Different varieties of stone fruits and their benefits

The strange-sounding stone fruits have always been our favourite eats. Also known as drupes, stone fruits are fleshy, juicy and have thin skin with a ‘stone – a hardened seed’ at the centre. This stone holds an actual edible seed inside. Fruits like peaches, apricot, cherries, lychees, plums, dates and even mangoes are classified as stone fruits. As they also contain health benefits, eating a stone fruit is beneficial. Let’s have a look at their advantages.

Plums

It falls in the same category as cherries and peaches, plums are eaten fresh as a fruit or cooked as compote, jam, or baked in pastries. Absolute yum, the stone fruit is full of fibre. This helps to improve constipation. It also maintains blood sugar. As plums are known to give a boost to adiponectin, a hormone that helps regulate your blood sugar levels. Another good news for those suffering from osteoporosis is that plum could help reduce bone loss.

Apricots

Also called Jardalu, apricots are one of the toppers when it comes to being a great source of many antioxidants which includes vitamins A, C, E and beta carotene. Also topped in antioxidants flavonoids, apricots are known to protect against illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease. It also improves eye health. This stone fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked (in jams) and can be preserved by canning or drying. The fruit is popularly used to flavour liqueur. They don’t contain any sodium or cholesterol.

Dates

Dates boast of many health benefits to make them a must-have in your diet. It is high in fibre and is packed with many antioxidants that promote good health. It is known to enhance brain health. Dates are tropical stone fruits that grow on date palm trees. It is one of the healthiest fruits in the world and is an integral part of Mediterranean cuisine. Naturally sweet, fresh dates have a lower sugar content than dry dates, hence a better option for diabetics. Both can provide enough energy for you to pull through the day. Keep a pack of dates in your bag and keep hunger away in a healthy way.

Peaches

Oh yes, peaches and cream, we are talking about fruit here. Peaches are rich in vitamin A and contain a number of minerals such as iron and fluoride. It also contains potassium which is an important component that helps to regulate heart rate and blood pressure. This stone fruit is also known to protect us from lung and oral cancers. Eat them raw or make a dessert, either way, this sublime fruit wins the centre of the table.

Mangoes

Beginning with our favourite ‘King of the Fruits’, mango is a tropical stone fruit varying in size, shape and even taste. From an attractive orange-yellow to bright red and then green, you get mangoes in such interesting shades, each with its own aroma and flavour. These stone fruits contain immune-boosting nutrients, improve digestion, and help maintain good heart health and eye health. As it is low in calories and helps prevent diabetes, mango can be savoured by all those who want to enjoy this juicy delicacy. The fruit also lends itself to different cuisines and both savoury and dessert dishes and as an unripened fruit, kacchi kairi, enjoy it in pickles.

Cherries

Prized for its sweet delicate flavour, the rich coloured cherry also gives us several vitamins mainly B6 and K, minerals, and some potent plant compounds. A good source of manganese, copper, and magnesium, they are packed with powerful antioxidants which protect our cells from free radicals. They reduce inflammatory processes that could likely amp the risk of certain chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegenerative illnesses. What’s more, enjoying cherries will lead to better sleep, regulating blood sugar levels, and controlling high cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and arthritis-related symptoms. These versatile stone fruits can be enjoyed fresh or cooked in many types of sweet and savoury recipes.

Here is our list of stone fruits. Do buy them and enjoy them guilt-free.