Strange Fruits You Should Try

Prickly pear 

There are many varieties of prickly pear but the most commercialized variety is the Opuntia Ficus-Indica. This antioxidant-rich fruit is native to the southwestern part of the US, South America, and Mexico, but has popularity in other areas of the world including the Middle East and North Africa.

You may find it most abundant in local farmers markets when it reaches its riping peak in the summertime, however, its general season does range from spring until fall. 

You can find this fruit in different shades of greens, yellows and, purples. It's a more common sight to see these ranges of colors abroad whereas, in America, the purple variety is more widely available. 

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Prickly pear is chock full of immune-boosting vitamin C. Roughly 1 cup (about 146g) of this fruit contains 35% of the recommended daily value. The runner-ups in the vitamin category are the vitamin B complexes, such as folate, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin B6. Generally, these vitamins help to maintain the body, convert food/nutrients into energy, and supports metabolism.  

Take caution when handling this fruit; its called prickly pear for a reason! Small spikes cover its surface. You can use protective gloves while peeling the fruit or carefully burn the spikes off by using heat-safe kitchen tongs and hold the prickly pear over a stove flame. Once the spikes are removed, you can peel the fruit. Prickly pear does contain a lot of seeds but they are edible.

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Dragonfruit

Photo By: Roei.tabak

This striking fruit was given this name due to its resemblance to 'dragon scales'. Ordinarily, you will see a pinkish/red-skinned dragonfruit with green sprouting out of the skin's surface that contains white or red flesh. There are also yellow varieties with white flesh, however, these are less popular in the US.  Dragonfruit is cultivated in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka but is native to South and Central America.

Dragonfruit contains a phytochemical called Lycopene, that is responsible for bright pigmentation in many fruits and vegetables including Dragonfruit. Studies on this naturally occurring chemical have shown that Lycopene lowers the risk of prostate cancer, DNA damage, and hypertension (high blood pressure). [4]
The presence of flavonoids (which also shares credit for the lovely pigmentation of this fruit) has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and supporting brain health. [5,6,7]

Other nutrients contained in Dragonfruit:

•  Calcium,
•  Phosphorus
• Vitamin C
• Various B Vitamins 

When selecting your Dragonfruit, choose even, brightly colored fruit that is not too firm. You can eat this fruit by peeling away the inedible skin, slicing or cubing it, or cutting it in half and eating it with a spoon out of the skin.

Rambutan

Photo Credit: Midori

This is indeed a very interesting looking fruit. Its name comes from the Malay word rambut meaning 'hair' or 'hairy'. Rambutan grows densely in evergreen trees in Southeast Asia and the East Indies.
It is native to Malaysia, where it fruits twice a year: once in the summer and once in the winter.
[8,9]

Rambutan is great for the digestive system. Its high fiber content encourages the relief of constipation and while keeping the body hydrated (due to the significant content of water). Another benefit you can gain from eating rambutan is a reduction to oxidative stress. It contains the antioxidants vitamin C and manganese, both of which can lower stress on a cellular level.

Sometimes, people confuse rambutan with its near relative, the lychee. Unlike rambutan, lychee has bumpy skin and lower fiber content. Some say lychee is a bit sweeter while rambutan has more sour notes.

Eating rambutan is quite easy. Simply make an opening (by pinching the fruit with your fingers or using a knife) and pull one portion of the skin away from the fruit. Here you can pry or squeeze the fruit out of the bottom portion and enjoy. There is one seed surrounded by the flesh of the fruit, so do be sure to eat around the seed. [10,11]

Mangosteen

Photo Credit: مانفی 

Mangosteen grows on flowering evergreen trees in many tropical areas including the Sunda Islands, the Philipines, and Puerto Rico. They typically fruit once a year and have varying seasons depending on climate conditions and location. [12]

The white pulp of the mangosteen contains a type of polyphenol called xanthones that has anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties, among its other incredible perks. This can be quite beneficial to the immune system. The anti-inflammatory effects can benefit the skin and prevent or improve various skin conditions. [13, 14]

This can also be a heart-healthy fruit as mangosteen contains potassium. This nutrient regulates blood pressure and controls heart rate; lowering the risk of heart diseases. [15]

Mangosteen contains an array of vitamins and minerals including:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B Complexes
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Magnesium

If you get the opportunity to try a mangosteen, here are some tips to help you enjoy it

• Cut around the upper part of the fruit, near the center. The fruit is connected to the top part of the stem, be sure to cut just below this area, piercing the knife just enough to cut through the skin but not the flesh.
• Once cut, pull apart the bottom of the fruit to reveal the clove-shaped fruit.
• You can eat it using a utensil from the skin or just take a bite of the fruit, protruding away from the inedible skin.

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• All advice, information, and remedies should be taken into severe consideration. Please contact your health practitioner or holistic practitioner if you are struggling with a disease or currently taking any form of medication, pregnant or breastfeeding.
• These statements-unless otherwise noted- have not been evaluated by the FDA