Fruits are available in Kenya in large numbers, we are going to look at some of the best fruits in Kenya in regard to their health benefits and availability. Every fruit have a benefit. It’s therefore worth noting that even though some fruits may not be in the list below, they are still beneficial in some ways.

Before we look at each fruits individually, let’s grip something about fruits in general. It’s important to understand how they contribute to our health and products we can make from them.

Fruits health benefits

When talking of health matters, what we eat contributes at the largest percentage. When health consultants are talking of what to eat, it will be very hard for them not to mention fruits and vegetables. This means that fruits are very important to our bodies. Below is how fruits contribute to our well being:

Vitamins. fruits are a rich source of vitamins. This is one of their major benefits. Since vitamins are protective nutrients, they boost our immunity. A strong immunity means one will not be prone to frequent sicknesses, also, if at all a sickness occurs, healing is usually after a short period of time.

Minerals, minerals are required in adequate quantities in our bodies. They contribute to various functions, e.g formation on blood ( iron), strong bones(calcium), fluid balance regulation (potassium) etc. Fruits are one of the major sources of the minerals, the availability of the minerals varies according to the fruit type, we will look at minerals availability in different fruits later.

Fiber, a lot of fruits are fibrous, fiber is the thread like parts of fruits, they are also found on vegetables. Fiber mainly smoothen the digestion process and prevents constipation.

Food, another benefit of fruits is that they are a major source of food, so when you are hungry you can grab a couple of them and eat to your satisfaction. Some of the fruits can be cooked just like any other food.

Products you can make from fruits

Fruits can act as law materials for various edible products. You do not have to always eat the fruits as a whole, here are some of the products you can make from fruits:

Juices, you can make this from a single fruit or by using different fruits and vegetables. When making juices from fruits, you will need a juicer. This type of appliance sucks water from the fruit and discards the solid part. While the juice is still important, the disadvantage is that you loose the fiber from the solid part of the fruit.

Smoothies, Just like the juice, you can make this from a single fruit a combination of fruits and vegetables. In smoothies you turn both the liquid and solid from the fruits into a thick solid, at times you can add water. Making of smoothies is done using blenders, check top best blenders in Kenya here

Skin and hair products, some fruits are not beneficial by consumption only. They can be applied on the skin or hair giving a healing or improving our hair and skin conditions. Fruits such as avocado have been used for a long time for this purpose. Some skin and hair products manufacturers also use fruits to process their products.

Best fruits in Kenya

Above we have gained some knowledge about fruits, below we will look at some top fruits in Kenya and the nutrients or benefits they offer. Where possible, we will outline the season at which each outlined fruit is available.

1. Banana

Ndizi in Swahili

The fruit is available in markets all over the country, also the fruit is available through out the year. The banana fruit has different nutrients, among the major ones are; Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and Copper. Apart from the nutrients and minerals, the bananas also have a substantial amount of fiber. Though the fruit can not been used to make juices it can be used to make smoothies. Apart from eating them raw when ripe, some types of banana can be cooked as food.

2. Avocado

Parachichi in Swahili

The avocado is also a popular fruit in Kenya. Although they are available almost through out the year, the main season is mainly between June to September. The fruit has high level of nutrients, among the are; Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E. Avocado have high level of minerals also, some of this include Magnesium and Potassium. Just like bananas, avocados can not be used to make juices, they however can be used to make smoothies.

3. Mangoes

Embe in swahili

The fruits are available largely between November and March in the markets. One of the major benefit of the fruit is high fiber content. The main nutrient is Vitamin C, other includes proteins, fat and calories with copper been the main mineral. Mangoes can be used to make both juices and smoothies.

4. Pawpaw

Paipai in Swahili

The fruit is available in two different varieties, one is small in size while the other is large in size also known as payapaya. Both of them are available in the Kenyan market, the peak season of the fruit is August and October. Although it contains some fiber, the main composition is minerals and nutrients, minerals include; magnesium, potassium and zinc, the nutrients are Vitamin C.

5. Pineapples

Nanasi in Swahili

The fruits are available almost through out the year in the Kenyan market. You can easily make juice from this fruits since they are succulent, making smoothies is also simple with the fruit. The main nutrient in pineapples is Vitamin B6. The fruit also have minerals such as Manganese, Potassium and magnesium.

6. Apples and Pears

Tofaa na Pea in swahili

The two fruits, that is; apples and pears belong to the same family. Apples are available through out the year in most markets while pears are available for one season. Both fruits are rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin K, pears have small amount of copper while apples have a portion of potassium. Both fruits also have sufficient amount of fiber.

The above are just but among the top fruits in Kenya, however this are not the only fruits with health benefits you will find. Here is a list of more fruits that you can consider for your health:

Oranges

Lemon

Plum

Passion

Watermelon

Grapes