9 exotic fruits good for health

Apples, bananas, strawberries, grapes… Fruits are part of most people’s menus and, in addition to being delicious, they are essential in a healthy diet…

But this is no secret to anyone! What few people know is that some non-traditional fruits are also tasty and offer several health benefits!

Below you can see a list with the names of some exotic fruits and the good reasons to consume them when possible:

1. Pitaya

Pâmela Miguel, nutritionist at the Functional Nutrition Clinic of São Paulo, explains that pitaya is rich in antioxidant substances (anthocyanins), which protect the body from the action of radicals, acting in the prevention of diseases and premature aging, in the improvement of inflammation and in the immune system.

Another benefit of the consumption of Pitaya is the improvement of the functioning of the intestine, since its seeds seem to have a laxative power, as highlighted by Pâmela.

The fruit also contains vitamin C, which has antioxidant action, strengthens the immune system and helps in the production of collagen.

“It also has vitamin A, important for the health of the skin, eyes, and which has antioxidant action and strengthens the immune system”, adds the nutritionist.

But it doesn’t stop there: dragon fruit also contains oligosaccharides, “which act as prebiotics, that is, they are food for the ‘good bacteria’ of our intestine, thus improving our intestinal flora, regularizing the functioning of the intestine and strengthening our system. immune system”, says Pâmela Miguel.

2. Kino

Maybe you’ve never heard of it, but this fruit can also have health benefits.

“It’s an exotic and strange-looking fruit, looking more like a decorative object than a food item. However, its pulp contains potassium, an important mineral for the processes of muscle and cardiac contraction and for the process of eliminating liquids from the body, which avoids the condition of fluid retention”, explains nutritionist Pâmela.

“Kino also contains vitamin C, which is important to keep our immune system working properly, in addition to fiber, which helps in the proper functioning of the intestine and satiety, helping with weight loss diets”, adds the professional.

3. Cherimoya

With sweet and fleshy pulp, cherimoya can be a good option for those who love a sweetie. “The fruit still contains a good amount of fiber, which is important for the correct functioning of the intestine, promoting satiety (helping in weight loss diets) and controlling the speed of sugar absorption and its release into the bloodstream”, explains Pâmela Miguel.

Cherimoya also contains vitamin C, which is important for the correct functioning of the immune system and for the production of collagen. “In addition to vitamin A, important for the health of the skin and eyes, and which also has antioxidant action and strengthens the immune system”, says the nutritionist.

4. Granadilla

This is yet another fruit that offers health benefits. “It provides vitamin A, which is important for the health of the skin and eyes, has antioxidant action and strengthens the immune system”, says Pâmela Miguel.

The nutritionist says that another beneficial factor is its good fiber content, important for the correct functioning of the intestine, for the promotion of satiety (helping in weight loss diets) and control of the speed of absorption of sugar and its release into the bloodstream.

“An important differential of the fruit is the presence of substances called photochemicals, which help in the control of cholesterol, in addition to other benefits such as: modulation of the body’s inflammation and protection against the action of free radicals”, adds the nutritionist.

5. Open

The fruit is a source of vitamin A which, as nutritionist Pâmela has already mentioned, is important for the health of the skin and eyes, has antioxidant action and strengthens the immune system. of energy in the body. That is, it is a good option for those who suffer from fatigue and practice physical activity”, says Pâmela.

Vitamin C, also present in this exotic fruit, is important for the correct functioning of the immune system and for the production of collagen. “It also has calcium and phosphorus, which are important for bone health and integrity. And soluble fibers that help control cholesterol and diabetes”, adds the nutritionist.

6. Long

According to Pâmela Miguel, longan is a good source of potassium (important for the process of eliminating liquids from the body), phosphorus, magnesium and calcium (important for bone health and muscle contraction), in addition to iron (avoiding of anemias).

The exotic fruit also had vitamin C, which acts in the correct functioning of the immune system and in the production of collagen. Vitamin A is already important for the health of the skin, eyes, has antioxidant action and strengthens the immune system.

The nutritionist adds that the fruit also contains important fibers for the correct functioning of the intestine, promotion of satiety (helping in weight loss diets) and control of the speed of absorption of sugar and its release into the bloodstream.

7. Tamarillo

Tamarillo contains vitamins and minerals that are important for the proper functioning of the body. “Vitamin E, for example, is a potent antioxidant, preventing cells from free radical damage (and preventing disease); prevents premature aging and reduces inflammation in the body”, highlights Pâmela Miguel.

Vitamin C, also present in exotic fruit, is important for the correct functioning of the immune system and for the production of collagen. “Iron prevents anemia; Magnesium is an important mineral for bone health and for the muscle contraction process, in addition to having other important functions for the body”, says the nutritionist.

Pâmela also adds the presence of potassium in the fruit, important for the process of eliminating liquids from the body and fiber, essential for the correct functioning of the intestine, promoting satiety (helping in weight loss diets) and controlling the speed of sugar absorption. and its release into the bloodstream.

“Tamarillo also contains substances with antioxidant action that protect our body against various diseases, they are: carotenoids, anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins and flavonoids. Its consumption also seems to help control cholesterol”, highlights nutritionist Pâmela.

8. Cambuci

This fruit is rich in vitamin C, which, as already mentioned, is important to strengthen the immune system, has antioxidant action, preventing premature aging, in addition to participating in the collagen production process.

“It also contains magnesium, an important mineral for bone health and the muscle contraction process, among other functions; potassium, important for the process of eliminating liquids from the body and fibers, essential for the correct functioning of the intestine, promoting satiety (helping in weight loss diets) and controlling the speed of absorption of sugar and its release into the bloodstream. In addition to phosphorus and calcium, which are important for maintaining bone health”, adds Pâmela Miguel.

The fruit is also rich in other substances with antioxidant action, as highlighted by the nutritionist.

9. Camu-camu

Camu-camu stands out for its high concentration of vitamin C. Among all the fruits that are sources of the vitamin, this is the richest.

“As already mentioned, vitamin C is important to strengthen our immune system; has antioxidant action, preventing premature aging; in addition to participating in the collagen production process”, explains Pâmela Miguel.

The nutritionist adds that vitamin C also favors the absorption of iron found in foods of plant origin. “Camu-camu also contains flavonoids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, helping, among other things, in the weight loss process and acting in the prevention of diseases”, she emphasizes.

more fruits

In addition to the aforementioned options, other exotic fruits offer benefits to our health. “Most of them provide fibers and compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, in addition to vitamins and minerals, always present in fruits, which are very important for the proper functioning of the body”, highlights Pâmela Miguel.

New examples of exotic fruits are: physalis, breadfruit, wolf fruit, mabolo, genipap, sapodilla, siriguela, murici, among others.

Nutritionist Pâmela points out that some of these fruits are native to Brazil and others are not. “They are not easily found, but the best place to look is municipal markets that contain a wide variety of fruit,” she says.

And now you have good reasons to include at least one of them in your diet. After all, it is worth changing the type of fruit you consume daily, trying new flavors and, in addition, enjoying the many benefits that exotic fruits offer.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.