Anoda Fruit: A Sweet Tropical Delight-by Kalani-eLanka The Anoda fruit, also known as Custard Apple or Annona reticulata, is a tropical fruit native to the Americas, particularly the West Indies and parts of Central and South America. It belongs to the Annonaceae family and is widely grown in tropical regions worldwide, including parts of South Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa. Its unique flavor, creamy texture, and numerous health benefits make it a popular choice among fruit lovers. The Anoda fruit has a heart-shaped or oval appearance with a thin, rough skin that can be green, yellow, or reddish-brown when ripe. The flesh inside is soft, creamy, and white with a sweet, custard-like flavor. It contains several black, shiny seeds embedded in the pulp, which are inedible. The fruit typically grows on small deciduous trees, reaching heights of up to 10 meters. These trees thrive in tropical and subtropical climates with ...

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Pineapple: The Tropical Gem of Flavor and Nutrition-by Kalani-eLanka Pineapple, with its vibrant yellow flesh and sweet-tart flavor, is one of the most beloved tropical fruits worldwide. Scientifically known as Ananas comosus, pineapple is not just a refreshing treat but also a powerhouse of nutrients, offering numerous health benefits. Pineapple is native to South America, particularly the region that includes modern-day Brazil and Paraguay. The fruit was cultivated by indigenous people long before European explorers encountered it. Christopher Columbus is credited with introducing pineapple to Europe after his voyage to the New World in 1493. Today, pineapples are grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, with major producers including Thailand, the Philippines, India, Costa Rica, and Brazil. The pineapple plant is a perennial herb that grows close to the ground, with long, spiky leaves arranged in a rosette. The fruit itself develops from a cluster of flowers, known ...

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“What are prebiotics, and why is it important to know?” – By Dr. Harold Gunatillake Prebiotics are non-digestible parts of food  labelled carbohydrates that act as fibre.  Unchanged, they go to the colon, where  microorganisms of the intestinal microbiota  use them. They become food for “good.”  intestinal bacteria and promote their growth, colonisation, and sustainability in the digestive tract. Dietary fibre is fermented by the human gut microbiota, producing beneficial microbial metabolites, such as short chain fatty acids.  As our dietary fibre intake has plummeted over  the past few centuries, the gut microbiota has suffered detrimental changes. This underscores the crucial role of prebiotics, which are unique   plant fibres, in maintaining a healthy gut.   Welcome to our deep dive into the world of prebiotics, the unsung heroes of  gut health. Today, we’ll explore the essential facts about these powerful  dietary fibres and their incredible benefits for our bodies.  Consider this: nearly 40 per ...

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“Meet Your Human Microbiota: The Unsung Heroes Inside You” A new frontier in health – By Dr Harold Gunatillake “Hello, everyone! Today, we’re going on an incredible journey inside our bodies to  meet some of the most important yet often overlooked inhabitants—the microbiota  in our large gut.”  Before we discuss microbiota, I must explain the difference between microbiome  and microbiota.  The microbiome refers to collecting genomes,  which means the complete set of DNA   (genetic material) in an organism from all the  microorganisms in the environment.   Microbiota, conversely, usually relates to microorganisms found within a specific  environment, which is the gut in the present talk. However, microbiota can refer to  all organisms found in an environment, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.  So, what is Microbiota? “Imagine a bustling city with trillions of residents; this is  what our large gut looks like under a microscope. The microbiota consists of   bacteria, viruses, ...

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Looking after your gut health – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Website: www.Doctorharold.com Modern lifestyle harms our digestion, causing health issues. But, we can improve our gut health and overall well-being by making smarter food choices and simple lifestyle changes. Gut health is often overlooked in our daily lives. The healthy gut’s primary function is to break down the food we eat and absorb nutrients that keep our body functioning correctly. Research in the medical community has shown that the gut plays a crucial role in our overall health. Specifically, the gut microbiome in our large intestines is essential for maintaining good gut health and can impact every organ in our body. Further, the gut connects with the brain through the long vagus nerve. Hence, the gut is referred to as the second brain. Hidden in the walls of our digestive system are marshalling neurons and supporting cells. The Enteric Nervous ...

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