The durian (Durio zibenthinus) is a large, round, thorn-covered fruit that is native to southeast Asia. Known in the West for over 600 years, durians are characterized by their extremely pungent and unpleasant smell, which is often described as resembling rotten meat or sour milk (and those are just the polite descriptions). Despite their external unpleasantness, however, durians are extremely nutritious fruits. In fact, their nutritiousness is such that southeast Asians regard them as the…
Vitamin A is the name of a group of fat-soluble antioxidant compounds. Two forms of the vitamin are available in the human diet: Retinoids, which are found in animal products and can be directly used by the body, and carotenoids (of which beta-carotene is the most important), which are found in plant foods and need to be converted into retinol by the body after the food is ingested. What Vitamin A Does for Us Maintains…
While the “superfood” label is often overused in natural health circles, most researchers will admit that coconut oil deserves it. This edible oil, which is produced from the flesh of coconuts, has been shown to possess amazing antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, improve blood cholesterol levels, boost energy, and much more. However, a peer-reviewed Brazilian study has also found that consuming just 30 milliliters (1 ounce) of coconut oil a day can help treat abdominal obesity…
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is found in many fruits and vegetables. Since our bodies don’t store it (excess amounts of the vitamin exit the body through our urine), we need to constantly supply our bodes with it in order to remain healthy. While most people understand that vitamin C plays an important role in maintaining skin health, it actually contains a large number of equally important roles in the…
Spirulina is a type of green algae that grows in fresh water bodies. It is a survivor plant which, unlike most flora, is able to withstand considerable temperature variations and still thrive. It is cultivated worldwide and has been harvested as a food source for thousands of years. According to David Wolfe, author of the excellent book, Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future, spirulina is one of the most nutritious foods in the…
