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Medlar Fruit: What You Should Know About The Forgotten Fruit

The medlar fruit was widespread in Germany in the Middle Ages – today it is almost forgotten. You can cook delicious jams and jellies from the pectin-containing medlar fruits.

Despite the similar name, medlars have nothing to do with mistletoe: They are trees a few meters high that bear fruit in autumn. The medlars originally come from the Near East. They spread across large parts of Europe well into the Middle Ages – and even found their way into German gardens. The trees are almost exclusively found there today as ornamental trees, as they bloom white in late spring. Medlars are now mainly cultivated in East Asia.

If the medlar fruits reach us at all, they have usually come a long way. Their CO2 footprint is correspondingly bad. With luck you can also get medlar fruits from Central Europe, for example from France. Or you can plant a medlar tree yourself. It likes a sunny and sheltered position and likes nutrient-rich soil that is not too moist and not too calcareous. Otherwise, the medlar is undemanding and rewards you with delicious fruits.

The medlar fruit: A late fruit

The medlar fruit ripens late in the year: the round fruit, which is a few centimeters in size, only begins to ripen in October. You can recognize them by their brownish color and the dried remains of the flower, which are crown-shaped at the lower end of the fruit.

In November, when it starts to get cold and freeze at night, you should harvest the medlar fruits. Whether they can only be harvested after the first frost is controversial. After the harvest, the medlars have to ripen for a few more weeks. Only then are they doughy, soft and aromatic. To ripen, you can place the medlar fruits in a straw-lined fruit box in a cool room. Avoid stacking them.

Medlars used to be popular because they are very healthy. The main reason for this is the tannins it contains, which are said to help against indigestion. This also applies to pectin – the medlar fruit has plenty of fiber. It also contains many minerals, especially potassium.

The medlar fruit in the kitchen

You can eat the ripe medlar fruit raw: cut it open and remove the pits. Then you can scoop out the doughy-soft flesh. It tastes slightly sour and is reminiscent of figs or dates.

The medlar fruit is even better in jams, jellies and compotes because it contains a lot of pectin. You can use the medlars on their own or combine them with apples, pears or quinces. Below is a suggestion on how to process the medlar fruits.

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Repel Fruit Flies and Fight Fruit Flies

Natural home remedies to fight fruit flies and drive away fruit flies. Now finally get rid of the many small fruit flies. With tips and instructions on how to build a fruit flytrap.

Fight fruit flies and fruit flies with home remedies

Fruit flies are extremely unpleasant. They are super small and keep escaping you. Bug spray is not suitable in the kitchen or near food. Also, note the home remedies to drive away houseflies.

To counteract this small plague of flies, simply set out a small bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of washing-up liquid. The apple cider vinegar attracts the flies and the detergent acts as a kind of glue, putting an end to the plague quickly.

Driveaway fruit flies with quinces

Simply add a ripe quince to the fruit. Fruit flies don’t like quinces and so avoid the whole fruit basket.

Malt beer against fruit flies

If there are a lot of flies in the kitchen, you can use malt beer. Simply put a glass with a residual malt beer in the kitchen or apartment. The flies love malt beer and will drown in it immediately.

Remove fruit flies from the home

In the apartment, there are many options against annoying flies on the fruit.

  • Dishwashing vinegar trap: Mix some vinegar with washing-up liquid and place in a bowl. Fruit flies are attracted and drown immediately.
  • Denture cleaner: The dissolved tablet in the water attracts flies. Here, too, there is immediate death by drowning.

  • Butterwort: This carnivorous plant loves flies. In this way, the fruit flies can be combated naturally.
  • Avoid breeding grounds: To avoid fruit fly breeding grounds in the home, you need to take out the trash more often in the summer. Also, do not leave any ripe fruit in the apartment.
  • Regular airing: Airing the apartment frees the air of attractants for those annoying little flies.
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Lucuma: Effects and Uses of The South American Fruit

Lucuma is considered a nutrient-rich superfood that you can get in this country mainly as a powder. In this article you will find out how healthy the exotic fruit actually is.

What is Lucuma?

Lucuma is a plant species primarily native to Peru, Chile and Ecuador. These are trees that grow to be about ten to twenty meters tall. The fruits that are eaten fresh in South America are particularly interesting for agriculture.

The fruits have a brownish-green to yellow skin and yellow, relatively dry flesh. In Europe and the USA you can usually buy Lucuma in powder form. Since the fruit is very sweet, the exotic powder is not only considered a superfood, but also a healthy sugar alternative.

Lucuma: The “Gold of the Incas”?

Through advertising slogans and other marketing strategies, Lucuma is now known as the “Gold of the Incas” and is said to promote our health as a natural remedy. Among other things, Lucuma should:
strengthen our immune system
have a digestive effect
promote muscle regeneration
strengthen bones and teeth
beautify the complexion
These effects are mostly attributed to the high content of fiber and minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. According to the consumer center, however, there are no scientific studies that would confirm any of these effects.

In addition, it has not yet been clarified in which quantities the above-mentioned ingredients are actually present in the ground powder. The information on vitamins and minerals usually refers to the fresh fruit. In addition, consumers usually only use small amounts of the powder, so that Lucuma can ultimately only cover a minimal part of the daily required nutrients.

Since the fruit is very sweet, the powder contains 85 grams per 100 grams of carbohydrates, of which almost 30 grams are sugar. That’s why you should only eat lucuma powder in moderation.

According to the consumer center, there are also no scientific studies on possible side effects and risks of Lucuma powder, such as drug interactions or allergic reactions.

Native alternatives to the exotic Lucuma

You can also get all the nutrients that are in the fresh Lucuma fruit from regional foods. Among other things, Lucuma is rich in vitamin C, which is also found in large quantities in many other types of fruit and vegetables. Local vitamin C sources include, for example, berries, parsley, Brussels sprouts and kale, as well as broccoli.

The South American fruit also contains large amounts of vitamin B3 or niacin. This is actually unusual for a fruit, since the vitamin is otherwise more likely to be found in animal products such as meat, fish and offal. Nevertheless, as a vegan, you can cover your daily needs well if you regularly eat legumes, dried fruits, nuts and whole grains.

Advertising slogans also praise the high antioxidant content of lucuma powder. According to superfood companies, these should protect against serious diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The consumer center reports that these effects have not been fully scientifically proven and are often overestimated. In addition, many local fruits and vegetables contain sufficient amounts of antioxidants.

You can find dietary fiber, which gets your digestion going, in most fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts or whole grains.

From an ecological point of view, lucuma is problematic because the fruit has to travel long distances to Europe, which causes high CO2 emissions. Additional energy is also required to dry the fruit and grind it into powder. From an ecological point of view, it is therefore more advisable to use local food and avoid expensive, exotic superfoods.

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Low-Sugar Fruit: an Overview

Anyone who wants to watch their sugar consumption should know that the sugar content in fruit is often higher than expected. We have put together a list of low-sugar fruits.

Fruit used to be considered the ultimate health maker. With the realization of how much sugar is in some fruits, this picture was revised somewhat. But what’s true – are fruits healthy or should you avoid them because of the sugar?

fruit with little sugar

Although fruit is undoubtedly healthy, the sugar (fructose) contained in fruit is by no means healthier than conventional table sugar. Household sugar (sucrose) also consists of about half fructose.
People who want to limit their sugar consumption should therefore choose fruit that is low in sugar.
Below we have compiled a list of low-sugar fruits:

1. Lemons

Per 100 grams: 2.5 grams (g) of sugar and 30 kilocalories (kcal)

Even if lemons are not just eaten as a snack, their juice makes a good addition to smoothies or other refreshing drinks. You can already tell from the sour taste: this is a type of fruit with little sugar. Limes even undercut this sugar content: they contain 1.7 grams of sugar per 100 grams!

2. Soft fruit

Soft fruit generally contains little sugar. Thanks to their low calorie content, strawberries, blueberries and other berries are an ideal snack with many valuable vitamins. But what exactly makes berries so healthy? It is mainly vitamin C and vitamin A that are contained in large quantities in almost all types of berries. Strawberries, for example, provide around 65 milligrams per 100 grams more vitamin C than oranges. In addition, valuable antioxidants and minerals are found in berries.

The plant pigments in the berries also have a health-promoting effect. In general, the darker the fruit, the more of the secondary plant substance it contains. This has an anti-inflammatory effect and is said to strengthen the immune system.

Here is an overview of berries with little sugar (per 100 grams):
Raspberries: 4.8 g sugar, 34 kcal
Blackberries: 4.9 g of sugar, 30 kcal
Strawberries: 5.5 g sugar, 32 kcal
Currants (red): 7.3 g of sugar, 43 kcal
Blueberries: 7.4 g sugar, 42 kcal

3. Watermelon

Per 100 g: 6.2 g sugar and 38 kcal
Watermelons are low-sugar fruits and are rich in vitamins A and C, making them good for your skin and hair. The kernels are also healthy because, in addition to vitamins A and C, they contain proteins, unsaturated fatty acids and magnesium. The amino acid citrulline contained in the fruit is converted to arginine in the body. This amino acid has a vasodilating effect and can reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Watermelons also provide the mineral potassium. This is important for numerous bodily functions.

4. Guava

Per 100 g: 6.7 g sugar and 34 kcal
The exotic fruit has little sugar and is one of the berries and is rich in vitamin C. It is also a supplier of minerals such as calcium, iron and potassium.

5. Grapefruit

Per 100 g: 5.9 g sugar and 50 kcal
As a fruit with little sugar, grapefruits contain a lot of vitamin C. They also provide vitamin A and various B vitamins as well as minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium.

The same applies here: keep your eyes open when shopping. Grapefruits often come from China and have therefore traveled a very long way – but they are also grown in Spain or Turkey. Prefer these to the well-travelled grapefruits and pay attention to organic quality.

6. Prickly Pear

Per 100 g: 7.1 g sugar and 37 kcal
Prickly pears contain vitamins E, B and C. The low-sugar fruits provide the minerals potassium, calcium and magnesium.

7. Apricots

Per 100 g: 7.8 g sugar and 48 kcal
Apricots contain little sugar and are a popular snack in summer – in addition to their fine taste, they provide some valuable nutrients and vitamins. For example, the fruits contain B vitamins and vitamin C as well as phosphorus, calcium, potassium and carotene (provitamin A). The latter is converted into vitamin A by our body.

8. Avocado

Per 100 g: 0.7 g sugar and 160 kcal
From a botanical point of view, the avocado is a fruit and actually belongs to the berries. Despite its high calorie density, it contains hardly any sugar. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, because the fruit doesn’t taste sweet.

Despite the high number of calories, the fruit is extremely healthy: it contains vitamin B6, vitamin C and E as well as calcium, phosphorus and iron. It is also rich in unsaturated fatty acids and has a high potassium content.

Medium sugar fruit

The following fruits contain between 8 and 9 grams of sugar per 100 grams:
Cherries: 8 g of sugar and 50 kcal
Honeydew melon: 8 g of sugar and 34 kcal
Peaches & Nectarines: 8 g sugar and 42 kcal
Orange: 9 g of sugar and 47 kcal
Kiwi: 9 g of sugar and 61 kcal

Fruits with a lot of sugar – you should eat these fruits in moderation

If you look at the list of particularly sugary fruit varieties (from 10 grams of sugar per 100 grams), this is not particularly surprising. Because this is where the particularly sweet fruits are found. This includes:
Pineapple, apples, pears & plums: 10 g sugar and 50 kcal
Tangerines: 11 g of sugar and 53 kcal
Mangoes: 12 g sugar 60 kcal
Figs: 13 g sugar 63 kcal
Pomegranates: 14 g sugar 83 kcal
Lychees: 15 g sugar 66 kcal
Grapes: 16 g sugar 67 kcal
Persimmon: 16 g sugar 71 kcal
Bananas: 17 g sugar 93 kcal
Dates: 63 g sugar 282 kcal

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Eat The Kernels: You Should Not Throw Away These Fruit Seeds

You can easily eat the pits from many fruits, even some varieties that you might not expect to eat. We’ll show you which seeds you can eat – and how healthy they can even be.

For most people, throwing away the pits of watermelons or apples is quite normal. You can also eat them and not only minimize leftovers, but also benefit from the valuable ingredients.

Eat the kernels too: Concern about the hydrocyanic acid

Again and again we are warned against eating the seeds of certain fruits. The so-called amygdalin is particularly important. Amygdalin becomes toxic hydrocyanic acid in the body and is found primarily in the seeds of the following types of fruit:
Apple
apricot
avocado
pear
date
cherry
mango
nectarine
peach
plum
In fact, hydrocyanic acid can lead to poisoning and even death. Nevertheless, you don’t have to worry about it if you want to eat fruit stones more often in the future. In most cases, in order to poison yourself, you would have to ingest extremely large amounts of seeds: for example, it would take over 200 apple seeds to become poisoned. You can find more information on the amygdalin content of these types of fruit in a study by the University of Leeds.

We usually don’t eat the large pits of cherries, nectarines or plums anyway. But even here you would have to eat several of them at once – and grind them first because you would simply excrete them without chewing.

Grape seeds – rich in antioxidants

Many customers prefer seedless grapes. The kernels of all things contain valuable nutrients.

From a health point of view, the flavonoids contained are particularly interesting. These are among the secondary plant substances and have an antioxidant effect in the body: They protect our cells by binding free radicals, can reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system.

Many scientific studies deal with the medical potential of grape seed extract, such as a Turkish study from 2018. Of course, the ingredients in the bare seeds are much less concentrated than in the extract. Nevertheless, it is worth not throwing away the grape seeds, but to chew them up and eat them.

Eat apple seeds – not poisonous, but healthy

As mentioned, apple seeds contain a certain amount of amygdalin. But you don’t have to worry about prussic acid poisoning.

You can confidently eat the entire core, which also contains valuable nutrients. The kernels contain additional fiber and some phytochemicals.

By the way: As with most kernels, apple seeds are simply excreted if you swallow them whole. If you want to benefit from the nutrients, you have to chew the seeds thoroughly.

Pears: eat the cores too

The situation with pears is very similar to that of apples: There is also a small amount of amygdalin in the seeds, but you don’t need to worry about that.

Instead, you can easily eat the already small seeds. There are also antioxidants in the form of secondary plant substances.

Watermelon: eat the seeds

Watermelon seeds are rich in magnesium, iron, folic acid and unsaturated fatty acids. They also contain vitamin A, vitamin C and proteins. Therefore, these seeds are too good to throw away.

You can simply eat the watermelon seeds raw. It is important here again that you chew them up properly. This is the only way your body can access the valuable ingredients. In addition, unchewed watermelon seeds are said to be difficult to digest.

Alternatively, you can also prepare a delicious snack from the kernels by first drying them and then roasting them in a pan or in the oven with a little oil and salt – not only a delicious snack for in between, but also as an ingredient for soups or baked goods use.

Citrus seeds are edible

Whether lemon, orange or grapefruit: You can also eat the seeds of citrus fruits. They also contain secondary plant substances and fiber.

Lemon seeds are said to contain traces of salicylic acid. This is the main active ingredient in aspirin. It is doubtful to what extent you can benefit from the pain-relieving effect of a few lemon seeds.

Eat the avocado stone or not?

Avocados are hyped as a superfood. The creamy fruit contains a lot of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The core, on the other hand, usually ends up in the garbage or on the compost. That’s doubly a pity: On the one hand, it also contains plenty of nutrients from which we can benefit in terms of health. On the other hand, avocados have such a bad ecological balance due to transport routes, cultivation conditions and water requirements that we should at least use the whole fruit.

While some praise the stone as a miracle cure because of the healthy nutrients, there are also dissenting voices: Because the avocado stone also contains the bitter substance persine, which can be deadly in larger quantities. Again, the dose makes the poison: eating an entire avocado seed at once would not be a good idea. A small piece could in turn have positive effects, such as preventing cardiovascular diseases or stimulating the metabolism.

The best way to eat the kernel is to grate it finely with a kitchen grater and mix the pieces into your muesli, salad or smoothie. You can also use them to make tea.

Eat papaya seeds – against parasites in the intestine

The papaya is another tropical fruit that, at best, can be imported from southern Europe. The many black seeds in the middle of the fruit are usually thrown away in this country. In tropical countries, on the other hand, it is common to eat them to prevent or fight parasites in the intestine.

This effect is due to the enzyme papain, of which the seeds contain plenty. This specifically attacks parasite eggs by converting their proteins. This was scientifically proven in a pilot study.

In addition, papaya seeds are particularly rich in antioxidants, which – as already mentioned – are beneficial to our health in many ways.

In terms of taste, the seeds are more reminiscent of black pepper than of a sweet fruit with their sharpness. It may take a little getting used to at first, but in combination with the pulp they produce an interesting taste. But take it slow and don’t eat all the seeds at once – that could overwhelm your taste buds and your digestion. A few seeds will do for starters.

You can also dry and grind the seeds and use them as a pepper substitute.

Some also swear by swallowing the papaya seeds whole. Due to the fiber layer that encases the slippery kernels, they should slide through the intestines and clean them like swollen psyllium husks. However, there are no studies on this so far.

Since papaya has traveled such a long distance, the general rule is: Eat it seldom, and then eat it organically.

Eat the seeds too: Everyone does it with these fruits and vegetables

There are numerous types of fruit whose seeds we all eat – simply because they are so small that they can hardly be sorted out. These include, among other things:
Berries, for example raspberries, blueberries, strawberries
figs
kiwis
The same applies to some types of vegetables, such as:
cucumbers
eggplants
tomatoes
zucchini
But it is also perfectly normal and healthy to eat the kernels of nuts and so-called stone fruits. Because here the core is what we understand and consume as a nut:
hazelnut
walnut
macadamia nut
chestnuts
Hemp seed (also called hemp nut)
almonds
brazil nut
pecan
pistachios
cashew nuts
Passion fruit and pomegranates are another special case: the edible part consists almost exclusively of seeds. Only the shell is not edible here.

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Persimmon – Sweet Fruit is so Useful

Persimmons are sweet fruits that are mostly available in winter. But how healthy are persimmons? We’ll show you which nutrients are in it and how to eat persimmons properly.
Bright orange skin, sweet flesh and the shape of a large tomato: this is the persimmon, also known as persimmon. It is the fruit of the persimmon tree and is one of the oldest cultivated plants.

Nutritional values ​​and Co.: This is how healthy the persimmon is

Persimmons are not only delicious, but also healthy. While they have a little more calories than some other winter fruits like oranges, they also provide you with a lot of nutrients.
Nutritional values ​​per 100 grams of fruit:

Kilocalories: 70 kcal
Protein: 0.58g
Fat: 0.19 g
Carbohydrates: 18.59 g
of which sugar: 12.53 g
Fiber: 3.6 g

Persimmons contain a relatively large amount of sugar, especially fructose, but also glucose. This makes persimmons an ideal post-workout snack, because the fruit quickly recharges the glucose stores after exercise and thus gives you new energy.

Thanks to the high fiber content, the snack also fills you up well and contributes to healthy digestion.
Minerals per 100 grams of fruit (selection):

Calcium: 8 mg
Magnesium: 9 mg
Potassium: 161 mg
Sodium: 1 mg
Phosphorus: 17 mg
Vitamins per 100 grams of fruit (selection):

Vitamin C: 7.5 mg
Folic acid: 8 µg
Beta carotene (provitamin A): 253 µg

The “fruit of the gods” has a large number of minerals and vitamins. The high content of provitamin A is particularly striking. Provitamin A is the precursor of vitamin A found in animal and vegetable foods. Vitamin A is an essential vitamin which, among other things, supports the visual process and is involved in many growth processes. The potassium present in the persimmon takes over functions in the energy metabolism and regulates the circulation.

Persimmons also contain a relatively large amount of tannins. These are vegetable tanning agents that ensure that the unripe persimmons taste tart and often leave a furry mouthfeel. When the fruit is ripe, the tannin content is lower. Incidentally, the kaki varieties Sharon fruit and Persimon contain fewer tannins and therefore do not cause a furry feeling.

This is how you eat the persimmons correctly

Persimmons have a fairly thick and firm skin that is not always edible. As a result, many peel the fruit and cut into wedges like apples, or cut the top open and scoop out the flesh like a kiwi. The cultivated varieties such as Sharon fruit have a thinner skin that can also be eaten.

Persimmons taste sweet. They are therefore perfect for naturally sweetening your morning muesli or porridge. You can also make a delicious cake with the fruit, or use it to make jam, jelly, syrup or compote.

If the sweetness of the fruit is too intense, you can soften it with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, or use Sharon fruit instead. This one is less cute.

Persimmons also taste good as a sweet, fresh element in salads or curries.

Tips:

If the persimmon is not yet ripe, you can store it next to bananas or apples for a few days. These secrete a “ripening gas” which stimulates fruit to ripen faster.
You can determine the ripeness of the fruit by applying light pressure to the persimmon with your fingers: if the skin gives way, the fruit is ripe.
The persimmons quickly develop brown spots. However, these are not necessarily a sign of rot, but are due to the high sugar content.

How sustainable is the kaki ?

Persimmons originally come from Asia and today most of the growing areas are in Korea, China and Japan. But now kakis are also grown in California, New Zealand and Israel. The persimmons that we get in this country mostly come from Italy or Spain. So kakis are not really regional. They sometimes have to travel long distances before they make it onto the local supermarket shelves. This sometimes produces large amounts of climate-damaging CO2. When shopping, make sure that you buy kakis from European cultivation areas in order to improve the climate balance somewhat.

Persimmon trees are rarely attacked by pests. Thus, the use of chemical pesticides is not necessary, so that the cultivation of persimmons is not harmful to humans, the environment and animals. In order to avoid these completely, you can pay attention to organic persimmons.

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Pomegranate – Heavenly Fruit With That Certain Extra

Unlike some of the newer superfoods, the pomegranate has been known in this country since the Middle Ages. Hardly anyone seriously doubts that he is healthy. But what about sustainability?

The bright red pomegranate with its many seeds is often referred to in tradition as the food of the gods. Some even believe that it was a pomegranate that Adam and Eve ate that led to their expulsion from paradise. The pomegranate has been known and loved as a natural household remedy or special treat for the upper class for several thousand years.

Modern studies certify numerous possible medicinal effects of the fruit, its seed and its juice. In addition, the pomegranate should be rich in vitamins, minerals and healthy secondary plant substances. The fruit is not only delicious, but is also said to be extremely healthy in any form, a real superfood.

The origin of the superfood pomegranate

The pomegranate has been known and widespread in Europe for so long that it is no longer possible to say exactly where it originally came from. He probably comes from Central or Southeast Asia and reached the Middle East and various campaigns in ancient times to (Southern) Europe. The Spaniards, in turn, eventually brought the pomegranate plant to Latin America.

Today, the pomegranate tree is grown commercially primarily in India, China, the southern United States, Latin America, the Middle East, Spain and Italy. The plant does not tolerate low temperatures and prefers tropical or subtropical climates, so in Central Europe there are only isolated cultures in heated greenhouses, but in southern Europe it can already be found without a greenhouse or growing wild.

Harvest time for the fruits, which are actually berries but are called apples because of their appearance, is from September to December.

The pomegranate seeds and their pitfalls

Only the seeds of the pomegranate are eaten, as the white flesh tastes very bitter. However, the seeds are firmly attached to the rest of the fruit, so it takes a special technique to extract them. Caution is advised: the juice of the fruit has a strong staining effect, and stains on clothing can hardly be removed.

When storing, make sure that the apple of paradise is never exposed to excessive heat. On the one hand, the pomegranate can be kept for several weeks if stored in the refrigerator or in a cool, not too humid place. On the other hand, the shell bursts under the influence of heat and the pomegranate seeds splatter everywhere – the berry also owes its name to this “explosive” property.

Cut and eat pomegranate properly

Cutting and eating a pomegranate properly is a real challenge. Peeling it makes only limited sense, because too much juice escapes.

Instead, we recommend rolling the ripe pomegranate back and forth on the kitchen worktop with the palm of your hand and applying little pressure to remove the stone. But beware: too much pressure will cause the seeds to burst, resulting in the (also very tasty) juice.

After rolling, remove the stalk at the top and make a radial cut in the pomegranate – like an orange. The upper half can then be bent open so that the seeds can be knocked out with a wooden spoon or something similar.

If you want to reduce the risk of juice splashes, open and core the fruit in a bowl of water. The pomegranate seeds taste great on their own, in muesli or in numerous dishes, from savory to sweet.

Make your own pomegranate juice

Of course, you can also buy pomegranate juice in organic shops. But the pleasantly sour juice is easy to make yourself. As with pitting, roll the pomegranate back and forth with your hand at first, but more often and with significantly more pressure. The pomegranate can then be squeezed with a press or by hand like a lemon.

The faster version: after rolling, simply cut off the stalk, insert a straw into the opening and enjoy the pomegranate juice straight from the fruit.

Pomegranate: calories, vitamins and other nutritional values

The pomegranate and its seeds are excellent sources of minerals and vitamins during the cold and wet season.

Thanks to its long shelf life, the pomegranate provided people with vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and B6, folic acid, vitamin E and beta-carotene as early as the Middle Ages.
However, the vitamin C content is not nearly as high as one often hears: oranges, for example, contain about six times as much of the important vitamin.
On the other hand, the pomegranate is relatively low in calories, 100 g contain 74 kcal.
In terms of minerals, the red giant berries mainly provide potassium, but also calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc.

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6 Home Remedies to Remove Fruit Stains

Removing fruit stains made easy. With simple home remedies and tricks, you can quickly remove even stubborn stains. We have collected the best means at a glance.

Home remedies for fruit stains

Fruit is delicious and healthy. But fruit can leave stubborn stains on clothing due to its intense colors. Then you need the right home remedies to effectively remove the fruit stains. And the good thing is, you’ll have most of them handy at home. In addition, note home remedies for removing spinach stains and useful tips for red wine stains.

1) Mineral water to remove fruit stains

In the case of light stains, a pre-treatment with mineral water often helps. Accordingly, pour some mineral water over the fresh stain and let it soak in for 10 – 20 minutes. Then the carbon dioxide should ensure that the dyes are released from the fibers. Then dab the fruit stain out and wash everything as usual. Mineral water also helps to remove chocolate stains. It also helps to remove fruit stains from boil-proof textiles if you simply pour a stream of boiling water over the fresh stain. Also, note how you can get yellowed laundry white again.

2) The household remedy vinegar for stains

To remove fruit stains, use the home remedy vinegar. Because these stains are usually intense and stubborn stains. Acid can then help to remove the stains effectively. To do this, first moisten the fabric, preferably with mineral water. This means that the stain cannot dry into the fabric. Then mix 1 part vinegar essence with 8 parts water and apply this drop by drop to the stain. Finally, absorb the liquid with a cloth from the outside in and rinse the fabric well in clear water.

3) Get rid of stubborn stains with lemon essence

You can also remove stubborn fruit stains by using lemon essence. The principle is the same as removing stains with vinegar. Accordingly, mix lemon essence with water (1:8). Then gradually apply the mixture to the stain and let it work for a short time. Finally, you have to rinse everything out with clear water and wash everything as usual. But before you start treatment, you should check the fabric for colorfastness in a hidden place.

4) Removing fruit stains from dark fabrics

Since the household remedy baking powder does not attack the color of the fabric, you can use it for stains on dark materials. Accordingly, mix baking soda with some water to form a mushy paste. Then apply this to the fruit stain and leave it on for 20 minutes. Finally, remove the paste from the material with clear water. Also, note tips for removing carrot stains.

5) Toothpaste for stain removal

Another home remedy that is always handy is toothpaste. You can use this to remove fruit stains very well and easily. But only use this on light-colored clothing as it may fade dark clothing. To get rid of the fruit stains put the toothpaste on the stain. Then let them soak for about 15 minutes. You can then do your laundry as usual.

6) Use gall soap to remove fruit stains

You can also use the classic miracle cure gall soap to remove stains and pre-treat the stain. To do this, moisten the stain with water and rub in the gall soap. Then leave it on for about 30 minutes. Then you can rinse it out with clear water and put it in the wash. This means you can also remove dried fruit stains.

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Affordable Fruitcake Made with Canned Fruit

You don’t have to spend a fortune to bake delicious fruit cakes, even in winter. Because canned fruit is also ideal for baking if you pay attention to a few things.

Bake a fruit cake

The fruit cake is a classic in many kitchens. Because this cake is conjured up quickly and it tastes excellent. And the whole family. Plus, even the clumsiest of beginners can’t go wrong here. For a delicious fruit cake, they often use their own fresh fruit from the garden. And that’s what makes him so popular. But that is not always necessary. Because even canned fruit tastes very good in the cake. So you can use ingredients that you usually have at home for such a fruit cake. Also, note tips for baking cookies with children.

What ingredients do you need to bake a fruit cake?

For the cake, you need the usual ingredients for the dough: flour, butter, salt, and sugar. Possibly also eggs, milk, or the household remedy baking powder. You can choose this according to your favorite recipe for the dough. You can also opt for a dough filling or quark filling. Depending on what you and your loved ones like best. And how much time do you have. Since the ingredients are ready at home anyway, you don’t need to go shopping beforehand and can start right away with the affordable fruit cake.

Add the canned fruit to the cake

After you have prepared the dough, it’s time to get down to business. Accordingly, you should first get the fruit out of the can and rinse it off briefly with clear water. Then let them drain thoroughly. So that the canned fruit is easy to use in the dough or other filling, roll it in flour. Finally, add them to the prepared dough. And for fillings of cakes or biscuit bases, you can also use relatively cheap frozen goods. So you can quickly and easily conjure up an affordable fruit cake. Also, read ideas for healthy baking

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Food

Exotic Fruits: Not Only the Climate Balance is Problematic

Exotic fruits are part of the standard range of every supermarket. Here’s why you should avoid the sweet tropical fruits.

You can buy pineapple, mango and Co. at relatively low prices in almost every German supermarket and discounter. A central ecological problem of the exotic fruits is obvious: the plants come from tropical areas. Accordingly, the fruits are grown in distant countries and imported to Germany. They have to cover long transport routes and consequently have a bad ecological balance.

The CO2 emissions caused by transport get into the atmosphere and continue to drive global warming there. But the contribution to the climate crisis is not the only downside of tropical fruits.

Exotic fruits: list

The following types of fruit are among the best-known tropical fruits that you will find in German supermarkets:

Acai
acerola
pineapple
avocado
bananas
dates
figs
goji berries
pomegranate
guava
jackfruit
persimmon
prickly pear
star fruit / carambola
kiwi
lychee
mango
mangosteen
papaya
Passion Fruit / Maracuja
Pitaya / dragon fruit
Tamarillo / Tree Tomato
tamarind

Exotic fruits: monocultures and pesticides

Farmers grow many exotic fruits in monocultures. This not only damages the structure of the soil, but also makes the plants more susceptible to pests. Farmers are therefore increasingly relying on chemical-synthetic pesticides. Many of these pesticides are suspected of being carcinogenic. Occupational health and safety measures are often neglected.

Machines sometimes still spray the environmental toxins when workers are still in the field. In doing so, you regularly come into direct contact with the harmful substance. And even without direct skin contact, there can be health consequences: according to Deutschland Funk Kultur, harmful pesticides are regularly sprayed in large quantities on pineapple plantations in Cartagena, a port city in Costa Rica. As a result, students in a school near the plantations regularly complained of headaches, skin rashes, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Scientists confirmed that the pesticides were not only found on the plantation itself, but also in dust, hair from livestock and human saliva, among other things, and could be detected.

Rainstorms also ensure that pesticides are flushed from the plantations into water bodies. There they harm animals and plants and ultimately contaminate the groundwater. In communities around the plantations, it is therefore extremely dangerous to health to drink water from the tap.

It is not uncommon for rainforest areas to be cleared for plantations or sensitive ecosystems to be invaded. This promotes the extinction of species, as many animal and plant species lose their habitat.

Tropical fruits: working conditions on plantations

In addition to a lack of occupational safety, there are other labor and human rights violations on tropical fruit plantations. According to an Oxfam report reporting on the cultivation of bananas and pineapples in Ecuador and Costa Rica,…

Employers deliberately do not inform their workers about their rights.
some employees do not receive a copy of their employment contract.
workers have to work up to twelve hours at a time on the plantation to receive the daily minimum wage, which actually applies to an eight-hour day.
pregnancy is often a reason for dismissal without notice.
Employees usually have no social security.
immigrants who do not yet have their own apartment and work in the fields have to live together in a very small space.
Employers do not offer medical care in the event of pesticide poisoning or work-related accidents.

Exotic fruits at cheap prices

Precarious working conditions, environmental toxins, deforestation and long transport routes are behind the relatively inexpensive exotic fruits in European supermarkets. Or in short: exploited people and an exploited nature.

According to Oxfam, German supermarkets should take responsibility for these abuses. After all, it is the German corporations that want to keep lowering the price from suppliers in order to be able to score points with customers with cheap prices. Farmers in the country of origin have to bow to this aggressive price policy.

You can do that!

In order not to support the abuses surrounding the cultivation of exotic fruits, you as a consumer can use:in your purchasing power:

It is best if you eat tropical fruits in moderation. For a good ecological balance, you should prefer regional and seasonal fruit varieties. You can find out which fruit is available when from German cultivation in our seasonal calendar.
Pay attention to organic certified goods when buying! In this way you can be sure that farmers have avoided chemical-synthetic pesticides during cultivation. Seals with particularly strict requirements are Demeter and Naturland.
When buying, also look for trustworthy seals that guarantee compliance with ecological and social standards. You should not only pay attention to the organic, but also to the Fairtrade seal.
Fruits with the Rainforest Alliance seal are also subject to far-reaching social and ecological requirements. Although the seal with the green frog cannot quite keep up with the strict Fairtrade seal or the EU organic seal, it still stands for high social and ecological standards.

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