At a time when a heightened level of threat to human health resulting from the global ravages of the coronavirus pandemic is intensifying the call of the food nutrition lobby for increased fruit consumption, it is comforting to note that of the ten healthiest fruits on the planet, six of them are commonly grown in Guyana and are not only plentiful and affordable but are also grown in family orchards across the country.
With sections of the international food-promoting media now focussing attention on “healthy eating”, the California-based health information provider, Healthline Media Inc. has published a list of what (based on its own research) are considered as the fruits that rank at the very top of the pile insofar as health benefits are concerned.
At the very top of the Healthline list of ‘super fruit’ is the ever popular grapefruit which Healthline says is not only one of the healthiest citrus fruits as a source of vitamins and minerals but is also world-renowned “for its ability to aid weight loss and reduce insulin resistance. Eating grapefruit, Healthline says, has been shown “to reduce cholesterol levels and help prevent kidney stones.” Grapefruit is widely cultivated across coastal Guyana and while it is a seasonal fruit, its price fluctuations never really ‘go through the roof’.