Strange & Healthful Tropical Fruits

Before moving to West Palm Beach, Florida in 1986, Hippocrates Wellness (HHI) was located in Boston, Massachusetts and the desire for warmer weather, cleaner air and a tropical environment for the guests to heal and relax led HHI Directors Brian and Anna Maria Clement to uproot the institute and make a fresh start in sunny, South Florida.

HHI is now located on 50+ acres of a tropical and lush landscape where HHI Guests can immerse themselves in the beauty of the flowers, trees and greenery by walking the campus trails or just relaxing in a hammock or swing by the lake. Amongst the campus are gardens, greenhouses and numerous tropical fruit trees that blossom at different times throughout the year.

The Hippocrates Lifestyle™ promotes a plant-based diet that emphasizes the importance of consuming sprouts, leafy greens, nuts and seeds with minimal fruit intake. Twice a week, HHI Guests can explore a fruit buffet that includes numerous local and exotic fruits, some of which have even been grown right here on the property. There are many different exotic fruits and varieties that are grown throughout the world and the HHI Guests enjoy exploring the fruit buffet and trying new fruits that they have never seen or heard before. Not only are these exotic fruits beautiful and taste amazing, they are also full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that help fight disease and boost health.

Here are a few exotic fruits and that can be found throughout the seasons here at HHI and their health benefits:

Lychee: Native to China and was once considered a great delicacy of the Imperial Court. Aids in digestion, boosts immunity, high in vitamin C, antiviral and controls blood pressure.

Sapodilla: Native to Southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean and can now be cultivated in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Mexico. Possesses high anti-inflammatory properties, relieves stress, enhances the immune system and prevents anemia.

Black Sapote: Native along the coasts of Mexico and Central America. Also known as chocolate pudding fruit. Strengthens the immune system, promotes kidney health, aids in weight loss, improves digestion, balances hormones, prevents constipation, and controls blood pressure.

Jackfruit: Native to southwest India, also known as the biggest tree fruit in the world. Enhances the immune system, boosts energy levels, improves the cardiovascular system, aids in digestion, and shields against free-radicals and aging.

Mango: Originated in southern Asia. Known to soothe the stomach, high in fiber and antioxidants, promotes weight gain, aids in digestion, and promotes brain health.

Some of these rare, weird looking exotic foods can be difficult to find in your local supermarkets, and if you are not living in a tropical climate, the next best place to find these foods is at an authentic Asian supermarket. So many different countries and cultures have exotic fruits that are native to their homeland and learning about these different foods and being open to trying them gives you an opportunity to connect and share with people from different cultures where these fruits originated. Most people are very proud of the different foods that come from their home country and love to share them with others. Not only are these colorful, exotic fruits delicious, but they provide amazing health benefits and an opportunity to expand your knowledge about different foods from different cultures.

Article by Andrea Nison