Fun fruit facts . . .
A drupe or a stone fruit is a food that has a hard pit or stone. Peaches, plums and cherries are examples.
Oranges weren’t created naturally. Humans created them by crossing a pomelo (a type of large grapefruit) with a tangerine.
Oranges are not the richest source of vitamin C. Kiwi fruit is the richest source. When you compare 100 grams of each fruit, kiwi wins at 93 grams of vitamin C; navel oranges 59 mg.
Strawberries are the richest source of vitamin C of all the berries. Per 100 grams, they offer similar vitamin C (58 mg) as an orange.
Of all the berries, raspberries offer the most fibre. Per cup, raspberries provide 8 grams of fibre, more than other berries (strawberries offer 3 grams per cup). But don’t let that stop you from enjoying strawberries (remember they have more vitamin C than raspberries). NOTE: This is a perfect example of why nutritionists warn us not to focus on one food or food group but to choose from a wide variety. All foods have their ‘magical’ merits.
Bananas in a bag can help ripen avocados. Place the unripe avocado in a paper bag along with a ripe banana or apple. Ripe bananas and apples produce ethylene gas, which will speed the avocado’s ripening.
Coconut and avocado are classified as a fruit. They are also the only fruits that provide a measurable amount of fat. And incidentally, for those with a nut allergy, since coconuts are not classified as “nuts,” they should be safe to eat.
Also classified as fruit are bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and other squash (including pumpkins), eggplant, olives, and capsicum.
Apples, plums, peaches, pears, and raspberries are all member of the Rose family.
Properly stored, apples can stay fresh for a long time; up to a year.
The only true apple is the crab apple. All other varieties of apples that exist today are human-created by crossbreeding.
Coffee is not a legume (bean). It is actually considered a fruit pit.
Pineapples are really berries.
Peaches and nectarines are genetically very similar, providing pretty well the same nutrients. The biggest difference, of course, is nectarines are smooth-skinned while peaches are fuzzy.
Lemons are commonly used for cleaning purposes because of their bacteria-killing acidity.
Pomology is the study of fruit. Therefore, if you eat lots of fruit, you are a pomologist (just kidding).
Eve Lees is a Nutrition Coach, a Health Speaker, and a Health Writer for several publications. She has been involved in the health & fitness industry for almost 40 years.
