Wild Fruits of India

Fruits and Nutrition :
Fruits are nature’s marvelous gift to the mankind, they are life-enhancing medicines packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many phytonutrients. Good nourishment can give us a life free of diseases. Let food be our nutrition, Let food be our medicine, let us choose nutritious food to live a Healthy and Happy life.

STAR FRUIT:The scientific name of Star fruit is “Averrhoa carambola”
Grown in: Throughout India (especially in South India)
Star fruits are oblong shaped and longitudinally angled.
They are orange-yellow inside when ripe with crisp texture and waxy skin.
The juicy fruits have star-shaped cross section and the taste varies from very sour to mildly sweetish.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
Star fruit is a low-calorie, low on fat but high-fiber and loaded with Vitamin B, Vitamin C, sodium, potassium, iron and several important antioxidants making it an all-round healthy snack.

Health Benefits OF STAR FRUIT:
Detoxification
Reducing inflammation
Treating skin conditions like dermatitis
Fighting against the flu and common colds
Regulating blood pressure
Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels
Robust blood circulation
Fluid balance and healthy Insulin levels
Great digestion
Strong metabolism
Good bowel health
Healthy hair cells

Water Apple/Rose Apple: The scientific name of Water apple is “Syzygium aqueum”.
Grown in : Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and the Western Ghats. 
These luscious water apple fruits have an intrinsically crunchy texture and are quite sweet in taste when ripe.
The unripe green water apple possesses a characteristically astringent flavor and hence is ideal for use in the preparation of pickles, curries and chutneys.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
Water apple is rich in Vitamin C, vitamin B1, Vitamin B3, vitamin A, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, namely flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids, besides selenium and zinc.

Health Benefits OF WATER APPLE:
Good HDL cholesterol levels and healthy weight
Healthy Blood pressure and Endothelial health
Good metabolism and great digestion
Relieves Constipation
Healthy Skin and hair
Combat toxins in the body
Fight free radicals
Enhance the white blood cells production
Boost immunity
Promote cardiac health
Treat liver ailments
Treat inflammation, oxidative damage, atherosclerosis
Lower the risk of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders
Enhance the strength of muscles and reduce the muscle cramps

Indian Jujube:The scientific name of Indian Jujube is “Ziziphus mauritiana”
Grown in : The major Ber-growing states are Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
This fruit is a soft, juicy, drupe.
The form may be oval, obovate, round or oblong
The skin smooth or rough, glossy, thin but tough.
Fruits are first green, turning yellow as they ripen.
The fully mature fruit is entirely red, sour to sweet in taste with wrinkled skin and pleasant aroma.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
These tiny fruits are filled with minerals like Calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, and zinc. Jujubes also contain vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B2, anti-inflammatory properties and are filled with antioxidants like phytochemicals, polysaccharides, flavonoids and saponins.

Health Benefits OF INDIAN JUJUBE:
Bolsters Immune System
Reduces Inflammation
Fights Stress And Anxiety
Fortifies Bone Health
Good For Weight Loss
Supports Wound Healing
Reverses the effects of ageing
Promotes Sound Sleep
Promotes Digestion
Prevents Cancer
Augments Heart Health
Enhances Blood Circulation
Promotes Hair Growth
Reverses the effects of ageing
Purifies Blood
Combats Alzheimer’s

Indian Black Plum:The scientific name of Indian black plum is “Syzygium cumini”.
Grown in: Throughout India
Jamuns are berries with an oblong shape.
They have a dark purple to almost black skin with a contrasting pink or white flesh.
The flesh is extremely juicy and has a flavor that combines sweet and tart with a slightly astringent aftertaste.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
Jamun is a powerhouse of various nutritional components. It is loaded with a variety of vitamins including vitamin A, vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorous, and other essential nutrients like glucose, protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals

Health Benefits OF JAMUN:
Aids Digestion
Relieves constipation
Fights nausea, diarrhoea and dysentery
Prevents respiratory infections like cold, asthma etc.
Purifies blood and relieves Anemia
Helps overcome PCOS in women
Maintains Oral hygiene
Prevents Cancer
Controls Diabetes
Aids weight loss
Treats infertility in men
Promotes healthy skin and teeth
Enhances bone strength
Helps recover from weakness and fatigue

INDIAN GOOSEBERRY:The scientific name of Amla fruit is “Phyllanthus emblica”.
Grown in: Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh are major amla growing states in India.

Amla is nearly spherical in shape
Light greenish-yellow in color
Smooth and hard on appearance,
Has six vertical stripes or furrows.
The taste of Indian Gooseberry is sour, bitter and astringent, and it is quite fibrous.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
Amla is a rich source of a variety of vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9, Vitamin C, and minerals like Potassium, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Magnesium, Phosphorous and other essential nutrients like glucose, protein, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, antioxidants and phytochemicals.

Health Benefits OF AMLA:
Boosts Immunity
Improves Liver Function
repairs pancreatic tissues
Secretes Insulin
strengthens hair follicles
Enhances Gut Health
Manages blood sugar levels
Prevents premature greying of hair
Regulates Hypertension
Helps overcome PCOS and menstrual issues
Improves fertility
Gives healthy skin
Aids weight loss
Improves digestion and metabolism
Treats Dandruff

Mangosteen:The scientific name of Mangosteen is “Garcinia mangostana”.
Grown in: The Nilgiri hills, the southern districts of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Kerala
Mangosteen is an exotic, tropical fruit with a slightly sweet and sour flavor.
The fruit is sometimes referred to as purple mangosteen because of the deep purple color its rind develops when ripe.
In contrast, the juicy inner flesh is bright white.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
Mangosteen is power packed with vitamins, minerals like Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B9, Manganese, magnesium, copper and dietary fiber, Protein and other essential nutrients.

Health Benefits OF MANGOSTEEN :
Aids weight loss
Relieves Body pains
Boosts Immune system
Controls levels of triglycerides
Promotes Healthy heart function
Relieves headaches and stress
Fights free radicals
Enhances Brain activity
Slows aging and gives healthy Skin

Wood apple:The scientific name of Wood Apple is “Limonia acidissima”.
Grown in: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and the western Himalayas.
An extremely versatile fruit, Wood Apple has a woody exterior.
Inside is filled with a sticky pulp
Taste ranges from very tart when raw to sweet-and-sour when fully ripe.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
Bael is loaded with a myriad of nutrients which include vitamins A, B1, B2, C and minerals like calcium, potassium and iron.

Health Benefits OF WOOD APPLE
Bael extracts are used to treat:
Tuberculosis
Hepatitis
Mouth ulcers
Eye problems
Skin disorders
Heart ailments
Digestive problems
Hypertension
Cholera
Bone health
Natural blood purifier
Increases hemoglobin count
Fights against the infections causing diarrhea
Controls Diabetes
Treats ear wax and infections
Improves lactation for pregnant women post delivery

Carandas Cherry:The scientific name of Karonda is “Carissa carandas”.
Grown in: The Siwalik Hills of Bihar and West Bengal, the Western Ghats and the Nilgiri Hills
Carandas Cherry or Karonda fruits are small berries, with oval to ovoid shapes with curved ends.
These fruits are green to white, transitioning into a bright red-pink hue, finally ripening into a dark purple, almost black shade with maturity.
The flesh ranges from pale red to crimson, and is juicy and soft
They are subtly sweet, herbal taste with prominent sour, bitter, tart, and acidic notes.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
Karonda fruit is bestowed with myriad antioxidants, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and triterpenoids; Vitamin C, and minerals such as Iron, Potassium, Zinc, Copper, dietary fibre, etc.

Health Benefits OF KARONDA:
The fruit is used in Ayurveda, to treat:
Acidity and Indigestion
Fresh and infected wounds
Skin diseases
Urinary disorders
Diabetic ulcers and Biliousness
Stomach pain and Constipation
Anemia
Anorexia
Insanity

Other Benefits of Karonda are :

Fights infections like fever
Strengthens cardiac muscles
Improves mental health
Treats inflammation

Camachile:The scientific name of Camachile is “Pithecellobium dulce”.
Grown in:  Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal
Young Camachile fruits are green seed pods that lengthen and become coiled and curved as they grow
These seed pods become reddish, and develop prominent ribbing as they mature
The spiraling green-pink pods of jungle jalebi contain about 6-10 shining oval shaped black seeds enveloped in a thick, sweet, pink and white, edible pulp

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
Jungle jalebi pods are a storehouse of powerful antioxidants such as flavonoids and quercetin. These fruits are packed with calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, as well as contain vast reserves of vitamin C and the B vitamins along with so many other nutrients.

Health Benefits OF CAMACHILE:
Scavenges the harmful free radicals
Detoxifies the stomach and intestines
Cures diarrhoea and
Controls blood sugar levels
Maintains strong bones
Helps in developing healthy and robust muscles
Strengthens teeth enamel
Aids in curing mouth ulcers
Enhances memory, cognition and brain power
Ameliorates symptoms of anxiety, depression

Ice Apple:The scientific name of ice apple is “Borassus flabellifer”.
Grown in:  Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala.
ICE APPLE has a black husk, that must be cut off to reveal the sweet jelly seed sockets inside.
These jelly seed sockets are translucent pale-white, with a mild flavor and no pit.
The jelly part of the fruit is covered with a thin, yellowish-brown skin and filled with sweet water inside.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:
These fruits are a good source of potassium and fiber. They also contains a minimal amount of fiber, protein, vitamin C, A, E, K, B7 and iron. They are very low in sodium. Fat is almost non-existent. It is also believed that this fruit is rich in antioxidant properties, phytochemicals, anthocyanin and anti-inflammatory properties.

Health Benefits OF ICE APPLE:
Cools the body during summer
Prevents dehydration and fatigue
Maintains the fluid and electrolyte balance
Beneficial in weight loss
Relieves the feel of nausea
Prevents heat stroke
Cures constipation issues
Improves digestion
keeps away stomach ailments
Treats liver problems
Preventing tumors from forming detoxification