What are the benefits of citrus fruits? Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, tangerines, mandarin oranges, pineapples and even tomatoes are all those fruits that come to mind, the moment we hear citrus fruits. All these fruits are very rich sources of Vitamin C, which is a very vital vitamin for a healthy body, as well all know. The fruits mentioned above are also known as antioxidant fruits as they counter the harmful effects of free radicals.

What are the nutrients that are found in citrus fruits?

• Vitamin C
• Folic acid or Folate
• Potassium

Vitamin C helps protect the body’s immune system and is very vital to safeguard it from common cold and flu. Folic acid prevents neural cord defects such as spinal bifida during pregnancy and potassium helps in regulating body fluids.

Citrus fruits are very important for a day to day healthy lifestyle. You can have the citrus fruits either whole or in the form of juices, making them among the highest antioxidant fruit juice known to mankind.

Benefits of citrus fruits can be classified as:

• Skin care – Antioxidants such as flavanones, anthocyanins, polyphenols and vitamin C are found in citrus fruits and as they counter the harmful effects of free radicals they help your skin stay healthy and young.
• Strong bones – Vitamin C helps in absorbing calcium in the human body, which is necessary for strong bones
• Protects heart – Citrus fruits like oranges are known to reduce bad cholesterol.
• Helps in digestion – Lemon water which is acidic has been found to aid in digestion. Orange peels have also been known to be very effective in aiding digestion.
• Protects eyesight – A diet rich in citrus fruits has been found to prevent cataracts.
• Enhances mood – Citrus fruits are known as great mood enhancers.

Include citrus fruits in your everyday diet and reap big health benefits.  Go grab an orange!

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Good Belly Probiotic Fruit Drink

So, I’ve tried the Blueberry Acai GoodBelly ToGo and Mango GoodBelly ToGo, but now it was time to try the family sized Cranberry Watermelon.  The flavor alone was excellent.  It tasted just like I was drinking watermelon.  It is excellent.  As I stated in earlier posts, the folks at GoodBelly sent us coupons, so we could go buy the product at our local supermarket and try it out.

Cranberry Watermelon GoodBelly in glass

GoodBelly is named that way because drinking it consistently will help you achieve a balanced digestive system.  How?  GoodBelly probiotic fruit drinks have 20 billion live and active probiotic cultures that help to improve your digestive health and strengthen your immunity.

GoodBelly is dairy-free, soy-free, wheat-free and vegan.

How Does It Work?

GoodBelly gives your body good bacteria that it needs in order to balance the bad bacteria in your system.  As a result, it does wonders for your digestive health.  GoodBelly uses Lactobacillus plantarum299v (Lp299v) and Bifidobacterium lactis (Bi-07), chosen to prove digestive health, regularity and immunity.

GoodBelly by the quart is made with natural and organic fruits and juices.

I really like GoodBelly, especially because I do not care for yogurt.  Finally there is an alternative way of getting my probiotics rather than in yogurt.

GoodBelly is sold at Whole Foods and is priced between $2.00-$5.00/quart.

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Good Belly Probiotic Fruit Drink

On a warm Saturday afternoon in Boulder, Colorado, I went into Whole Foods. I was going in to find a few items and came across the Good Belly drink. It was on sale (2 for $5), so automatically that caught my eye.

Also, with a student budget (I’m a Sophmore at the University of Colorado), it is important for me to watch what I spend and how much use I am going to get out of the product. I am a big mango fan so I was naturally drawn to that particular flavor. I was a little skeptical in trying it because I have had health food drinks in the past that have tasted so awful. But surprisingly, the Good Belly drink tasted really good.

It was a little tart at first, but after another glass, it became a drink that I craved. It comes in a variety of flavors: Cranberry Watermelon, Mango, Black Currant, Blueberry Acai and Pomegranate Blackberry. I am eager to try more of the flavors. It also comes in two types of packaging. The first is a quart container and the other is a to-go style in yogurt looking containers (But, I assure you, it is nothing like yogurt and the consistency is like a drink). I highly recommend this product not only to maintain a healthy digestive system but also because it is great for your health in general.

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GoodBelly TOGO Mango

I decided to try the Mango GoodBelly ToGo product today.  It was quite tasty. 

GoodBelly’s ToGo product has 20 Billion probiotics, clinically proven to improve core digestive health and strengthen immunity, and 500mg of Vitamin C!  Probiotics: Lactobacillus Plantarum 299v; Bifidobacteriaum Lactis Bi-07; Lactobaccilus Acidophilus.

GoodBelly TOGO Mango in Water Bottle - Not Shaken Up

As with the Blueberry Acai Flavor, it comes in a convenient package. Since it is a probiotic, it’s goal is to improve core digestive health and to strengthen immunity.  No doubt that doesn’t happen overnight, therefore I cannot comment on the effectiveness of my immunity or digestive health.

The directions on the package state, “Add contents of packet to 6 ounces of water or juice and enjoy.”  As with the Blueberry Acai Flavor, I added it to 16.9 ounces of water.  You’ll notice how it sinks to the bottom (see the photo to the right).  Once you have shaken it up, then it evenly distributes throughout the bottle.  If you do not drink it somewhat quickly, then it will re-settle to the bottom of the bottle.  So we do recommend having a screw top bottle to use when drinking the GoodBelly ToGo packets, so that you don’t have to chug it, if you don’t want to.

GoodBelly TOGO Mango in Water Bottle - Shaken Up

The taste of the Mango flavor  is more favorable than that of the Blueberry Acai.  The point of these probiotics, however, is not that they taste good but that they help your digestive system! 

So if you are looking for an alternative to past methods and drugs you’ve taken for your immunity and digestive health, then you might be interested in trying GoodBelly Probiotics – there are links to purchase it below.

The GoodBelly To Go is dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan.

Buy GoodBelly ToGo:

Case Quantity is $67.50 (there are 6 boxes in a case, each box contains 8 individual packets, or about $1.41/packet)

Box Quantity is $12.50 (each box contains 8 individual packets, or about $1.56/packet)

Suggested Use: One Packet per Day

GoodBelly is a division of NextFoods out of Boulder, CO.

Have you tried this product?  Do you want to try this product?  If so, please tell us about it by leaving a comment below!

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If you have a fruit related blog or if you would like to promote your product or fruit farm, we want to hear from you!

We believe folks that have something to sell (like a fruit juice product) have almost always done the proper research in their industry to be able to promote the product accordingly.

Actually, if you are one of those people that created a juice drink from scratch and are now selling it in gallons, then you obviously have figured out a great formula.  We want to hear about it.  We know that you know your product and that we all have something to learn from one another.

Please do contact us before you submit a guest post.  We would like to approve the topic and the idea ahead of time.

Some things to consider:

• Post should be at least 400 words
• Post should have something to do with antioxidant fruits
• Post shouldn’t be salesy, but educational and explain the benefits of your product and why its so great.

We will also welcome a guest post if you are just interested in doing a little research and then writing about it.  We will give you credit and provide a link to your website or blog, if you’d like.

Please leave a comment below with your idea of a guest post, or contact us and let us know what you’re thinking.

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Have you heard of the wolfberry?  It is also known as the Goji Berry or the Chinese Wolfberry.

The wolfberry is an excellent source for a kidney liver cleanse.  The Chinese have used the berries for centuries for its medicinal properties and the Chinese believe that it prevents liver disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.  Although the Chinese have known the powers of the power of the wolfberry for centuries, it has recently become very popular in fruit drinks, as a dried fruit and as a freeze dried powder.  It has a high antioxidant count as well as is full of nutrients.  It is mostly high in selenium, which is also found in blueberries and soybeans.

As you know, antioxidants are very important more than ever because of the pollution and other toxins that we come in contact with on a daily basis.  These toxins and pollution cause oxidation on you and your body, so as a result, you need fruits to combat this process of oxidation.  That is why they are called anti-oxidants.

This powerful berry is known to cleanse the kidney and the liver.  It also lowers blood sugar levels, improves your vision, reduces your fever and can reduce or relieve menstrual cramps.

Because of the antioxidant properities, adding the wolfberry to your diet as well as other fruit can seriously improve your health.

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Although it seems silly to talk about fruits for 2010, it is also appropriate as everyone seems to be covering what the top foods are for 2010.  As a fruit website, we thought we’d cover the top fruits for 2010!

Whether you are dieting or just trying to eat more healthy in 2010, then there is no doubt that you want to include a  number of different fruits in your diet.  Antioxidant fruits provide vitamins, minerals and fiber.  In addition to these essential nutrients, they also have disease fighting compounds. 

Disease Fighting Compounds in Fruit:

• Lycopene (a chemical that gives fruit a red color)
• Reservatrol (Found in red grapes)
• Anthocyanin (Found in blueberries, blackberries, kiwis and cherries)

When you choose fruits for 2010, you have a reduced risk of diabetes, chronic medical conditions, like diabetes, high cholestrol and high blood pressure.  Also, regular consumption of fruit reduces your risk for heart disease, strokes and certain types of cancer.

Fruits are easy to come by in your grocery store.  If they aren’t in season, sometimes you can find them in your freezer section.  Or you can always wait until they are in season and them freeze them so that you can have them when they are not in season.

Since fruit is easy to prepare, it shouldn’t be terribly difficult to incorporate it into your diet.  You can serve it raw, blended, baked or grilled.  It is the perfect compliment to a yogurt snack or for a topping on your favorite ice cream or cereal. 

Tell us how you will incorporate fruit in your diet for 2010 by leaving a comment below.

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Post by Jenny Dean

If you are like me, then you love when it is pomegranate season.  However, it can be difficult sometimes to know how to get pomegranate seeds out of the pomegranate.

My father called me the other day and said that he had seen a special on TV about how to get pomegranate seeds out fast.  So I decided to look on YouTube and see what I can find.  Please check out the video below.  It shows you how to get pomegranate seeds out in less than 5 minutes. 

The instructions from the video are as follows:

1. Cut the pomegranate in half
2. Make 4-5 slits around the outside portion each half
3. Gently open the pomegranate at the slits.
4. Get out a clean bowl.
5. Cup the pomegranate in your hand (cut portion on your palm) with your fingers spread apart over the bowl.  With the other hand,  use something sturdy and hard, like the handle of a screwdriver or the handle of a knife) to hit the seeds out of the pomegranate.  It is best to sort of rotate the pomegranate in your hand, so that it is hit evenly.   Then the seeds will fall into the bowl that is under your hand.

The video offers some additional tips:

• Wear dark clothing when doing this as a pomegrante’s juice will stain your clothes
• You might want to place the bowl in a sink to reduce any mess.
• Wash your hands with a bit of lemon juice to prevent stains.

My usual approach with de-seeding a pomegranate has been to cut it in  half.  Put it in a bowl of cold water and then emerge my hands in the cold water.  Then I start to peel away all the flesh of the pomegranate and then just let the seeds drop to the bottom of the bowl and the little pieces of flesh float to the top.  That way it is easy to collect the little flesh pieces all at once.  You can see this method here:

Do you have additional tips on how to seed a pomegranate?  Please leave your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

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Since Christmas is just recently over, it is probably appropriate to mention the clementine.  In the United States, clementines are usually available from mid-November through January.  Because of the months that they are available, they are usually known as Christmas oranges.

The clementine got it’s name in 1902 and are a variety of a mandarin orange, a small citrus fruit.  Where the clementine got it’s name is up for grabs.  Some say that Father Clément Rodier in the garden of his orphanage in Misserghin, Algeria found a accidental hybrid.  Whereas others say that the clementine originated much earlier in China.

Clementines have a lovely color and shape.  They are deep orange in color and have a glossy-like smooth appearance.  Like most oranges, clementines separate nicely into separate pieces.  They separate into seven to fourteen juicy segments.  They’re easy to peel with your fingers and are usually seedless.

The antioxidants in clementines are limonene.  Linalool, α-terpineol, α-pinene, β-pinene and myrcene are other constituents.

The clementine is sometimes referred to Algerian tangerine.  It wasn’t until 1914 that the clementine was introduced to California agriculture.  However, research was done on the fruit in 1909 at the University of California at Riverside.

Clementines are usually found at your local grocery store in a net bag.  They are an excellent addition to any recipe, especially in salads and cakes.  They are also a great cleaning agent for marble counter tops.  To use them for cleaning a marble counter top, simply cut the orange in half, dip it in salt and then gently rub in circular patterns on the marble surface to remove grime from the marble.

As with most citrus fruits, the clementine is also a great thing to use to get your garbage disposal to smell wonderful.  Either use the reminents left over after eating the clementine or use a whole one, cut into large chunks and grind it up in the garbage disposal to have your sink smell fresh and clean.

Clementines rubbed on a house plant can help you keep your cats off your plants!  Learn more about clementines.

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Antioxidant Fruits:
Benefits, Uses & Availability

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Antioxidant fruits seem to be all the rage these days.

As children, we were told to eat our fruit and vegetables. In fact, the USDA recommends 3-5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day. However, most of us don’t get that in a day or even in a week! It is very important you for you consume your serving portion of antioxidant fruits every day.

Antioxidant-Fruits.com is for those who are looking to learn more about well-known as well as exotic and unusual fruits with antioxidants and for those of you that are looking for one or more of the following:

• Protects Cells
• Strengthens Memory
• Fights Cellular Mutation
• Inhibits Platelet Aggregation and Clotting
• Helps Digestion
• Combats Effects of Diabetes
• Strengthens Vision
• Increases Mental Clarity
• Help Prostate
• Strengthens the Heart
• Provides Essential Fatty Acids
• Stabilizes Proper Cholesterol
• Scavengers for Free Radicals
• Strengthens Cell Membrane
• Builds Proteins
• Restores Antioxidant Number
• Strengthens Nervous System
• Provides Essential Oils
• Fights Viruses
• Fights Bacteria
• Impedes NRS Free Radicals
• Relives Inflammation
• Helps Reduce Risk of Cancer
• Enhances Cellular Communication
• Strengthens Immune System

Antioxidant Fruits include:

• Beta-carotene
• Lutein
• Lycopene
• Selenium
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E

People who eat fruit rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins have a lower risk of cancer, heart disease and some neurological diseases. Antioxidants inhibit oxidative damage. “Scientists now believe that free radicals are casual factors in nearly every known disease, from heart disease to arthritis to cancer to cataracts. In fact, free radicals are a major culprit in the aging process itself,” stated Lester Packer, Ph.D., in his article, “The Antioxidants Miracle”.

While the açaí berry is the gemstone of antioxidant fruits, this website also features other super fruits selected for their distinctive and beneficial properties. Recognizable fruits such as apricots, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, kiwi, pears, pomegranates, prunes, purple grapes, and white grapes, contain a unique blend of nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants.

There are, of course, more exotic and less known fruits that accentuate the power of the açaí berry: acerola cherries, aronia berries, bilberries, camu camus, lychees, nashi pears, passion fruit, and wolfberries (Goji).

The Acerola Cherry from Brazil is used for its high content of vitamin C. There are other great forms of cherry, like Tart Cherry Juice.

The Aronia Berry, a native American bush, has been reported to contain antioxidants, polyphenols, minerals and vitamins and very high levels (over five times greater than those found in cranberries) of anthocyanins and flavonoids.

The Bilberry’s strong antioxidant fruits composition makes it an excellent free radical scavenger, which helps counteract cell damage that leads to premature aging and disease. Bilberries have been used in the treatment of menstrual cramps, alleviating ulcers, varicose veins and angina. The flavonoids found in bilberries thin the blood and prevent fragility of the capillaries.

The Camu camu is an antioxidant fruits found throughout the Amazon has the highest recorded amount of natural vitamin C known on the planet. It is a significant source of potassium and has a full complement of minerals and amino acids that can aid in the absorption of vitamin C.

The Lychee, originating in South China, is a very good source of Vitamin C, riboflavin, potassium and copper.

The Nashi Pear, originating in East Asia, is a great source of dietary fiber, and also are very high in potassium and other essential minerals.

Native to Brazil, the Passion Fruit is an antioxidant fruits that is a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as potassium and iron.

Lastly, the Wolfberry, native of China, contains 19 types of amino acids and 21 trace minerals. It has more beta-carotene than carrots and nearly as much Vitamin C as oranges and protein as bee pollen.

These fruits are extremely rich in antioxidants among other essential elements. These strong antioxidants go to battle against free-radical molecules that invade the body, helping to combat premature aging and even help prevent many serious diseases.

This website looks at the benefits, uses and availability of these fruits. It not only examines individual fruits, where to get them, where to travel to find them, but also a number of recipes and various ideas on how to add them to your diet. Should you have another suggestion for this website, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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