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Monday, 28 March 2011

Persimmons; sweet harvest;


End of summer, through March Persimmons ripen in the Orchard. This is one of the Miracles of Nature.
So delicious and packed with vitamins and minerals.
While the bounty lasts my breakfast consists of

1 soft boiled egg from my happy hens and 
1 Persimmon...
I might have another one for morning tea... they are irresistible.








Persimmon fruit nutritional  facts

Sweet, delicious persimmon fruits are rich in health promoting nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that are vital for optimum health.  Botanically, the fruit belongs to the family of Ebenaceae of the genus: Diospyros;

The fruit is low in calories (provides 70 cal/100g) and fats but is rich source of dietary fiber.

Persimmons contain many health benefiting phyto-nutrients flavonoid poly-phenolic anti-oxidants like catechins and gallocatechins as well as important anti-tumor compound betulinic acid. Catechins are known to have anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic (prevents bleeding from small blood vessels) properties.

Fresh persimmons contain anti-oxidant compounds like vitamin-A, beta carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin. These compounds functions as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.

zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid, selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea in the eyes where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions; thus, helps prevent "Age related macular disease"(ARMD) in the elderly.

The fruits are also very good source of vitamin-C, another powerful antioxidant . Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.

The fruit is good in many valuable B-complex vitamins such as folic acid, pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), thiamin...etc. These vitamins acts as co-factors for numerous metabolic enzymatic functions in the body.

Fresh Persimmon fruits also contain healthy amounts of minerals like potassium, manganese (15% of DRI), copper (12% of DRI) and phosphorus. Manganese is a co-factor for the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which is a very powerful free radical scavenger. Copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as cofactors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Copper is also required for the production of red blood cells.  .





Believe it or not:
Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.
Yoko Ono




Photos TS












16 comments:

  1. They are a beautiful fruit when properly ripe. I was put off them after eating one or two before properly ripe even though they looked ripe. That is a perfect one that is opened and it made my mouth water. Can I come and have breakfast with you?

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  2. So lecker.Da bekomme ich gleich Appetit.
    Liebe Grüsse
    Helga

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  3. They are delightful. Love the look of the juicy flesh :-D I like persimmons. Glad to know that its give lots of mush needed nutrients. Thanks for those info. Happy morning tea!

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  4. Oh, I adore persimmons! And that Yoko Ono quote is very true.

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  5. Looks most delicious!! The second photo made my mouth water!;) I have never tasted persimmon before...haven't seen it around here. Loved reading all about the nutritional facts, Trudi.

    It must be fun to have your granddaughter over for the sleepovers...Remember the pink penta-like flowers I had posted on my blog some time ago? You had asked the name but I couldn't tell you then. I found out yesterday that it's called the Panama Rose or Bush Penta. The botanical name is Rondeletia leucophylla. The fragrance in the evenings is beautiful!

    BTW, I love the Yoko Ono quote...so apt particularly where the changes in seasons are more evident in the surroundings. Have a wonderful week!!

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  6. Nice post, Titania. Generally I like persimmons, but sometimes I find them too sweet.
    Happy Thursday!

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  7. Mmm, das erinnert mich an die Renicloden damals in meines Vaters Garten. Schon lange, lange keine mehr gegessen.
    Liebe Grüsse nach Australien
    Elfe

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  8. I have never eaten a persimmon, though interestingly I have just bought a marble persimmon to add to my (marble) fig and pear. I love the look of them and will have to taste one one day.

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  9. We have wild Persimmon trees here that grow at the fields' edge and I always forget to check if they have fruit, although I doubt they'd be as beautiful as the ones pictured in your blog!

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  10. Persimon gibt es hier ganz selten zu kaufen und ich denke mir, sie schmecken sicher nicht so gut wie bei euch, wenn sie frisch geerntet werden. Wie wohl die Blüten aussehen im Frühling? Hast du auch schon Bilder davon gemacht, oder sind sie unscheinbar?
    Liebe Grüsse
    Barbara

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  11. sweetbay; perhaps you have Diospyros virginiana, the original, wild persimmon. it is a smaller fruit but very tasty and sought after to produce a sweet or to dry.

    Barbara, die Blueten sind unscheinbar, gruenlich und man vermisst sie fast. Sie haengen an den Aesten wie vier geschlossenen Laeppchen und in der Mitte erscheint dann langsam die Frucht.

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  12. I love Persimmon but those we import from Israel or China look very different from yours. btw did you spray the whitish stuff on the fruits ? What is it ?

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  13. will Jakarta be suitable to grow persimmons?

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  14. Hort log, no we never spray the fruit, this is the bloom of the fruit.

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