In the times before now, our forefathers and ancestors lived on fruits and vegetables. Research from then till this point in time shows that they led healthy lives back then and were much stronger compared to the people around today.
It is not rocket science that they were that way, it is just plain fact that fruits and vegetables contain a high amount of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and different compounds that aid human health and help us stay fit for a long period of time.
Learning about fruits and vegetables might simply mean that you’re learning about the varieties and options of fruits out there for you to choose from and which ones you prefer. Whatever you might find, in this article we will be giving you details about fruits that start with the letter S. Stay with us as we progress.
Fruits
Strawberry
The first fruit on our list today is strawberries. Strawberries are a wonder on the tongue. They do some kind of magic that makes you forget how much you’ve eaten and still keep wanting more. Oh well, strawberries are a spring fruit. They grow mostly during the spring and are said to be one of the most popular fruits among Americans.
Strawberries are 91% water and are generally considered to be very low in calories and fat, hence so many people enjoy them without minding. However, too much strawberry can cause gas and diarrhea in some people as the fruit is said to be sugary.
How to use strawberries
Strawberries are known to be mainly enjoyed in their natural, fresh and raw state, but they are also known to be used in producing so many edible and non-edible things too. You can add your strawberries to a fruit salad, freeze and make your strawberries into a smoothie, make strawberry muffins, strawberry pie, or even make strawberry butter. There are other non-edible products. produced with strawberry flavor to give them a very nice scent. It all depends on what you want to do with your strawberries.
The health benefits of strawberries
Strawberries contain compounds that have some vital minerals and vitamins in them. Among these compounds is fiber, which helps to protect and reduce the risk of heart disease, regulate and control blood cholesterol levels, and contains antioxidants known to also protect you against free radicals and reduce cancer risk in the human body.
Where to get them.
At least 85% of the United States population uses strawberries, so it is a scarce commodity or fruit over here. You can easily get strawberries from grocery stores, supermarkets, and fruit markets, or you can order them online from online platforms like Amazon.
Safou fruit
The second on our list here is the safou fruit. The fruit, whose scientific name is Dacricole edulis, is quite popular in Africa. The fruit is also considered bush pear. Its size ranges between 4 and 12 centimeters. The safou fruit can be enjoyed raw even though it is considered to not be ideal because of its being a bit strong to bite when not boiled before eating. The fruit is known to be enjoyed after boiling, but there are other means by which it can be used, and it also has health benefits too, which we’ll be looking at as we proceed.
How to use safou fruit
Safou fruits can be eaten fresh, but if the pulp stays hard, it can be a bit uncomfortable to eat. Hence, it is advised that you boil them a little bit for the flesh to be soft before eating them. Safou fruits can also be roasted and enjoyed with corn. The combination is a great delicacy in most parts of Africa as a snack. You can also consider checking the various safou fruit recipes online to have options on how to use them.
The health benefits of safou fruits
Safou fruits contain compounds that have a high level of vitamins and minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. These minerals are vital for heart health and help to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Where to get them
Safou fruits are mainly cultivated in Africa and are not so popular or rampant in other parts of the world. The best thing to do is to order them online from an online platform to see about importing them. However, this might not be totally unavailable in the United States. Continue to check for them in grocery stores, supermarkets, and fruit markets .
Salak
The third item on our list is salak. Salak is a fruit whose origin can be traced to Indonesia, and is generally considered to be sweet and crunchy among the people who enjoy it. The fruit’s scientific name is Salacca zalacca. The fruits are said to grow in clusters at the base of a palm and are widely known as the snake fruit due to their scaly reddish skin. The fruit is known for its sweet, edible nature but can also be used in other ways and possesses some health benefits, which we’ll be looking at now.
How to use salak
Salaks are enjoyed mostly by eating them. Naturally raw and fresh. All you have to do is peel off its skin and enjoy the fresh pulp inside. The fruit can either be pickled, dried, boiled, or fried. It depends exactly on how you want to use the fruit.
The health benefits of salak
The compounds in the salak fruit are said to be very effective in maintaining and sustaining cardiovascular health. The fruit has a high content of antioxidants and minerals that tend to keep the heart healthy. Salaks are also known to be very effective in boosting the immune system and improving memory.
How to get them
Salaks are quite rare and hard to find in the United States, so the best thing to do at this point is to easily check China Town to see if you can find them or simply order them online for importation on Amazon. You can still check the grocery stores and supermarkets around you to see if they have them in stock.
Sandcherry
Sandcherry is said to be a North American cherry, with its scientific name being Prunus pumilla. The cherry is widely known for its small size, which is around 13 to 15 millimeters in measurement. The cherry fruit belongs to the rose family, and its origins can be said to be traced to eastern and central Canada, where it is generally known to be grown in sandy locations like shorelines. Sandcherries are used in so many ways, and they have some good health benefits, which we’ll be looking at immediately.
How to use sandcherry
You can use your sand cherry to make juice or mix it with other fruits to make a mixed fruit juice. You can check for recipes online for how you can use your sandcherry.
How to get them
Sandcherries can be gotten in grocery stores near you.
Star apple
Star apples are quite cool-tasting apples. They are a purple-colored fruit that is widely known as aguay. The scientific name of the star apple is Chrysophyllum cainito. The fruit’s origins can be traced to the West Indies and central America, and it was named the star apple because of the way it’s shaped like a star. The fruit is generally cultivated for its edible qualities, and it also has other health benefits, which we’ll be looking at as we proceed.
How to use them
Star apples are normally eaten in their natural state, but there are other recipes you can try out with your star apples. You can make a smoothie with your star apple, a moctail, or you can decide to make a star apple juice. It all depends on what you want and how you choose to do it.
The health benefits of a star apple
The compounds in star apples contain nutrients like copper and vitamin C. Also present is a good number of antioxidants that fight radicals in the body. Fiber is also there, which helps to fight off diarrhea, aid digestion, and regulate cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
How to get them
Star apples are not really rampant per se in the United States, so I think you’ll make a bit more of a finding. Look for them in your favorite grocery stores and see if they are in stock. If they are not, then you can visit a fruit market or just check them online via Amazon so you can order them.
Star fruit
Star fruits, also known as carambola, have a sweet, tangy fruit, and all of their entire bodies are edible. The flesh is widely known for its mild and a bit of a sour flavor that makes its way into so many cuisines. You’ll generally find this fruit yellow or green in color, and it comes in different varieties that are larger and sweeter or smaller and sour. They are also widely known to be eaten fresh and used in dishes. They have some vital health benefits and we shall be looking at both.
How to use star fruits
Popular known to be eaten fresh and raw, you can also try out these other ways you can use your star fruits, such as; adding your star fruits to a salad, adding it as a garnish to a dish, making pies or puddings from it, making a jelly or jam out of it, etc. You can look out for other recipes online and enjoy the wonderfully flavored fruit as you so wish.
The health benefits of star fruits
The compounds in star fruits have some anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in them. The star fruit helps weight loss, boosts immunity, improves heart health, and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Where to get them
You can get star fruits in grocery stores and supermarkets. They are quite a popular fruit over here, so you do not have to stress too much to find them. However, if you need them very fresh, it is best advised that you visit a fruit market or a farmer that plants them to get them fresh.
Strawberry guava
Strawberry guava ranks amongst the fruits whose first letter starts with S. The fruit’s botanical name is Psidium cattleainium. The fruit’s color is dark red, hence the name “strawberry guava.” Quite similar to the normal guava, the strawberry guava tree’s height reaches somewhere between six and fourteen feet. The fruit is generally considered to be very sweet, possess a nice scent, and have juicy flesh. The fruit is mainly cultivated for its edible state, but it also has health benefits that we’ll be looking at as we proceed.
How to use strawberry guava
Most people eat their strawberry guava as a whole, fresh and raw. You can also try out these other ways of using your strawberry guava; you can add your strawberry guavas with other fruits and blend them as a fruit smoothie, or you can make strawberry guava juice.
The health benefits of strawberry guava
The compounds present in strawberry guavas have vitamins and antioxidants that are vital for human health. The fruit contains polyphenols that are known as
micronutrients that are capable of protecting or reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. It is also said that antioxidants in the strawberry guava also protect our bodies from the damage caused by environmental stress.
How to get them
Strawberry guava can be gotten fresh and clean from local farmers and gardeners. The plant is said to be cultivated by so many people in the United States, so you will always find them. Also check your grocery stores and supermarkets if you do not mind or care about it staying a bit longer after its harvested date in the store.
Sugar apple fruit
The sugar apple fruit, popularly known as
Sweetsop is mostly cultivated in America and the West Indies. Known for its green color and conical shape, the taste is said to be likened to that of a custard. The flesh of this fruit is white and sweet and is enjoyed fresh and raw by so many people. Generally cultivated for its edibles, the plant also harbors different health benefits within it that we’ll be looking at immediately.
How to use sugar apple fruit
Massively enjoyed in it’s fresh and raw natural state, the fruit can also be used in various different ways, such as; adding or preparing with other dishes, using it to make custard powder, juice, or dessert. It depends on what you want to use it for. You can use your sugared apple fruit in so many ways. You can also check online if you’d like more recipes.
The health benefits of sugar apple fruit
The sugar apple fruit contains carbohydrates that have rich nutrients in them. You can find vitamin C and riboflavin that help in preventing or reducing the risk of eye problems like macular degeneration, bad sight, poor seeing in the dark, and helping maintain overall good vision. They are also said to be very effective in aiding the digestive system to be able to digest food quickly because of the high levels of fiber present in them.
Where to get them
The sugar apples are quite common and are easy to get. Check them out in the grocery stores and supermarkets around you; you’re likely to find them in one. Fruit markets are also another great place to find them.
Vegetables
Spinach
Spinach is a leafy greenish vegetable known for its consistent inclusion in recipes and its health benefits.
Spinach belongs to the amaranth family and is said to be related to beets and quinoa. It’s also considered a very healthy vegetable, loaded with nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Eating spinach is said to benefit the health, reduce oxidative stress, help prevent cancer and reduce blood pressure levels.
How to use spinach
Spinach is generally known for its culinary prowess around the world. There are quite a few different recipes you can try your spinach with, such as; spinach stuffed breast of chicken, creamed spinach, spinach artichoke dip, and spinach stuffed shells. It all depends on how you want to use your spinach.
The health benefits of spinach
Spinach is known to contain compounds that have lots of minerals and vitamins such as, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K1, folic acid, iron, and calcium.
Research has also shown that spinach is a very healthy vegetable and it possesses some good properties that could be of good help to human health, like fighting or preventing oxidative stress, which is known to increase the chances of getting diabetes , cancer, or accelerated aging.
Sweet potato
Funny enough, there are so many people that do not know that potatoes are vegetables. Oh well, now you know, they are. Sweet potatoes, as the name implies, are very sweet. They are normally delicious, easily satisfying, and very lovely to eat. Sweet potatoes have different color variations; some are white, some are orange. Sweet potatoes are mainly known for their culinary use, but they also possess some quality health benefits.
How to use sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are known for their sweet tastes and their culinary prowess. They can also be used in various different ways or recipes, such as; pan cakes made with sweet potatoes, bread made from sweet potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, etc. You can try out any of the ways listed here or check for other recipes online to try out.
The health benefits of sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain compounds that possess a high level of vitamin A. This vitamin helps keep your eyes healthy, boosts or your immune system, and helps your body fight germs. The compounds in the vegetable are also said to be very good for your digestive and reproductive systems.
How to get them
Potatoes are really not hard to find in this country, they are everywhere and can be easily gotten from grocery stores and supermarkets. If you’re not the type that fancies pushing a trolley down the aisle, you can also order them on shopping platforms online. A good example is Amazon.
Shallots
Shallots are the last vegetable on this list. They are actually a herbaceous vegetable whose height gets to at least 20 inches. Their leaves are generally considered to be succulent, and they produce a sort of long stem that is covered with layers of skin. Shallots are generally considered a culinary vegetable, but they also have some other health benefits that we shall look at as we proceed.
How to use shallots
Shallots are widely known for their addition to culinary matters. They can also be used in ways like; adding them into a salad, mincing them into a salad dressing, pickling them, or roasting them. You can use your shallots in different ways just as stated or you can get more recipes online.
The health benefits of shallots
Shallots contain compounds that are known to be very high in antioxidants that may improve or maintain proper blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels, aid blood circulation, and improve bone and heart health.
How to get them
You can get shallots from gardeners and farmers that do retail as they are more likely to have fresh shallots. You can find them in most grocery stores and supermarkets, but make sure you check properly to avoid picking shallots with a low shelf life.