In today’s world rumors spend rapidly whether it is about your favorite Kardashian, whether it is your favorite sports team and with no general requirement of them being true, People tend to behave gullibly whenever they come across that may or may not be true but just because they tend to interest their brain, they tend to believe it. In the same way, we have created myths about the daily bread that sometimes does not make any sense to me. So, here are the 10 myths about fruits and some ways for you to benefit from them.
I remember being a young kid and I used to love eating apples with my breakfast sandwich, it is a very weird combination but as a kid, I didn’t care much about the normalcy and liked the randomness in the taste of this combo was giving me. My granny on the other hand always poked me and told me this habit of mine is extremely unhealthy and that I am wasting the nutrients in the fruits. As a kid who had trouble in basic addition, my Granny’s concept was something out of my mental grasp but as it turned out this tends to be a myth that is believed by a lot of people. According to the human anatomy, The human digestive system is very efficient at absorbing nutrients from food. When eating, your stomach releases only a little bit of food at a time so that your intestines have the chance to absorb as many nutrients as possible.
Your small intestine is about 6 meters long, which gives it ample length and time to absorb nutrients during digestion. This means that your digestive system will have no problem receiving the nutrients from the fruits you consume, whether or not you eat them with a meal but this doesn’t help change the fact that every time my granny still pokes me I will always listen to her.
The second myth that I have found in our household is that you can only eat fruits on an empty stomach. Now this one hurts me, as a person who loves to eat fruits early in the morning. The feeling of experiencing that fruity juice the first thing in the morning is literally a gift that everyone should experience starting from the moment you come across this writing. Science states that, Although the fiber in fruits can slow down the release of food from your stomach, there is no truth to its claimed effects. Yes, fruits slow down the rate your stomach passes food into the small intestine, but, they do not slow digestion down in the stomach.
Slowing down digestion can, in fact, be a positive effect. The fiber in fruits keeps you feeling full for a longer period of time, helping you consume fewer calories. Remember next time to try out fruits as your breakfast and you will the freshness that they give you for the rest of the day.
The next myth on my list is a myth that I believe everyone should choose to believe. I am an ‘Early Morning Fruit Eater’ and I do believe that the best time to eat fruits is right after you wake up, the time you take your first meal but only because of the taste and the freshness it can provide you with for the rest of the day, there is no nutritional value behind it. People tend to believe that 6 hours after you wake up is the time you are able to digest fruits and any other time after that fruits cause indigestion. However, this is obviously a myth, and science state the digestive system is able to digest food at any time of the day, with or without fruits. Although eating large quantities of food might temporarily cause the body to divert more blood flow to the digestive organs, this does not affect your metabolism rate.
The claims that fruits should be eaten in the afternoon should not be taken seriously. No matter the time of day, fruits are good for you.
You shouldn't eat fruits before sleeping. Ironically, this myth contradicts the previous one. Some people contend that eating fruits before sleeping increases your blood sugar level. As your body does not have time to stabilize the blood sugar levels before you sleep, this can lead to weight gain. But the human anatomy on the other hand has something else to say,
Your body does not shift from burning calories to storing them as fat when you fall asleep. You still burn calories to maintain your bodily functions. There is also no evidence to show that consuming fruits at certain times of the day varies weight gain.
There is substantial evidence, however, to show that eating 2 servings of fruit and a lot of vegetables throughout the day correlates to lower fat percentages and a decreased likelihood of weight gain. Substituting other foods for fruit and vegetables is one of the best things you can do if you want to lose weight. It is an efficient way to meet all your nutritional needs, all while having a balanced calorie intake
If you are a diabetic patient and have been told before to not eat fruits by someone, this one is for your help. It's a common myth that you shouldn't eat certain foods if you have diabetes because they're "too sweet”. Some fruits do contain more sugar than others, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't eat them if you have diabetes. The concern has been that because fruits contain sugar, they increase your blood glucose levels. However, most fruits have low to medium glycaemic indexes, so they do not lead to a sharp rise in your blood glucose levels compared to other carbohydrate-containing foods like white or refined bread products.
Managing diabetes has to do with managing your blood glucose, blood fats, blood pressure, and your weight, and fruits and vegetables can play a positive role in all of these.
One of the popular beliefs among people is that there is no difference between fresh and dried fruits. According to this myth, there is no difference in nutrition content between fresh and dried fruits and therefore can be consumed interchangeably.
However, this is not the case, Fresh fruits and dried fruits both have their own health-promoting qualities. Fresh fruits are high in minerals and vitamin C, which is a heat-sensitive vitamin that is often reduced or lost in dried fruit during processing. Fresh fruits also have high water content in them. Dried fruits are good sources of vitamins, minerals and fibre. It is also high in natural sugar and calories because after the water has been removed, it concentrates all the sugar and calories in a much smaller package. Portion control is important if you are on a weight reduction plan. It is also important to choose only the plain dried fruits rather than those coated with sugar or added preservatives, which could compromise its nutritional value.
There are people who love to drink juices and I am pretty sure by that statement it includes atleast 90 percent of the world’s population but if you are given an option to choose if you can only eat or drink juices of fruits, I would choose the solid form of fruits everytime but opinions and choices differ so there are people who prefer juices over fruits but that does not mean that juicing is healthier than the natural form. It is actually believed that Juicing is not healthier than eating whole fruits. There is no scientific evidence that backs the claim that extracted juices are healthier than the juice you get by eating the whole fruit.
While the juice that is extracted from fresh fruits contain most of the vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals found in the fruit itself, whole fruits also have healthy fibre, which is lost during most juicing. Fibre also adds bulk, which means you’ll be less likely to overeat as you feel full more quickly. It takes several apples to get a cup of juice, but one is enough if you’re eating the whole fruit.
Now if you remember your biology class from standard 6 you would be aware with the term ‘Fructose’. If you were anything like me you googled the term and for those if you who didn’t bother to google the term it is actually a term which is used for the natural sugar that can be found in fruits. It is actually believed that fructose in high content is the cause for diabetes and other dieseases. When consumed as a whole fruit, the sugar in fruits alongside other nutrients are good for you and adds minimal fructose to your diet. In fact, chances are that you might be getting too much fructose in your diet through the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda, sweet coffee drinks, or even fruit juice. Additionally, fruits also have fibre, which helps to slow down the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream.
Research has shown that there is actually an inverse relationship between eating fruit and body weight and the risk of obesity-related diseases.
The last but not the least the myth that probably scares a lot of people is Fruit detox drinks can rid the body of toxins. It is believed that Juicing is a good way to remove toxins from your body, which helps your organs function better and stay in optimal condition longer. But, There is no clear scientific evidence to support the claim made for detox juices. Juicing deprives you of the fibre contained in the fruit, therefore, drinking only freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices for several days at a time is actually not a good idea. Long-term consumption may also be toxic in high doses and lead to permanent organ damage.
Nevertheless, not all is bad with these drinks. Incorporating juices that is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds into your diet without totally replacing your meals may be healthful and promotes the natural detoxification system in the body. This creates overall balance and also helps you achieve your daily recommended dietary intake. Opt to blend the fruits instead of juicing them to retain the fibre.
I hope these 9 myths help you in some way. Fruits are a great source of nutrition and helps us stay fit for sure but there are obviously myths which just like any other rumour have just been created by people with insufficient knowledge and with the intelligence of their own instinct. In a world where internet makes it really easy for us to communicate with people it should be noted to always reason and fact check before believing something blindly.
Why chilies had to be part of our product line: A blog about why chilies are very important in the fruit industry in Nigeria.
Across the world, chilies are the most important commercial crop that plays a vital role in the world economy since it is a widely grown spice among other spice crops.
By and large, chilies are also known as “Chili Pepper” throughout the world. Some farmers are not claiming that chili farming is clearly more profitable than maize farming. These farmers are said to be making fortunes from chili farming through value addition. Millions of homes, hotels, fast foods, canteens, and other consumers are using it on daily basis, which makes Chillies so popular all over the world. Chilies are mostly eaten for their excellent spicy taste and flavored pungency. The active element “Capsaicin” one kind of alkaloid present in chilies is also extracted from them and is used as a medicinal ingredient.
Chili is the largest spice among the entire spice crop all over the world, however, when it comes to production, India tops the list of chili production followed by China and Ethiopia. Other chili-producing countries include India, Myanmar, Mexico, Peru, Vietnam, Pakistan, Ghana, and Bangladesh. Kenya is now producing chilies at a commercial level and their farmers are making millions from chilies production. It is high time Nigerian farmers started taking the advantage of producing chilies. People consume chili every day not because of its spicy aroma but due to its numerous health benefits. For instance, green chilies are an excellent source of many minerals and vitamins, especially antioxidants so they can act as janitors in providing protection against damage from free radicals and preve
nting many cancers.
The Vitamin C content of green
chilies is beneficial in strengthening immunity naturally to the diseases.
Chilies also keep prostate cancer away from men and are also helpful in reducing the high blood sugar level of the body it releases endorphins significantly into the brain and works as are mood refresher among others. The Executive Director, GoGreen Africa Initiative, Ambassador Adeniyi Bunmi said that currently, commercial chili farming is pretty successful and anyone can earn an excellent profit with instant income because there is always a great demand in the local and international market. According to him, besides growing on the commercial open field, people can also grow in poly houses, greenhouses, pots, containers, backyards, under shade nets, etc.
In Nigeria, pepper farming is one of the most profitable and lucrative farming businesses anyone can get their hands in. Pepper is one of the widely used spices in Nigeria. Almost every Nigerian eats pepper, if not all Nigerians, this makes the cultivation of pepper a lucrative business in Nigeria.
Pepper farming is the cultivation of peppers; it is one of the most lucrative farming ventures in Nigeria.
Pepper farming in Nigeria can be grouped under the cultivation of habanero (Ata Rodo) pepper, cultivation of sweet pepper (bell pepper), cultivation of chili pepper, cultivation of shombo pepper, yellow pepper farming, and cultivation of the local bell pepper (tatase). Like every process, there are certain steps to be taken to get the best outcome possible. Here, also the people of Nigeria have taken certain steps which are:
1. Site Selection
2. Climatic Conditions Requirement
3. Capital and Farming Business Requirements
4. Soil Requirement
5. Land Preparation for Pepper Farming
6. Varieties of Pepper to Plant
7. Irrigation
8. Nursery Management
9. Transplanting of Seedlings
10. Application of Fertilizers
11. Weed Control and Pruning in Pepper Farming
12. Pest Control in Pepper Farming
13. Disease Control
14. Harvest
15. Post-Harvest and Marketing
For Site Selection, Pepper prefers a farmland site with abundant sunshine. It is a tropical vegetable crop that does well in a warm and sunlight-rich environment.
Pepper prefers fertile soil rich in organic matters. The pH of the soil should be 5.5 – 6.5. Pepper can grow under a high temperature, though it prefers a temperature level of 20 Celsius to 35 Celsius. Pepper can do well in the Rain Forest, Guinea Savannah, Sudan Savannah, Sahel Savannah, Plateau Area, and Mangrove belts of Nigeria. Pepper can grow well in most types of soil in Nigeria. Pepper can grow in loamy, sandy, and clay soil. Pepper will not do well in very acidic soils and very alkaline soils.
In the forest zones of Nigeria, a lot of money will be spent to prepare the land for pepper farming especially if the farmer wants to cultivate in a virgin forest. Forests are dense in southern Nigeria with a lot of trees; the pepper farmer will have to remove the trees and other vegetation on the soil.
In the savannah belt of Nigeria where there are few trees, it is not expensive to prepare land for pepper farming.
After the removal of the vegetation on the soil, the farmer is advised to plow his farmland, depending on the condition of the farmland, the farmer can plow his land twice. After plowing, the farmer should harrow his farmland and the last stage is to ridge the farmland. All these processes can be mechanized with the use of tractors.
Farm Yard Manure (FYM) or chicken manure should be added to the farmland before ridging. This will make the soil become rich in nutrients. Nematicides can also be added to the soil to kill harmful soil-borne insects and nematodes
You can plant either open-pollinated pepper seeds or hybrid seeds while engaging in pepper farming. Open-pollinated seeds are cheap; they can also be saved and replanted by farmers. Hybrid seeds are bred by scientists; they are bred to resist diseases and pests better than open-pollinated seeds.
Hybrid seeds in most cases have a much higher yield than open-pollinated seeds.
There are a lot of varieties of peppers in Nigeria. Some are sweet pepper varieties, habanero pepper varieties, chili pepper varieties, etc.
Some varieties of pepper sold in Nigeria include Avenir F1, Ganga pepper, Mekong F1, Nirmanda F1, Piquante F1 (Red), Piquante F1 (Yellow), and Demon Chilli pepper.
Open-pollinated pepper varieties can also be used for pepper farming in Nigeria.
One of the top secrets of making a super normal profit from pepper farming is to use irrigation, especially drip irrigation.
Most of the pepper farmers in Nigeria use the rain as the sole method of getting water to their plants. Rain-fed farmers plant and cultivate their peppers at the same time and also harvest at the same time, this causes a glut in the market. During a glut, prices get depressed and farmers make little or no profit.
With irrigation, farmers can cultivate their crops all year round. Drip irrigation systems are especially very efficient. With drip irrigation, farmers can pass water to the roots of their plants in an efficient manner. Drip irrigation systems also allow farmers to fertilize their crops without the need for laborers to side-dress or top dress. This process is called fertigation.
Drip irrigation pepper farmers often record 50-200% more yield than rain fed farmers. Also, they can better fertilise their crops than rain fed farmers. From the experience of people farming for peppers in Nigeria, people have reported that they have observed have observed that mites attack, bacteria wilt, mosaic viral infection, and blight diseases are the commonest diseases of pepper plants. The first step to prevent diseases in pepper plants is to buy treated seeds from approved seed vendors in Nigeria. Planting untreated seeds can spread diseases to your farmland. All leftover plants, debris, and stumps should also be removed before you start the cultivation of pepper on your farmland. Leftover plants and debris can harbor diseases that can infect your crop.
As a result of all of these things mentioned above, Nigeria has reached the epitome of the chillie farming business. They have cont
inued to expand their business in the best way, Today it is nearly impossible to imagine any civilian of Nigeria eating a dish that has no chillie. Cheers to all of them having a ‘chillie’ time during the steakhouse.
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