There are over 2,000 variants of fruits in the world. But, the Western world only regularly eats about 10% of those.
Many of these fruits are not only delicious, but they offer nutrients necessary for a healthy diet. If you’re trying to lose weight or improve your nutritional health in 2020, start by introducing more fruit into your life.
Keep reading to discover the most nutritious fruits you might not be aware of.
1. Durian
Starting off this list of fruits that you’ve probably never heard of is durian. Durian is often called the “king of fruits” due to its large size and overwhelming odor.
Durian is a tropical fruit, most popular in Thailand and Malaysia. The husk of this fruit is brown and covered in many small spikes. The inside edible portion of this fruit ranges from yellow to red in color based on the variation.
Many people dislike the smell of this fruit, but it has a sweet yet savory taste. Durian has a high-concentration of thiamine, vitamin C, and B vitamins. The fruit is also rich in oleic and palmitic acids.
2. Guava
One of the best fruits to eat is guava. This is a tropical fruit grown in Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America.
While there are many variations of the fruit, the most common types are the apple guava and the pineapple guava. The fruit is small, averaging around 4-12 centimeters. The coloring of the fruit depends on the specific variation, but range from whites and greens to deep reds and pinks.
The skin of the fruit is commonly bitter while the pulp has a sweet taste. The fruit is rich in both vitamin C and dietary fiber. Due to its sweet flavor and nutritional value, the fruit is often used in juices or punches.
3. Garcinia Cambogia
Garcinia Cambogia is a unique fruit commonly found in Southeast Asia, Africa, and India. It’s a tropical fruit that grows in moist rainforests.
This fruit resembles a small pumpkin in shape but has a green color. Its taste is sour and the rinds are most commonly found in curry-type dishes.
But, what is garcinia cambogia used for? Traditionally, this fruit is used to promote weight loss. Garcinia cambogia has large amounts of hydroxy citric acid, which can stop the body from producing fat and reduces a person’s appetite.
4. Horned Melon
The horned melon is an African fruit. The skin of the fruit is orange and covered in spikes. But the inside of the fruit is green and has a jelly-like consistency.
This fruit has a refreshing taste compared to either a banana or a passionfruit. Like many other fruits on this list, the horned melon is rich in both vitamin C and dietary fiber.
By adding a little salt or sugar to this fruit, it’s most commonly eaten by itself. It’s unique in the fact that it is eaten in any state of ripeness.
5. Black Sapote
One of the healthiest fruits you can come across is the black sapote.
Often referred to as the chocolate pudding fruit, this fruit is grown in Mexico, Central America, and the Carribean. The fruit is tomato-like in appearance but has a green or yellow coloring. When ripe, the inside of the fruit turns to brown and tastes like chocolate pudding.
The fruit contains four times the amount of vitamin C that oranges have. It’s also high in fiber and therefore helps with digestion. Thanks to its desert-like taste, it’s used as a healthy alternative to chocolate in recipes.
6. Sapodilla
Sapodilla is a fruit native to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The fruit is berry-like in nature with an inside the color of a pale yellow or light brown. Its taste is very sweet and malty and should only be eaten while ripe. People should deseed the fruit before eating because the seeds have “hooks” on them which can become stuck in your throat.
The fruit is high and fiber and vitamin C but also has large amounts of Tannins. Tannins contain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial factors.
7. Longan
Longan is a tropical fruit grown in Southern Asia.
The fruit has a yellowish bark-like shell. Inside, you’ll find a white flesh, which is the edible part of the fruit, and an inedible, large seed. The flesh has a grape-like sour taste to it.
As with most fruits, you’ll find a large amount of both vitamin C and fiber in this fruit. In addition, longan is high in antioxidants. While not scientifically proved, folk medicine used Longan as a source to remove the venom after a snake bite.
8. Cherimoya
Finishing this fruit list is cherimoya. Cherimoya is a fruit most commonly found in Central American and Spain.
Mark Twain once called the Cherimoya the “most delicious fruit known to men.” This fruit is green and heart-shaped. Cherimoya has a taste that is a mixture of banana, strawberry, and peach.
It’s used in many desserts and is nicknamed the ice-cream fruit. The fruit is high in both vitamin B6 and vitamin C. It’s also rich in fiber and riboflavin.
Take Advantage of the Most Nutritious Fruits
Now that you know a few of the lesser-known, most nutritious fruits in the world, start adding them into your diet today.
Start by researching produce markets in your area that sell some of these unique foods. Taste a few options to discover which fruits you enjoy most. Then, introduce them into your diet through fruit salads or smoothies.
If you’re looking for a more creative recipe to try with your new fruits, visit the Wellness section of this site.
