DIETITIAN'S DESK

One of the crazes in the food industry is medicinal foods. In fact, some people are spending big bucks for drinks and potions which promise healing and long life.

Consumers seem to be attracted to exotic foods with strange-sounding names with miracle stories attached to them. The ingredients in many of these potions seem to be magical and unknown because when many of these labels are scrutinised, they contain mainly water, sugars, fruit concentrate, flavour and a few additives. Many people do not read the labels, but are convinced by the picture panels, advertisements and the 'tall tales' told by sales people.

I invite us to pay some attention close to home. There are many neglected foods which are powerhouses of goodness.

One such fruit is the West Indian garden cherry (which is now in season). These tart, juicy, pit-filled morsels pack a very large amount of vitamin C. About 100 grams has approximately 1,700mg of vitamin C and is also a good source of vitamin A and folate but is low in carbohydrate. This powerhouse can serve a myriad of purposes.

Low-calorie snack

Cherry

It is an excellent low-calorie snack and, because it is tart, you will put small amounts in your mouth at a time. It has a large pit so each one has a minuscule amount of calories. The pit is chewy and so can distract you as you chew and, the best part is, the cherry is so good for you. This snack is perfect for children because of its nutritious value and should be added to their food list.

It can be added to other fruits to make a delicious and nutritious smoothie or it can be flavoured with ginger or lime. Go easy on the sweetener, cherry juice is just as refreshing without it.

Great for vitamin C

Human beings are one of the few mammals who are unable to make vitamin C in their bodies and so they must consume it from foods. This important vitamin plays many important roles in the body such as in the formation of collagen, a major protein in connective tissue, cartilage and bone.

It is an important antioxidant and takes part in many health-promoting reactions in the body. Vitamin C is also important in promoting iron absorption in adults and children, especially in cases where a large part of their dietary iron intake is from plant sources.

So harvest your garden cherries, consume them, wash and freeze them for out-of-season periods. Share them with your friends and neighbours and enjoy the inexpensive powerhouse of nutrition which we sometimes take for granted because they are just in our backyards. Why not plant a garden cherry tree for the future if you don't now have one.

Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.