It doesn’t matter how much of a junk food person you are, you can not deny the fact that eating fruits and vegetables gives you a better mental state and an overall healthy looking body, both on the outside and inside.
There are so many different reasons why people eat fruits. It might be because of their health benefits or just how sweet they taste. Whichever side you’re on, this article gives you detailed information about fruits and vegetables, especially the ones starting with the letter P. Stay with us as we progress.
Fruits
Papaya
Papaya, also known as pawpaw, is said to have originated in Central America. The fruit has a very nice flavor and is known to have some very good nutrients. The fruit is part of the Caricacae plant family. Pawpaw, or papaya as we know it, is cultivated almost all over the world and eaten mostly in its raw, fresh state. The fruit can also be said to be used in various different ways and has some good health benefits, which we’ll be looking at as we progress.
How to use papaya
Papayas are normally eaten raw and fresh, but they can also be eaten in other ways too, such as making a fruit salad with other fruits, making fresh papaya salsa, making smoothies with your papaya, etc. It all bears on how you’d like to enjoy the fruit.
The health benefits of pawpaw
Papaya contains some compounds and nutrients that can help reduce the risk of a heart attack. They also contain a good level of antioxidants and vitamins, which help to protect the body from stress-induced illnesses, diabetes, and cancer, and also aid in digestion.
Where to get them
Papaya is not so hard to get in the United States as it’s very common and easy to find in grocery stores and supermarkets. The only problem is that once it gets ripe, it becomes quite hard to store without getting spoilt, so it’s necessary that you look out for the kind of papaya you choose to take to ensure it’s not getting close to its end of shelf life. You can also consider checking out a farm market for just-harvested papaya produce.
Passion fruit
The passion fruit’s origin is said to be traced to Brazil, and it belongs to the berry fruit family. The fruit is popularly known for its maroon and magenta colors on the outside while bearing a yellow color on the inside. The fruit is said to be mostly enjoyed fresh, just like most fruits, but it still has other uses and possesses some good health benefits, which we’ll be discussing as we progress.
How to use passion fruit
The fruit is widely enjoyed raw and fresh as its juicy flesh and seeds are all edible. However, there are other ways that the passion fruit can be used, such as making a passion fruit juice or cocktail, jam, or try adding it to your yogurt. It depends on how you’ll like to enjoy it. There are different ways to eat it out there.
The health benefits of passion fruit
Passion fruits are said to have some nutrients and compounds inside them like potassium that help prevent the risk of heart disease. The fruit also contains antioxidants and fiber that help fight the effects of environmental stress, which help with weight loss, lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Where to get them
You can get passion fruits in grocery stores and supermarkets in your vicinity. You can also try visiting the fruit market to ensure the passion fruit you’re getting is fresh and good to eat.
Peach
Peach is one fruit that you can’t take away because of its sweetness. If you’ve ever had a bite of this fruit, you’d attest to how sweetly flavored it is. The fruit grows more in August and is popularly known as that. Peaches have different varieties, of which the two most popular ones are clingstone and freestone. The fruit is enjoyed raw and fresh and also has its own health benefits. We’ll be looking at them as we move on.
How to use peaches
Even if peaches are mostly eaten raw and fresh, there are also other options you can consider using them, such as using them to make a soup, grilling them, making peach ice cream soda, or making a coffee cake. The sweet-flavored fruit can be used in different ways depending on exactly how you would like to use it.
The health benefits of peaches
It’s said that consistent or accurate consumption of fruits can actually protect your lungs and reduce your risk of developing oral cancer because of the presence of vitamin A in their compounds. The fruit also contains potassium, iron, and fluoride.
How to get them
You can get peaches in almost every grocery store or supermarket close to you. That’s how popular they are in the United States. Walmart and Costco are very likely to have peaches in stock, so you should try checking them out there. You can also check them online on shopping platforms like Amazon and the rest.
Pears
This is one fruit that I can boldly say stands out in terms of nutrients because it contains a high level of fiber and other important nutrients needed in the body. The fruit’s origin can be traced to Europe and Asia. There’s not so much clear evidence of which continent it actually came from first, but it’s just between the two. Pears come in different varieties and they are considered to be very delicious. The fruit can be used in different ways even though it’s mostly eaten fresh. It also has some health benefits. Let’s go ahead and look at them.
How to use pears
Pears are mostly eaten fresh in their ripe state, but they can also be used in different ways too. You can slice your pears up and use them as a salad or add them to a fruit salad. You can also roast your pears or bake them into desserts. You also do not have to worry about not being able to use them for this because of their different varieties. You can use them the same way no matter the variety of pear.
Health benefits of pear
Pears are really a nutrient-filled fruit, power packed with different compounds and vitamins that are vital for human health and longevity. Pears can help fight inflammation, aid gut health, make digestion easier and faster, and also protect you against different diseases and support weight loss.
How to get them
Pears are a common commodity or fruit in the United States. You can always find pears in the grocery stores or supermarkets if you go looking for them; it’s just that easy. If you’d really like fresh ones, you can check them out in fruit markets.
Persimmon
Persimmons are such sweet fruits. They are quite tasty and very nice. The fruit belongs to the rose family. The only downside to this fruit is that it’s scarce and expensive, as it’s said to be quite difficult to grow. The fruit comes in different varieties and has different uses and health benefits that we’ll be looking at.
How to Use Persimmon
Persimmons are wonderful fruits and can be used in different ways, like slicing them over your cereal, whole oats, baking them, or just having them as snacks. Depending on what you’d like to do with them, you can try them out in different recipes.
The health benefits of persimmons
Persimmon contains some very good compounds that are very good for your health, and they are a very good source of vitamin A and vitamin B. Eating persimmon may prevent blood clotting.
It may also reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Where to get them
Persimmons are not a common fruit in the United States; a little more searching will be needed to get them. After checking grocery stores and not finding them, the best thing to do is to check online on shopping platforms if you’ll get them delivered to you from anywhere they are.
Pineapple
Sorry to be a bit biased, but pineapples are my favorite fruit on this list, and I know it’s not just me that has this point of view. I mean, if you’ve eaten the fruit before, you can tell how sweetly flavored and tasty pineapples are, especially when they’re ripe and fresh. Pineapples are generally known to grow in much cooler weather. The juicy fruit is one of the most famous and cultivated fruits in the world. Pineapples are mainly eaten fresh, but can be used in other ways too. They are also beneficial in the health department. Let’s quickly look at them.
How to use pineapples
Pineapples are mainly enjoyed fresh and raw, but there are quite a few other ways you should try using your pineapples, such as adding them to other baking ingredients and baking pineapple cake, grilled pineapple, acorn squash, pineapple juice, and pineapple jam.
The health benefits of pineapple
Pineapples are just sweet. They are also powerfully equipped with nutrients. They contain disease-fighting compounds and antioxidants. Pineapples may improve one’s immune system and reduce inflammation; they may also ease arthritis pains.
How to get them
Well, pineapples are very common in the United States. If there’s one fruit you’re likely to find in almost all the grocery stores, it’s pineapples. You can always find them stocked as they are largely cultivated here.
Plantains
Oh well, I really can’t say if there’s anyone out there in the world that doesn’t really like plantains. I mean, this fruit is found in almost every international cuisine and is widely known. Plantains are part of the genus Musa family. They are very rich in carbohydrates, fiber, and so many other nutrients. Highly known for its culinary prowess, it also possesses some very good health benefits, which we’ll be looking at immediately.
How to use plantains
Plantains are enjoyed in their different states, either ripe or unripe. For unripe plantains, you can prepare plantain pottage, boiled plantains and stew,
Plantain pan cakes, baked plantain. Then, for ripe plantains, you can try fried plantains and eggs for breakfast, baked plantains with cheese, or make plantain chips. There’s so much you can do with this fruit, it all depends on what you want with it!
The health benefits of plantains
Plantains contain compounds that have good vitamins and minerals in them. It is said to be rich in carbohydrates and fiber. The fruit can also be said to contain antioxidants that can be said to fight free radicals, aid in weight loss, aid and support the immune system, and also reduce the risk of heart disease.
How to get them
Plantains are cultivated worldwide, so it’s not really a scary commodity or fruit, especially in the United States. You can get your fruits in grocery stores and supermarkets around you or order them online via Amazon.
Vegetables
Potato
Potatoes are one of the most common plants in the world. Even if most people do not really know that this plant is a vegetable or just do not regard it as one, it actually is, known for its wonderful taste and crisp feel. Potatoes come in different varieties and their tastes differ. The two most commonly known potatoes are the Irish and sweet potatoes. Potatoes are actually used for culinary purposes, but they also have good health benefits.
How to use potatoes
It’s not a surprise that you’re likely to find potatoes in most international cuisines. This is because of the culinary prowess the vegetable possesses. Try out these potato recipes when next you’re using your potatoes; try making your potatoes into crispy roasted ones, using them as baked potatoes, making a proper potato salad, making mashed potatoes, or simply frying them! Enjoy them just how you want them.
The health benefits of potatoes
The compounds in potatoes contain a high concentration of nutrients and vitamins, of which fiber is one of them. The fiber present in the potato may help prevent heart disease and maintain cholesterol and sugar levels. Potatoes are also said to contain antioxidants that help prevent body diseases.
Where to get them
Potatoes are really very popular in America, especially in the United States, so there’s no way you can really search for potatoes here without getting them. Simply visit a grocery store or supermarket close to you and get it.
Pumpkin
Raise your hands if you didn’t know pumpkins were vegetables, haha. Well, they actually are, even if so many people still technically regard them as fruits. The rounded orange-colored plant is said to have originated in Mexico. The plant is among the vegetables that start with the letter P and is also quite sweet and has a tasty flavor.
How to use pumpkins
Pumpkins are a very good culinary vegetable. You can try out these recipes when you next want to use your pumpkin; make roasted pumpkin seeds, puree your pumpkin, bake pumpkin pie, or do a pumpkin chili. There are so many recipes online for you to choose from on how to enjoy your pumpkin.
Health benefits of pumpkins
Pumpkins are high in compounds that contain minerals and vitamins vital for healthy living. The nutrients present in pumpkins can aid weight loss, boost the immune system, aid eye sight, lower risks of cancer, and promote heart health.
Where to get them
Pumpkins can be easily gotten. Gardeners and farmers that retail are your best bet for getting fresh pumpkins. You can also get them in grocery stores and supermarkets around you.
Peas
Peas are vegetables with several green pods inside them. Peas are actually part of the fabaceae plant family and are known to be grown during cool seasons. Peas are used mainly for culinary purposes and also have some good health benefits.
How to use peas
Peas are known for their culinary prowess. You can find them in almost all international cuisines. Try out these recipes the next time you intend on using your peas; you can make a creamy pea soup, make a pea and carrot salad, make a pea puree, mash your peas or use them in fried rice. You can decide to enjoy them just any way you want.
The health benefits of peas
Peas have compounds that serve as a good source of vitamins and minerals. They contain vitamins C, E, and zinc. Peas also have antioxidants that aid and strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and prevent the risk of chronic diseases and illnesses like heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.
How to get them
Peas are the everyday vegetable for most citizens in this country, so it’s something that is essential to the day-to-day lives of so many, and this is the reason why it can easily be gotten. Check out for them in grocery stores and supermarkets around your vicinity and you’ll definitely find them.
Pak choy
Pak choy is a vegetable that is famous in China and is often regarded as a cabbage since its looks are similar to that of a cabbage. Its scientific name is Brassica rapa. Generally known for its culinary use, it also has health benefits, which we’ll be looking at in the next paragraph.
How to use pak choy
Pak choy is generally used the same way other cabbages are used; you can use it in salads, stir-fry it, or cook it and enjoy it with meat. You can also check out the different pak choy recipes available online.
The health benefits of pak choy
Pak choy contains some very good nutrients and compounds that are vital in aiding bone health, aiding weight loss and helping regulate blood cholesterol levels. The vegetable is said to have minerals like iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin k.
How to get them
Pak choy can not be said to be too popular in the states, so your best bet would be to check online shopping platforms that are Chinese-based and try ordering them. However, this should be done after you have checked all the grocery stores and supermarkets around you .
Paracress
Acmella oleracea is a vegetable whose botanical name is Acmella sativa. It is a flowering herb vegetable that is mainly used for culinary purposes like adding flavor and spice. The origin of the plant can be said to be traced to southern America.
How to use paracress
Paracress is generally known to be used mainly as a flavor or spice in dishes. You can add them as a spice to your dishes, soups, sauces, or stews.
The health benefits of paraacress
Paracress possesses some really good health benefits, like treating erectile dysfunction; it does this by ensuring blood is well circulated to certain parts of the body. The plant is also said to cure sore throats.
How to get them
You can get fresh vegetables in grocery stores and supermarkets around you.