Tropical Fruits' Virtue¹

热带水果的功效

Did you know that one tropical fruit can be used as a substitute for IV fluid in an emergency? Or that another tropical treat has been shown in studies to kill cancer cells? Aside from their health benefits, there are plenty of other reasons to love the following tropical fruits and some of these benefits will definitely surprise you.

你是否知道有一种热带水果可以在紧急治疗中替代静脉输液给人注射?还有研究显示食用某种热带水果能够杀死体内癌细胞?除了在健康方面的好处，还有很多其他的原因会让你爱上接下来介绍的几种热带水果……他们的广泛用途肯定会让你大吃一惊的。

Coconuts³

You might think of coconut² as the sweet topping on German chocolate cake, but this fruit has plenty of health benefits as well. Coconut water has a ton of health benefits. It's a sterile⁴ source of clean water, useful for survival hydration. On top of this, coconut water has the same level of electrolytic balance human blood. In the Pacific Theatre during World War Ⅱ coconut water was frequently used in the field as an emergency plasma⁵ transfusion⁶ for wounded combatants.

椰子

提到椰子，你可能会想到德国巧克力蛋糕上那可爱的小房顶，其实这种水果对人体健康有着诸多好处。首先就是椰子汁，它是绝对安全的水质，可以帮助体内完成生存所必需的水合作用。在此基础上，在帮助人体血液达到电解平衡上，椰子汁也有同样的功效。在第二次世界大战的太平洋战场上，椰子汁就经常被当做血浆输液。

Coconut water makes a better sports drink than commercial products, as it is lower in salts and sugars and higher in potassium. And, of course, the flesh and oil of the coconut is also edible⁷ and good for you!

相比其他的商业生产的饮品，椰子汁则是一款更好的运动饮料，因为它的盐分和糖分的含量都较低，却富含饵元素。当然，椰子肉、椰子油也都可以被食用且对人体有益!

Mangosteen

The mangosteen is a small fruit with white flesh , popular throughout Asia. One group of scientists has proposed that alpha-mangostin, an antioxidant found only in mangosteen, can cause cell death in leukemia cells, effectively treating the disease. While more research needs to be done, mangosteen is also said to have powerful anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.

山竹果

山竹果是一种外形很小巧的水果，有着白色的果肉，在整个亚洲很受欢迎。一组对此进行研究的科学家们已经提出:只有在山竹果里才发现一种叫倒捻子素的抗氧化剂，它对白血病的细胞有致死作用，因此对治疗白血病很有效。当然，更多的研究有待进行，据说山竹果还有消炎、抗菌、防腐、消毒的特性。

Avcado

You might think of it as a vegetable, but this is actually a fruit. And not just any fruit, but a fruit that has been shown to lower cholesterol⁸. They are also rich in folic acid, which can prevent some kinds of common birth defects. Even more interesting is that avocados are the ultimate life hack⁹ fruit: when you eat an avocado with other vegetables, you absorb more nutrients¹⁰ from the meal than you would have from eating the vegetables alone. Top your salad with a few slices of avocado, and you'll be increasing your intake¹¹ of vitamins and minerals from the meal.

鳄梨

可能你会以为它是一种蔬菜，但它确确实实是一种水果，并且，它还不单纯是种普通水果，而是一种能够降低人体胆固醇的水果。此外，它还富含叶酸，能预防一些常见的先天性畸形病。更有意思的是，鳄梨是一种催化剂:如果你把鳄梨和其他蔬菜棍搭着吃，会比你单独吃某个蔬菜吸收更多的营养。你可以在色拉上放几片跨梨，这样能提高维生素和矿物质的摄取量。

Mango

A single mango will contain half of your recommended daily allowance of both Vitamin A and Vitamin C, as well as some B-Vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, beta-carotene, and well , maybe it would have been quicker for me to list the few nutrients that this little fruit doesn't contain.

芒果

一个芒果会含有一半人体每天所需的维生素A和维生素 C，还有少量的B族维生素、Ω-3脂肪酸、多酣、R胡萝卡素……哦，或许我该列出它所不含的营养成分，这样会更快一些!

I picked up an interesting tip about quickly ripening¹²; mangoes from the book "Urawaza"， which I reviewed here recently. If you pick up a mango at the supermarket that is still hard, soak it in simmering water for just 10 minutes to speed up the ripening process. The sooner you can eat one, the sooner you can start to enjoy its beneficial qualities.

最近我在一本名为 "Urawaza"的书里看到过这样一个有关如何加速芒果成熟的方法，在这里复述一下。如果你发现刚从超市买回来的芒果，依然很坚硬，你可以将其浸在水里，用小火做炖10分钟，这样就会加快它的成熟过程。你越早吃上芒果，就能越早感受它所带来的益处。

Longan

Longan berries, native to China, have long been said by Asian herbalists to have relaxing properties, making them the perfect snack to enjoy to lower your stress levels. It is also said to have anti-cancer, antioxidant, and liver-protective properties. The longan contains high levels of iron, potassium, and large amounts of vitamins A and C. Finding them in a form other than fresh at your local market may be tough, but dried and canned longan are also available.

龙眼

龙眼果，中国土特产，一直以来都被亚洲中药师认为其具有舒缓神经的特性，并成为帮人减压的完美零食。据说，龙眼还有抗癌、防氧化、保护肝脏的作用。龙眼富含铁元素、饵元素、维生素A和维生素C。你只要食用市场上的新鲜龙眼，这些营养你就全得到了，当然，风于的或灌装的龙眼也同样富含这些营养成分。

In general, eating more fruits is good for your health. Overall , tropical fruits have been known to reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease. On top of these benefits, a diet rich in tropical fruits ensures that you will have improved digestion¹³ and GI function. Best of all, these fruits can neutralize¹⁴ free radicals¹⁵, protecting you from asthma¹⁶, joint pain, and the above-mentioned heart and cancer risks.

通常来讲，多吃水果有益健康，而所有的热带水果则能帮助你降低患癌症和得心脏病的概率。除此之外，常吃这类水果还会有助于改善你的消化能力和胃肠道功能。最好的，它们能中和自由基，预防哮喘、关节炎，还有前面所提到的癌症和心脏病。

You are what you eat. If you want to be smart, eat smart, and reach for these tropical fruits the next time you are craving¹⁷ a snack.

你的健康就取决于你的饮食习惯。如果你想拥有健康，那就得吃得健康，下次在吃，点心时不妨选择这些热带水果吧!