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Fresh Fruit Popsicles

July 5, 2016

If you go to the local store, there is a great chance that you will find some tasty popsicles. However, you should know that it is easy to prepare these refreshing treats at home too. But, why would someone want to do this? Well, besides the fact that they are usually expensive, another good reason why you should stick to homemade fresh fruit popsicles is the fact that the store-bought varieties come with high levels of high fructose corn syrup and other potentially harmful ingredients. This syrup has been associated with different health issues – stay away from it.

Preparing fresh fruit popsicles is easy

They are good for our health and they taste fantastic. The recipe that we will present is based on bananas and raspberries, two fruits that bring many health benefits.

People in the regions where bananas grow naturally have used this fruit for hundreds of years for different digestive issues. Namely, they have figured out that banana can help them when they have constipation and diarrhea. Thanks to the rich dietary fiber content, bananas stabilize the digestive system and optimize bowel movements. Bananas are also rich in potassium which restores electrolytes.

In addition, bananas are an excellent source of tryptophan. For those who didn’t know, this specific amino acid has the ability to boost mood and eliminate the symptoms of depression. The only way to get tryptophan is through food (like bananas) because the body doesn’t create this amino acid naturally. Bananas also contain vitamin B6, a vitamin that plays a crucial role in different bodily functions. One banana will give you almost 20% of the daily recommended amount of this vitamin. Several studies have shown that bananas can stabilize blood pressure and this is the reason why doctors recommend bananas to patients suffering from hypertension. Finally, bananas can reduce the levels of gastric acid and ease the problems caused by stomach ulcers and that’s why they are helpful against heartburn too.

Of course, raspberries have many health benefits too and they are one of the main reasons why these fresh fruit popsicles are so healthy. Raspberries are high in fiber. One regular serving of these berries will meet about 35% of the daily recommended intake of fiber. So, raspberries are here to protect the GI tract, improve bowel movement and support the digestive process. These berries are also rich in vitamin C, a vitamin that supports the repair and growth of tissues in different body parts and neutralization of free radicals. Raspberries are good for the bones, connective tissues and blood clotting elements because they contain a lot of manganese. A large amount of antioxidants found in raspberries can keep us safe from many different types of cancer. In the end, raspberries provide strong anti-inflammatory effects.

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