How to eat… fruit?

Introduction:

When we eat fruit, we usually don’t consider what exactly we are eating and how

it came to be. Unfortunately, this may be true for most of the food we eat. There are

probably lots of us who don’t like fruit or won’t eat it at all! For those of you subject to

these conditions, I hope you stay and read. I believe that we humans, while constantly

dealing with adversity, are now facing a more drastic crisis that deals with two

extremely vital components of our human existence: the integrity of our health and the

integrity of our earth. Because these topics can be over-encumbering, I thought it

would be more appropriate to speak on a subject matter that is easily digestible....fruit!

My goal for this blog post is to provide you with easy, actionable steps that contribute

toward the integrity of our health and our planet.

Fruit Facts:

Before getting into the core of the matter, I’d like to leave you with a few facts about

fruit that you may find interesting. We often create assumptions about something

based on our lack of understanding. Personally speaking, I wanted absolutely nothing

to do with fruit until I began to understand how beneficial it was for my health. I hope

these facts peaks your curiosity and help you develop a better relationship with fruit!

1. The cleanest water on earth comes from fruit. Fruit-bearing plants have the ability

to convert energy into organic enzymes called “H3O2”, also known as “living

water”. H3O2 is the crystallized version of drinking water and is structured like

gel. In the human body, this structured version of water has a lower surface

tension which mobilizes natural fibers and makes nutrients more bioavailable for

your cells. When expelled, h3O2 also bonds to water-soluble toxins and removes

them from your system - making for an extremely effective detox.

2. The skin or rind of a fruit, more often than not, is more nutritious than the fruit

itself! It also contains an abundance of polyphenols which are potent antioxidants

that combat disease. Next time you eat fruit, give it a taste and be sure to clean

the skin! It might make sense to integrate your fruit rinds into a smoothie if they

are not palatable enough to eat plain.

3. Terpenes and essential oils contained in the skin of fruits, particularly citrus, make

for an effective insecticidal spray for your houseplants or garden. Simply extract a

piece of the citrus skin and combine with water and a surfactant medium to make

the non-toxic spray. Spray the foliage of your plants weekly to keep away the

pests! This solution is inexpensive, non-toxic and environmentally responsible. Try

out different recipes online! There are other great ways to use citrus fruits around

the household such as DIY candles, cleaning products or composting to name a

few.

4. Buying your fruit frozen can be just as nutritious as buying your fruit fresh. Due to

flash-freezing and other modern preservation techniques, many studies suggest

that frozen fruit offer even more nutritional benefits than that of regular produce!

While locality doesn’t matter as much here, it is still smart to shop organic.

5. Fruits are considered the “cleaners” of the human body. Because of their

abundance in hydration and natural fiber, fruits are efficient cleansers of the

digestive tract. Pineapples and papaya are some of the best in this regard, these

tropical fruits contain natural enzymes that ‘scrub’ your digestive lining. The

digestive tract can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and plaque without

proper care. By adding more fruit to your diet, you are taking preventative action

in your own hands to combat digestive-related disease before it festers.

Guidelines:

When buying fruit, there are a few things you will want to consider in order to get the

best value for your investment.

First, buy local. Buying produce local to your region has a dramatically positive benefit

towards your health, the environment and the small organizations that work hard to

provide us organic food. Agricultural monopolies, in conjunction with chemical

manufacturers, have desecrated the natural food chain with irresponsible farming

practices. The primary focus of these monopolies are short-term production (money)

and specialized crop. While some will argue that these industries uphold our chances

towards food sustainability, nobody is paying close enough attention to the extremely

harsh implications these farming methods are having on the environment and the

human body. By supporting local farmers, you are supporting sustainable farming

practice, local biodiversity, local economy and avoiding highly-toxic chemicals from

crop management and supply chain.

Second, buy organic. Organic is more expensive you say? That is because not enough

people are doing it. It is also because it is exceptionally hard to manage commercial

organic farms due to quality control and yield. However, if more people buy organically,

these issues will resolve themselves and also provide more human-focused job

opportunities. These are some of the top reasons to buy organic: organic farms build

healthy soil, prevent dependence on GMO and toxic chemicals, provide more nutrient-

dense crops, supports pollinators, enriches our environment, enriches our community,

enriches our quality of life and reduces consumer spending towards commodity-based

agricultural taxes that do not have human interests in mind.

Lastly, buy seasonally. If you buy locally, it is likely that you are already buying produce

that is in season. The human body is fascinating in that, similar to the plant kingdom, it

too changes with the seasons. When we consume produce that is harvested in season,

we are consuming produce with peak nutrition while also creating the optimal

environment within our bodies to experience optimal health and lasting benefits. For

more on this topic, you might consider studying the circadian rhythm and the human

biome. Moreover, It is always a good idea to keep a seasonal produce guide for

reference, especially in your kitchen. Get to know the vendors at your local farmer’s

market, they will have the best information! For quick reference, here is a great online

resource: https://seasonalfoodguide.org/

Cleaning & Prep:

The rule of thumb here is to keep it simple. (Well...not as simple as rinsing your fruit in

the sink.) When we wash our fruits we are not only washing away grime accumulated

from sitting on the shelf, we are washing away the growing mediums that were used

before the fruit was harvested. Commercial pesticides and Insecticides are often oil-

based, which means that they won’t rinse off with just water. If time allows for it, I

recommend soaking your fruits in a bowl of spring/alkaline water with lemon or lime

juice. You may also create a soak using apple cider vinegar for decent results. If the

skin of the fruit is a bit sturdier, such as that of an apple or a pear, you will get the best

results by first boiling them in water with the addition of lemon or lime juice.

Unfortunately, commercial growing mediums are present even on organic produce. It’s

important to take these precautions because consuming foods with residual mediums

can cause acute pain, inflammation and long-term havoc to your vital organs.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, there is much more than what meets the eye when it comes to fruit.

We should always be mindful about where our food comes from and how our buying

decisions can have a direct impact in our communities. Fruit is one of the many gifts

shared with us by this planet. By consuming organic fruit, we are exemplifying gratitude

for this gift and creating demand in our markets for agricultural resources and

sustainable, organic farming methods. I hope that you now appreciate fruit with a

whole new perspective. If you found this information to be valuable; pay it forward and

share this with someone you care about. (And be sure to try out my favorite juice recipe

below!)

Orange Immunity - Juice Recipe

This juice is packed with antioxidants and vital, immune-fortifying nutrients. It also

contains enough fiber to keep you satiated for hours. Be sure to use organic, locally-

sourced ingredients as much as possible:

Orange Immunity

(This recipe serves 2 people)

x6 Oranges

x4 Carrots

x1 Lemon

x1 Ginger Root, 1-inch Sprig

x1 Tablespoon Honey (Optional)

x1 Teaspoon of Cayenne Powder (Optional)

1. Rinse the oranges, peel (or shave-down) the rinds, remove the seeds. Cut them in

half.

2. Rinse the carrots, chop off the ends and peel if desired. Cut the remaining pieces

in half.

3. Rinse the lemon, peel (or shave-down) the rind, remove the seeds. Cut in half.

4. Rinse the ginger and peel if desired.

5. Process the oranges, carrots, lemon and ginger using a blender or juicer.

6. (Optional) Add honey or a pinch of Cayenne Powder before processing.

7. Consume fresh and refrigerate any remaining liquid.