Four Forgotten Fruits and Vegetables You Need To Include In Your Diet

Several fruits and veggies have long been forgotten in this century, these are fruits and veggies that were enjoyed by our forefathers for nutritional benefits and balanced diet, these fruits are now categorized under the lost agriculture varieties. The reasons for their disappearance are unknown but research has it that some were neglected because of their improbable forms and color appearances. Some of these fruits played symbolic roles during festivals or major events and as those practices faded away, the fruits became less significant and available,  it is also believed that some went into extinction as a result of the misconception that was attributed to them and many more. however, whatever the case may be, these fruits like every other fruit have their nutritional benefits and shouldn’t be discarded for some sort of assumptions or misconceptions

In this article, we will briefly be talking about four forgotten fruits and veggies you should add to your diet.

CYPRIOT WATERMELON

The Cypriot watermelon is a delicious and succulent type of melon that has been in existence as far back as the 70s. It originated from Cyprus and used to be one of the most consumed melons in many countries but has now been considered as one of the most endangered of the Cypriot heirlooms. This melon is easy to grow, and the vines do trellis well. Cypriot watermelon is a round-shaped melon just like the regular watermelon, it comes in the same size and similar taste, it has white-colored flesh, red-colored seeds, it can sometimes come in two colors or a single color of green.

THE ARMENIAN CUCUMBER

Armenian cucumbers, botanically classified as Cucumis melo  flexuosus and are actually a melon and not a cucumber.  They are otherwise known as the snake cucumber and are slender, elongated, curved, and often irregularly curled, averaging 25-38 centimeters long. Its thin skin ranges from dark green to light green and depending on the specific variety; it can be smooth or textured with longitudinal furrows and green stripes. Its flesh is crisp, sweet, succulent, and mild with some edible seeds, similar to a common cucumber. When sliced, Armenian cucumbers give off a scent reminiscent of cantaloupe.

 Armenian cucumber is a good source of vitamins: A, C, and K and can be eaten raw or processed without having to peel the skin, it is easy to cultivate as it has a high resistance to heat. 

CHAYA LEAF

Popularly known as efo iyana ipaja in Yoruba or catholic vegetable, some even call it “hospital too far”. This is another veggie that is gradually being forgotten, it is mostly found in the western part of Nigeria. Chaya is very easy to cultivate as it can thrive in any kind of weather and can survive various insect attacks.

The chaya leaf is a dark green leaf, with a slick surfaced leaf often with some hairs; it has a similar description to the okra leaf but irritates the hand when its juice comes in contact with the body. Chaya leaves are an excellent source of a number of essential nutrients for a healthy, balanced diet. In fact, Chaya is more nutritious than many green leafy vegetables such as spinach, Chinese cabbage, and amaranth. Traditionally Chaya has been recommended for several ailments including diabetes, obesity, kidney stones, hemorrhoids, acne, and eye problems. The leaves should be cooked before being eaten, however, they can also be used for other purposes by extracting the juice. Chaya is a good source of vitamins and iron, and it is a rich source of antioxidants.

TAMARIND

The tamarind is a small fruit having a velvet shell that has to be cracked open to access the fruit inside, usually an orange pulp which can either be sucked or chewed, it has a non-edible seed that has to be spat out after eating the edible part, it can be soaked in water for juice production and other types of drinks. It is sometimes referred to as the dates of India, it is widely used for cooking in some parts of the world, and it has also played a vital role in traditional medicine, usually for the treatments of peptic ulcer, diarrhea, constipation,  and also to regulate or lower body sugar.

Popularly cultivated in the northern part of the country, tamarind is high in calories hence can be very useful for those trying to add some weight.