Are Unripe Fruits Healthier for You Than Ripe Fruits?

When you order fruit baskets delivered by Hale Groves, your fruit is still on the tree at the time you place your order – that means it’s perfectly ripe and ready to eat when it arrives! There’s a reason for this…as anyone who’s eaten a banana while it was still green knows, the riper fresh fruit is, the sweeter it tastes. That’s why we leave our famous citrus fruit on the tree as long as possible – the more sunshine it soaks up, the more time the natural sugars have to concentrate so our fruits are always sweet and delicious when they arrive. (You’ll especially notice this in our Ruby Red Grapefruit, which is so sweet you don’t even have to add sugar to it.)

There’s no denying that fruits are always good for us, especially fresh fruits – from antioxidants and fiber to a host of vitamins and minerals, making fruit a regular part of your diet is one of the best things you can do for your body. But did you know how ripe some fruits are when you eat them can have an impact on which health benefits they offer?

Pros and Cons of Eating Unripe Fruit

As stated above, when we at Hale Groves deliver fruit to you and your gift recipients it’s always perfectly ripe – with one notable exception. When our customers order a fruit box of pears, we always send these just a little underripe, with instructions on how to ripen them and when to know they’re ready to eat. It’s a good idea to follow these directions, too, because pears aren’t a fruit you should eat before they’re fully ripe. Not only will they not taste as good, but they don’t contain the nutrients your body needs, and they may even upset your stomach.

Some fruits, however, can provide extra benefits when they’re not quite ripe. These include higher levels of fiber (which is beneficial in promoting gut health and easing digestive disorders) and increased amounts of vitamins C and B6 and potassium. And because they’re not as high in natural sugars as they’re ripe counterparts, unripe fruits can be better those with diabetes.

Here are some Hale Groves fruits that are good to eat when unripe, and what they can do for you:

1. Mangos

Raw mango pickles are a staple in many Indian households, but that’s not all they’re good for. They’re also tasty when used in salads, chutneys, salsas, smoothies, as a fruit leather, or just sliced and sprinkled with salt. They’re good for you, too…raw mango is rich in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, polyphenols, and vitamins A, C, and E.

Unripe mangos are good for you in that they:

• Help promote eye and skin health
• Reduce inflammation and lower your risk for some cancers
• Improve dental health and hygiene
• Ease heartburn symptoms

2. Plums

Green plums are rich in fiber, vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, potassium, and phytonutrients. Also known as wild plums, they can be pickled and used as a topping for lamb or fish dishes, or used in pies, tarts, sorbets, or jams.

Unripe plums are good for you in that they:

• Help boost your immune system
• Reduce signs of aging
• Aid in digestion
• Help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and anemia

3. Apples

Green apples contain a compound called pectin, a fiber source that works as a prebiotic to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut and helps you break down foods more efficiently. Green apples can be used to make jams and jellies, chutneys, and apple cider vinegar.

Unripe apples are good for you in that they:

• Promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut
• Aid in digestion
• Ease constipation and diarrhea

To Sum Up…

With a bit of creativity, there are plenty of uses for fruits in any stage of ripeness so long as you’re starting with high-quality fruit. So, if you receive a large fruit gift basket, don’t wait for it to get mushy – go ahead and enjoy it now!