Top Fruits from Around the World

Fruit can satisfy your sugar cravings without the calories and weight gain of sugary snacks. Avoid sugary snacks and grab some fruit instead. Fresh fruit can be a healthy filling snack that won’t weigh you down. Here are some super fruits from around the world that are not only good for you, but great tasting also. Oh, and some recipes to help you enjoy them.

Pomegranate
Once only grown in Iran, pomegranate is now grown in many places around the world including California and Arizonia. Pomegranate is a powerhouse of Vitamin C and phytonutrients. Many studies suggest that pomegranate prohibits the growth of cancer and has an antioxidant effect on the brain and heart.

Pomegranate Orange Sorbet – A healthy fruit recipe that is a great alternative to ice cream.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar substitute
1/2 cup distilled water
2 cups pure pomegranate juice
1 cup pure orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest

Dissolve sugar substitute and water in a pan over low heat. Remove from heat and cool completely. Once cooled, add pomegranate juice, orange juice, and zest. Transfer mixture to ice cream maker and process according to instructions.

Black Cherry
Grown in the Eastern United States black cherries have been used for hundreds of years to treat gout and respiratory disease. Many naturopaths have also used black cherries to treat sour stomach. Black cherries are high in antioxidants and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Black Cherry Iced Tea – A freshing and wonderfully fruity tea recipe.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 quarts water
1 pound black cherries, pitted, or two 10-ounce bags frozen pitted black cherries, thawed
1 1/4 cups sugar substitute
1/4 cup pure lemon juice
3 whole star anise
1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped
16 green-tea bags

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the black cherries, sugar substitute, lemon juice, star anise and the vanilla bean with its seeds. Simmer the cherries over low heat for 15 minutes, crushing them against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon. Remove the cherries from the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.

Strain the cherry juice through a fine sieve into a clean saucepan, pressing on the solids. Discard the solids. Bring the cherry juice to a boil over moderate heat. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags and let steep for 5 minutes. Discard the tea bags and let cool to room temperature. Transfer the cherry tea to a large pitcher and refrigerate until chilled or for up to 2 days. Serve the tea over ice.

Goji (Wolfberry)
The origin of the goji berry is under debate but most experts agree that it is somewhere between Europe and Asia. Traditional Chinese medicine has an abundance of uses for goji. Studies have shown that goji has a positive effect on eye troubles, fatique, circulation, and the immune system. One of my favorite snacks is a trail mix with goji’s.

Crystal’s Trail Mix – Nuts and fruit in one no cook recipe. Add a bag to your family’s lunches for a healthy alternative to potato chips.

Ingredients:
1 cup goji berries
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup unsalted peanuts
1 cup unsalted cashews
1/2 cup unsalted almonds

Mix together and store in snack sized zip bags.