Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Feature:


Fruits of Good Hope

by Pepin

If you have seen the movie, “2010”, then most probably you are familiar of where their huge piece of peculiar-looking arc is heading – at the Cape of Good Hope in the African continent. Well, they took the name of the place seriously.

Setting aside the movie, did you know that there are fruits that can be considered as vessels of hope for our health? Well there is, and Chico (Sapodilla) is one of them. It is a round and brown fruit that grows in spots where the weather is warm, just like in the province of Iloilo. It tastes sweet when ripe and has a sandy texture. This is one of the favorite fruits of the Ilonggos, and it is abundant between the months of October and February.

Locals do not know that this fruit offers some of the vital nutrients needed by the body to sustain existence. Some of these essential vitamins and minerals are Vitamins A and C, copper, iron, fiber, niacin, and folate. It is also rich in sugar (fructose) that can provide energy to the body.

Another fruit of hope is the banana (Musa acuminata), which is not only common in Panay Island or in the Philippines, but also in other parts of the globe, such as in Mexico, Brazil, and Thailand. A favorite tropical fruit by many, it is loaded with the ideal nutrients, and one of them is potassium that keeps the cells healthy and maintains muscle strength. This fruit grows all year round and it is considered as a perfect meal-ender among Panayanons.

So if you want to maintain that vitality, keep in mind that you don’t need those energy drinks. Have a banana for breakfast and a chico for lunch, and you will surely feel invigorated.

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