Tropical Face-Off: Guava vs. Papaya
Which tropical fruit treat gives you the bigger antioxidant payout — guava or papaya?
Turns out guava is tops among tropical fruits when it comes to disease-fighting antioxidants. And it beats out more run-of-the-mill antioxidant superstars, too, like blueberries, raspberries, and apples.
And Fiber to Boot
The little fruits — which come in a variety of shapes (round to oval) and colors (white to red) — are particularly loaded with vitamin C and lycopene. And not only are they rich in age- and inflammation-fighting antioxidants like these, but they also were richest in fiber when compared with other tropical fruits in a recent study. Give guava a shot with this nectar-based Hawaiian Smoothie.
Hawaiian SmoothieFor the best taste and color, use a red-fleshed Hawaiian papaya for this exotic, lip-puckering taste of island summer. Papayas are loaded with papain, a digestive enzyme, so
Ingredients
1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
1/2 cup chopped peeled papaya
1/4 cup guava nectar, (see Ingredient Note)
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon grenadine, (see Ingredient Note)
1/2 cup ice
Directions
1. Place ingredients in the order listed in a blender. Pulse three times to chop the fruit, then blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
Something Different
Guava is one great way to rev up a boring bananas-and-oranges fruit bowl. So are these exotic, nutrition-packed treats:
Lychee: It’s another antioxidant powerhouse.
Papaya: It could be your skin’s best friend.
Kiwifruit: Your ticker loves this fuzzy fruit: It’s in Your Blood
Kiwifruit appear to put the kibosh on artery-clogging plaques in two ways: They help lower triglyceride levels, and they reduce platelet clumping. The platelet effect could be particularly good for your ticker: Although platelets aid in blood clotting, when these cells stick together too much, it could set the stage for a heart attack or stroke.
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