Health the variety of fruit

2000/04/01 Lorenzo, Arantza | Uranga, Ane Miren Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Dietetika/Elikagaiak

Currently, in general, we have a wide offer of fruit at the points of sale. The seasonal influence is not too noticeable. Most of the fruits of different origins and seasons can be purchased in shops at any time. But this has its negative part: it is not the same, that in flavors, smells and foods the newly collected fruit that has reached maturity respecting its normal development in the tree or that has been collected before its maturation and maintained in the fridges with multitude of treatments. Consequently, what is gained in the variety is lost in quality.

Fruits in general are very similar to their ingredients. They mainly contain water (80-90%) and carbohydrates. The distribution of carbohydrates is as follows: useful (glucose and fructose) 10-16% and fiber 4% (pectin and hemicellulose mainly). The amount of fruit fat is low (less than 1%), except for avocado, which contains 16 g of fat per 100 g. The fats present in the fruits are phospholipids, while the acidic fats are oleic, linoleic and palmytic.

However, the importance of the fruit lies in mineral salts and vitamins. The fruits contain mainly potassium and sodium and, on the vitamins, the vitamins are different according to the fruit. Ex. : the banana has a rich vitamin B6 or pyridoxine and peach and apricot, vitamin A.

In addition to all these ingredients, the fruits contain various organic acids and flabonoids that protect us from diseases and provide functional food.

Many fibers, flavonoids and vitamins are found on the surface of the fruit, which is the place that receives the most sun, but where they accumulate pesticides, so it is advisable to descortezarse from the fruit, unless it is ecological. The latter can be taken calmly with the skin.

Finally, we want to make public our concern, since we have been studying the eating habits of young children in various schools of Euskal Herria and unfortunately we have seen that fruits are very marginalized. So let's begin now, without postponing, to consume three different pieces of fruit and, to the extent possible, respecting each season, to meet the needs of our body and care for our health.