Tart Cherries May Improve Sleep.

Tart cherries contain high concentrations of phytochemicals including melatonin, which is involved in the regulation of our sleep cycles. There has been mixed research as to whether cherries, and specifically cherry juice, is of benefit to those who have trouble sleeping but the signs are encouraging. I have difficulties getting and staying asleep so, I've decided to give these fresh cherries a try to find out if if will help me sleep. I ate about 8oz cup of cherries just before bedtime and about 25 minutes later I notice I became very tired and relaxed. I was trying to fight it off by staying up to finish a project I started on my pc but my eyes became to heavy to stay awake. I jumped into bed and dosed off in minutes, lol. They work for me!

Cherries are not for everyone!

Not everyone is able to enjoy cherries, as some people may have an allergy to the fruit. This can be a primary allergy, whereby you are allergic to the fruit, or secondary, when you are allergic to pollens from the same family of plants. A secondary allergy occurs as a result of cross reactivity, for example, if you are allergic to birch tree pollen you may experience an allergy to fruit such as cherries as well as others including apples, plums and peaches.As long as you do not have an allergy to the fruit, cherries make a valuable addition to the diet. Enjoy fresh when in season, or as a juice or dried. 

Caution

Cherries are a natural source of salicylates, which some people may be sensitive to. Eating a lot of cherries may lead to diarrhea, gas, or bloating for those who have a salicylate sensitivity," cautions Leah Johnston, RDN

Tamarind a Mexican Fruit ?

Buy Tamarind Fruit

from Amazon 

Fresh Tamarind

Do you know the origin of the Tamarind fruit?
I did some research on the web, here are my finding: One article claims that the fruit was well known to the ancient Egyptians and to the Greeks in the 4th Century B.C.

In another article states that the fruit grows from a very large tree that grows up to 100ft in its native Africa.
I also read that it is grown in India, Mexico and Central America. 

It has an outter shell that has to be peeled. If you place it in your mouth, be careful of the pearl like seeds. Don't swallow them. The tamarind fruit itself has a tart, yet sweet taste with a prune/raisin texture and taste in my opinion..

What's the health benefits?
tamarind have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These can protect against diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The seed extract may also help lower blood sugar, while the pulp extract may help you lose body weight and reverse fatty liver disease

What is Rambutan and how do you eat it?

The rambutan is a medium sized tropical tree in the family Sapindaceae. The name also refers to the edible fruit produced by this tree. The rambutan is native to the Malay Indonesian region, and other regions of tropical Southeast Asia.




How do you eat Rambutan Fruit?

1. Select a ripe rambutan. Rambutans start out green, then turn red, orange, or yellow as they ripen
2. Cut a slit in the skin. Hold the rambutan firmly on a flat surface, gripping both tips
3. Open the rambutan
4. Squeeze to pop out the fruit
5. Remove the seed
6. Eat the fruit