There's a world beyond the same old apples and oranges you've been buying forever. For starters, certain fruits have been shown to lower cholesterol levels and even ward off certain cancers. So, the next time you're in the produce aisle or the local farmers' market, don't pass the following fruits by.
1. Papaya. Long popular in Asian and Latin cultures, the exotic papaya deserves to appear on more Americans' tables. Why? Simply put, this long or round orange fruit is a nutritional powerhouse, bursting with Vitamin C as well as folate and potassium. It's terrific blended into smoothies, diced into green salads, or topped with cantaloupe for a refreshing summer lunch or snack.
2. Mangosteen. Touted as curing everything from migraines to cancer, the Southeast Asian mangosteen (not related to the mango) is the latest export to rock the health headlines, particularly in juice, puree or extract form. The fruit is rich in antioxidants, but many experts warn against placing too much faith in its curative powers. According to the American Cancer Society, early studies suggest it may prove beneficial to acne sufferers, and lab tests on rats revealed that the fruit may possibly slow the growths of certain cancers. But since so many health claims have been made about the mangosteen, skeptics urge consumers to exercise caution when buying mangosteen products from independent distributors.