Guava: Winter food

Guava is an another tropical fruit which is readily available in winter season. It is a powerhouse of nutrients. It is also called as "Super food". Guava fruit has exotic flavor, taste and health promoting characteristics.

* Guava is a good source of pectin. High pectin content in guava would reduce the amount of stabilizing and gelling agent, which is usually added to reduce synersis. It is a rich source of relatively low methoxylated pectin (50%) amounting to more than 10% of the dry weight. 

* It is a rich source of vitamin C and good source of calcium and phosphorus. 

* Guava is rich in tannins, phenols, triterpenes, flavonoids, essential oils, saponins, carotenoids, lectins, vitamins and fatty acids. 

* They are useful sources of nicotinic acid, phosphorous, soluble fiber and dietary fiber which make tham a bulk laxative. 

* Guavas are sodium free and low in fat and calories. 

* They are high in lutein, zeaxanthine and lycopene and particularly in quercetin. Quercetin is thought to contribute to the anti-diarrhea effect of guava; it is able to relax intestinal smooth muscle and inhibit bowel contractions. Zeaxanthine helps in prevention of age associated eye disorders.

* They also used in the treatment of dirrhoea, dysentry, constipation, cough, cold, high blood pressure, weight loss, diabetes, scurvy and in skin care.

Ber: Winter fruit

Ber is an excellent fruit of winter season. It has various nutritional and pharmacological properties.

Indian ber (Ziziphus mauritiana lamk.) is one of the most ancient fruits indigenous to India which belongs to the Rhammaceae family and genus Ziziphus. 

Ber is the most common fruit in the tropical, subtropical and arid regions such as in the states of Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat . The fruits are a drupe varying from round to elongate and from cherry size to plum size depending on cultivur. 

Health benefits of ber

* Ber is a cheap and ignored fruit which has high nutritional and medicinal value. 

* It has high sugar content.

* It is also a source of vitamins and minerals and contain fair amount of vitamin A and B, minerals like calcium, phosphorus and iron and also higher in calorific value and ascorbic acid content.

* Dried ripe fruit is a mild laxative.

* Ripe fruit has sweet and sour taste can expel phlegm and relieve cough. 

* Dried fruit contain saponin and alkaloids, that are helpful in blood purification.

* It improves nervous system as well as provide relief in insomnia symptoms.

* Ber fruit is effective in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, gout, rheumatism, etc.

* Regular use of fruit prevents the formation of gravel in the bladder, diabetes, constipation, leucorrhoea and spermatorrhoea. 

*A teaspoonful of the powder of the dry fruit is given to stop excessive menstruation.