitamin C, or 50 percent of the daily requirement; 29 micrograms of vitamin K, or 36 percent of the daily requirement; and 36 micrograms of folate, or 9 percent of the daily requirement. Vitamin C is essential for repairing cells, preventing cell damage from free radicals and healing wounds; vitamin K is necessary for proper blood clotting; and folate is important for preventing neural tube birth defects and forming DNA and red blood cells. This serving of blackberries also contains 7 percent of the daily requirement for magnesium and potassium; 6 percent of the daily need for vitamins A and E; and 5 percent of the daily requirement for iron, zinc and niacin.

Cancer

Adding more blackberries and other berries to your diet may lower your risk for cancer, according to a study published in December 2006 in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry." Blackberry extract and other berry extracts inhibited the growth of cancer cells in laboratory tests, with increasing amounts of berry extracts further increasing the degree of inhibition.

Heart Disease

The vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber in blackberries may help to lower your risk for heart disease, according to an article published in "Nutrition Reviews" in 2010. Potential mechanisms for this decreased risk include limiting inflammation and oxidative stress through an increase in antioxidants in the blood and limiting the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries because of the anthocyanin content of the berries. Anthocyanins are the phytochemicals that give blackberries their dark color.

Cognitive Function

Blackberry consumption may also limit a decline in cognitive function as you age, although the results are preliminary. A study published in June 2009 in "Nutritional Neuroscience" found that rats given blackberries as 2 percent of their diet performed better on short-term memory tests than rats not fed blackberries as part of their diet.

What makes apples so great?

In 2004, USDA scientists investigated over 100 foods to measure their antioxidant concentration per serving size.Two apples—Red Delicious and Granny Smith—ranked 12th and 13th respectively. Antioxidants are disease-fighting compounds. Scientists believe these compounds help prevent and repair oxidation damage that happens during normal cell activity. Apples are also full of a fibre called pectin—a medium-sized apple contains about 4 grams of fibre. Pectin is classed as a soluble, fermentable and viscous fibre, a combination that gives it a huge list of health benefits.

1. Get whiter, healthier teeth

An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.

2. Avoid Alzheimer’s

A new study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of aging on the brain. Mice in the study that were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in maze tests than those on a regular diet.

3. Protect against Parkinson’s

Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized by a breakdown of the brain’s dopamine-producing nerve cells. Scientists have linked this to the free radical-fighting power of the antioxidants contained therein.

4. Curb all sorts of cancers

Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research, among others, agree that the consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent. Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds—triterpenoids—in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the number and size of mammary tumours in rats. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

5. Decrease your risk of diabetes

Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fibre, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.

6. Reduce cholesterol

The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates intolower cholesterol levels and a healthier you.

7. Get a healthier heart

An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fibre intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found in apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls. When plaque builds inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.

8. Prevent gallstones

Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. They are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fibre to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.

9. Beat diarrhea and constipation

Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t stop, fibre found in apples can help. Fibre can either pull water out of your colon to keep things moving along when you’re backed up, or absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.

10. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and bloating. To control these symptoms doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a high intake of fibre in your diet.

11. Avert hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a swollen vein in the anal canal and while not life threatening, these veins can be very painful. They are caused by too much pressure in the pelvic and rectal areas. Part and parcel with controlling constipation, fibre can prevent you from straining too much when going to the bathroom and thereby help alleviate hemorrhoids.

12. Control your weight

Many health problems are associated with being overweight, among them heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. To manage your weight and improve your overall health, doctors recommend a diet rich in fibre. Foods high in fibre will fill you up without costing you too many calories.

13. Detoxify your liver

We’re constantly consuming toxins, whether it is from drinks or food, and your liver is responsible for clearing these toxins out of your body. Many doctors are skeptical of fad detox diets, saying they have the potential to do more harm than good. Luckily, one of the best—and easiest—things you can eat to help detoxify your liver is fruits—like apples.

14. Boost your immune system

Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found thatquercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you're stressed out.

15. Prevent cataracts

Though past studies have been divided on the issue, recent long-term studies suggest that people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants—like apples—are 10 to 15 per cent less likely to develop cataracts.

Fact about Coconut

Found across much of the tropic and subtropic area, the coconut is known for its great versatility as seen in the many domestic, commercial, and industrial uses of its different parts. Coconuts are part of the daily diet of many people. Here are some interesting facts about Coconuts :

1. The origin of the coconut has been lost to history. Coconuts are a prehistoric plant that scientists believe came from the South Pacific around what is now New Guinea.

2. The sailors aboard Vasco de Gama’s ships gave the coconut its name.  They called it “Coco”, named after a grimacing face or hobgoblin. When the “coco” came to England, the suffix of nut was added and that’s how the name came about.

3. Coconut oils contain median chain triglycerides which are easy to digest.  The oil is source of energy and has an accelerating effect on the metabolism.

4. Coconut oils also contain four growth hormones, that help the development of many organisms. Coconut water is considered the “father of modern tissue culture science”.

5. Coconut Water Can Be Used as a Substitute for Blood Plasma !!!

6. They grow from sandy soils and an abundant amount of sun and rain. Often they are found near the ocean and sustainable to the excessive salt in the air

7. Coconut trees belong to the plant family known as Arecaceae and are the only species of the genus Cocos. They can grow up to 30 meters high.
8. Coconuts are the seeds of the coconut palm tree and considered a type of nut. The “meat” of the coconut is high in protein; whereas the milk is refreshing, light and low in sugar.
9. Aside from their culinary purposes, they are also used for cosmetic purposes and as a mosquito repellent (burning the husk).
10. Most plants have tap roots. However, the coconut tree has a fibrous root system. The tree gains the nutrition from thin branching roots growing from the stem.

How bananas are grown

The banana is a perennial plant that replaces itself. Bananas do not grow from a seed but from a bulb or rhizome. The time between planting a banana plant and the harvest of the banana bunch is from 9 to 12 months. The flower appears in the sixth or seventh month. Bananas are available throughout the year - they do not have a growing 'season'.

Bananas are grown in tropical regions where the average temperature is 80° F (27° C) and the yearly rainfall is between 78 and 98 inches. They require moist soil with good drainage. In fact, most bananas exported are grown within 30 degrees either side of the equator.

Plantations are predominant in Latin America and they require huge investment in infrastructure and technology for transport, irrigation, drainage and packing facilities. Smallholder production is less capital intensive and more labour intensive. This system is present mainly in the Eastern Caribbean because, due to topographical factors, it is not possible to use the plantation system.

Banana growing is, in general, labour intensive, involving clearing of jungle growth, propping of the plants to counter bending from the weight of the growing fruit, and irrigation in some regions. As well as an intensive use of pesticides, the conventional production process involves covering banana bunches with polyethylene bags to protect them from wind, attacks of insects or birds and to maintain optimum temperatures.

Harvesting and ripening

After nine months, the bananas are harvested while still green. At the packhouse they are inspected and sorted for export. Buyers of fruit in the UK want unbruised bananas and so very high standards are set. If the bananas do not meet these standards they are usually sold locally at a much lower price.

They are then transported to ports to be packed in refrigerated ships called reefers (bananas take between six and twelve days to get to the UK/Europe). They are transported at a temperature of 13.3°C in order to increase their shelf life, and require careful handling in order to prevent damage. Humidity, ventilation and temperature conditions are carefully monitored in order to maintain quality. When the bananas arrive at their destination
port they are first sent to ripening rooms (aprocess involving ethylene gas) and then sent to the shops. 

Dessert banana production for export (around 15 million tonnes per year) is of huge economic importance for many countries in the South. It relies on intensive monocultures, which are sustained by using massive quantities of toxic chemicals which are hazardous to both workers and the environment. This industrial-scale production also results in problematic waste management issues. Research led by CIRAD (International Agricultural Research for Development Centre) demonstrates that significant agrochemical reduction can be achieved while maintaining good levels of productivity and quality. Organic systems are increasingly being viewed as a viable and important alternative to conventional production in some regions.

About Banana

Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world. The banana is, in fact, not a tree but a high herb that grows up to 15 metres. It is believed that there are almost 1000 varieties of bananas in the world, subdivided in 50 groups. The most commonly known banana is the Cavendish variety, which is the one produced for export markets.

Bananas are grown in more than 150 countries, producing 105 million tonnes of fruit per year. The bananas grown for local consumption are generally grown in traditional, extensive systems. Dessert bananas account for 43 million tonnes per year and are of huge economic importance for many countries in the South. Cooking bananas (plantains and others) account for 45 million tonnes. Locally consumed bananas, which are a staple food in many tropical countries, play a major role in terms of food security.

It is believed that the earliest written reference to banana is in Sanskrit and dates back to around 500 BC. Bananas are suspected to be the first fruit in the earth by some horticulturists. Their origin is placed in Southeast Asia, in the jungles of Malaysia, Indonesia or Philippines, where many varieties of wild bananas still grow today. Africans are credited to have given the present name, since the word banana would be derived from the Arab for ‘finger’. They started to be traded internationally by the end of fourteenth century. The development of railroads and technological advances in refrigerated maritime transport subsequently enabled bananas to become the most important world traded fruit.

Banana facts

• On average each person in the UK eats 10kg bananas a year – about 100 bananas!
• In Britain, we eat over five billion bananas every year
• The word banana comes from the Arabic word "banan", meaning finger
• The banana plant is not a tree, it is the world's largest herb
• The "trunk" of a banana plant is not made of wood, it is made of tightly overlapping leaves
• Bananas could help you to feel happier as they contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to promote relaxation and improve mood
• The inside of a banana skin can be used to calm an itchy mosquito bite - many people find that rubbing the bite with the skin helps to reduce irritation
• A medium-sized banana contains only 95 calories, and provides a quick-but-sustained energy boost in a natural, nutritious and easily digestible form with no fat, cholesterol or sodium
• British Banana supplier, Fyffes, received its first consignment of bananas 124 years ago, in September 1888
• A stem of bananas consists of “hands”, which consist of 10 to 20 bananas.  When a hand is split, the bananas become “clusters”, which generally consist of between three to eight bananas
• The inside of a banana skin can be used to polish shoes!

reasons to eat an orange a day

Sweet and juicy to taste, orange is one of the most popular fruits in India as well as the world. Belonging to a group of citrus fruits called hesperedium, oranges have more health benefits than one. Here are the top 10 health benefits of the fruit.

1. Boosts your immunity

A single orange can meet more than 100% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C. This vital nutrient helps improve your immunity, keeping you free from diseases and infections. Here are some more immunity boosting foods. 

2. Good for your skin

As we grow older, our skin along with other body parts suffers from free radical damage. This process is similar to how metals rust after exposure to air.  Even though it is inevitable, oranges are packed with antioxidants and Vitamin C which slows down the process and makes you look younger than your age! Besides oranges, you can eat these fruits and vegetables for glowing skin! 

3. Great for your eyes

Along with our skin, our eyes too suffers from damage as we grow older. Oranges are rich in nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and potassium which are great for your eyes. So, if you want your vision to be just as good as it is now, eat an orange every day! 

4. Prevents heart disease

One of the reasons why people get heart disease is because their arteries are blocked due to unhealthy lifestyles and consumption of junk food. Oranges have flavonoids like hesperidin which reduces cholesterol and prevents your arteries from getting blocked. This, in turn protects you from heart attack and various other cardiovascular diseases. Alternatively, you could try these 8 natural cholesterol busters. 

5. Helps in brain development

Folate and folic acid present in oranges promote brain development and keep the vital organ in mint condition. In fact, these nutrients also make orange a healthy fruit for pregnant woman as it prevents the baby from having neurological disorders later.

6. Prevents cancer

Having cancer can be a tough and harrowing experience for both the patient and the caregiver. Research has shown that a compound called D – limonene present in oranges can prevent various types of cancer like lung cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer, etc. Additionally, the antioxidants and Vitamin C help promote the body’s immunity which helps in fighting cancer cells. Here are some food habits to keep cancer at bay. 

7. Keeps you free from stomach ulcers

Oranges are a very good source of fibre which helps keep your stomach and intestines healthy. A diet rich in fibre will ensure that you are not affected with ailments like stomach ulcers and constipation.

8. Improves the quality of your sperm

Death is inevitable, but our legacy may live on through our offspring. The antioxidants and Vitamin C present in most fruits, including oranges improves the quality and motility of your sperm thus keeping you fertile. You can also try these foods to make your sperm a champion swimmer! 

9. Great for diabetics

People who have diabetes are unable to absorb glucose since the beta-cells present in their pancreas either fail to produce insulin or the body’s cells are unable to respond to the insulin produced. Oranges are high in fibre and have a high glycaemic index which makes it a good food option for diabetics. Also worth mentioning is that good oranges have a sweet taste, and since diabetics aren’t allowed to eat sweets or other sugary foods, they can eat oranges to tingle their taste buds.

10. Prevents hair loss

Orange has high Vitamin C content which is required for producing collagen which, in turn, is responsible for keeping the tissues in your hair together. Nobody likes bald patches on their head, and eating oranges can ensure that you do not have to part with your lovely hair as you grow older.

Tip: When you cut an orange, make sure you do it in a way that the inner peel doesn’t come off since it is very nutritious and has higher amounts of hesperidin than the flesh itself.  

Facts About Mangoes

Mango, the king of fruits and our national fruit is native to South Asia. About 5000 years ago, cultivation of mangoes started in India. So mangoes and their delicacies are part of our culture and rituals. A basket full of mangoes is considered  a sign of friendship and the mango is also a symbol of love. Here goes a Hindu legend to prove this:

Once there was the Sun princess and from her ashes grew the mango tree when an evil sorceress burnt her to ashes. The Emperor fell in love with the mango flower and fruit of that tree. So when the ripened mango fell to the ground it turned into a beautiful princess.

There are hundreds of mango varieties in India from small ball like mangoes (chusa) to larger ones (langra) but are all delicious to eat. Not only raw mango but mango pickle, aam panna, mango lassi, chutney, mango rice, and a range of other dishes are popular in India.

More interesting facts about Mangoes

• All across the world, alphansos is the highest and the top-most variety of mango. Apart from this, in northern India, chausa, dassheri and langra varieties and benishaan or benisha, and kesar varieties in southern India are very popular.
• Close to half of the world’s mangoes are produced in India, making the country the top most producer of this fruit. But most of the mangoes produced in India are consumed by Indians.
• Do you know that the English word ‘mango’ has its root in the Dravidian language? It originated from the Malayalam word māṅṅa or Tamil word mangai or mankay. The name ‘manga’ was taken by Portuguese traders when they got settled in Western India.
• Importing real mangoes to America was not possible because there were not facilities of refrigerating the fruit. So these were imported in the form of pickle.
• Some of the mango trees can bear fruits even after 300 years.
• Apart from India, mango is also the national fruit of Pakistan and the Philippines. Mango tree is the national tree of Bangladesh and a symbol of love.

Cultural importance

• Door of a new born baby’s room (especially baby boy in India) is adorned with mango leaves. This practice is also performed on certain festivals and celebrations like Ganesh Chaturthi.
• Ambika, the Jain Goddess in her traditional form is shown sitting under a mango tree
• Mango is also considered as a symbol of attainment and so held by Lord Ganesha.
• Ugadi pacchadi, a must-prepare recipe on the Telugu/Kannada New Year’s Day is incomplete without mango pieces.
• Vadai paruppu recipe cooked on Sri Rama Navami (Lord Ram’s Birth Day) has mango as a special ingredient.
• Kalidasa, the Classical poet in India sang the praise of mangoes.

Nutritional facts

• Per 100 grams of mango provide 250 KJ or 60 K Cal of energy.
• About 165 grams of mango contains 35% vitamin A, 100% vitamin C, 2% calcium and 2% iron.
• Mango fruit pulp is rich in vitamin C, pre-biotic dietary fiber and many kinds of polyphenols.
• Mango is free from fat, sodium and cholesterol.