Carrying on from the fruit theme in the last pondering article, today we look at the huge variety of fruits you can get around the world. All the way from the humble apple to the zucchini are many weird and wonderful fruits.
And yes, the zucchini is technically a fruit – it is actually classified as a berry!
For those of you interested, a fruit is classified as the fleshy or dry ripened ovary that comes from a flower and contains one or multiple seeds. The seed/s are capable of growing a new plant. Picture a watermelon, it is a great visual that epitomises what a fruit is. This is why tomatoes and avocados are also considered to be fruit.
Wander through any greengrocer, supermarket or country market and you will see how amazing nature is in the creation of all the different fruit. Not only in shapes and sizes but also in smells and colours. There is no mistaking the shape of a banana or smell of strawberries as you walk by them.
The range of colours is incredible, covering almost every one you can think of. Nutritionally each of the colour groups have unique benefits for our health. According to “The Fruit Guys“:
“Red fruits are good for eyes, the heart, digestion and cells. Orange fruits are good for eyes, your immune system, cells and the heart. Yellow fruits are good for the skin, eyes, circulation, and the immune system. Green fruits help lower cholesterol and are good for your organs. Purple and Blue fruits are good for memory, bones, circulation and the heart.”
But there is more to fruit than just being nutritional food. Here are a few examples of where they can be used:
- As natural dyes
- In or as household cleaners
- In beauty products
- To make potpourri
- As air fresheners
- As bug repellents
- In therapeutics
No matter if you like eating fruit, only eat certain fruits or none at all, they are an amazing creation!
Your homework after reading this is to ponder on all of the different fruits that come to mind. Ponder how each is unique, which are the ones you like and why. Even ponder on some you have never tried and what they might be like.
Ponder away!
