The fruit your kids WILL actually want to eat: Brand new superfruit dubbed 'Boombites' tastes like grapes but has bright red pulp like cherries
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Any parent will be familiar with the daily struggle that is getting your child to eat their five–a–day.
But a new superfruit could make life a little easier – as it tastes like grapes but is packed with far more antioxidants.
Called 'Boombites', they are 'grape on the outside, red berry on the inside' and boast a cherry–like dark red pulp.
This rich red colour means they contain high levels of anthocyanins – the same plant pigments that give goji and cranberries their 'superfood' status.
The Red Berry Grapes also have triple the resveratrol content of blueberries, with studies linking the compound to anti–aging and cancer prevention.
Testing by researchers from the University of Murcia suggests that the natural sugars present in Boombites are absorbed more slowly than usual, with potential benefits for blood sugar levels.
'In simple terms, this means that while new Red Berry Grapes are sweet to the taste, the combination of phenols they contain alters the way these sugars are transported and absorbed in the gut,' Dr Nisa Aslam, a GP and member of the Red Berry Grape Advisory Board said.
'This has major implications for weight control, insulin response and dietary advice around fruit consumption.
Boombites taste like grapes but have a dark cherry–like centre that is packed with antioxidants, manufacturers say
The fruit, which initially hails from the Mediterranean, has been cultivated by innovators in Spain
'We know that many consumers restrict intakes of these fruits rich in antioxidants because of concerns about the amount of sugar in fruit.'
The fruit, which initially hails from the Mediterranean, has been cultivated by innovators in Spain.
On the vine they look like standard black grapes, but once bitten into they reveal a dark red pulp.
Those behind the product say it combines 'all that is wonderful about classic grapes with the added benefits that come with the juicy red flesh inside'.
'We all know that eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is one of the cornerstones of good health,' dietitian and a member of the Red Berry Grape Advisory Board, Nichola Ludlam–Raine, said.
'And the age–old plea from mums to 'eat your greens' shows that we have always instinctively known that colour is importance when it comes to eating healthily.
'But as we learn more and more about the plant compounds and science behind the benefits of eating a colourful array of fruit and vegetables there is even more reason to ensure you eat a rainbow, including plenty of purple and red fruits, every day.'
Anthocyanins, which give fruit and vegetables their distinctive colours and flavour, are known to be beneficial for heart health and diabetes.
On the vine they look like standard black grapes, but once bitten into they reveal a dark red pulp
Previous studies have shown that a diet rich in these compounds can potentially help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
'Boombites Red Berry Grapes' will be available at Marks & Spencer & Ocado nationwide for a limited time only and cost £3.
According to the label, they are best stored in a fridge and should be washed before use – the same as normal grapes.
And – for those who don't like the crunch that sometimes comes with grapes – Boombites are seedless.
Edible insects have been touted as the next 'superfood', with the creepy crawlies packed full of protein, nutrients, potassium, magnesium and three times more fatty acids than omega-3 in salmon.
Insects contain more than twice as much protein per 100g as meat and fish, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
Crickets are the most widely cultivated insects for the human diet across the world and are considered the ‘gateway bug’ for people who choose to eat insects.
They, along with other insects are touted as highly nutritious and much better for the planet - environmentally and financially - than traditional livestock, due to the comparatively efficient rate at which they convert feed into body mass.
The global population is predicted to top nine billion by 2050, putting enormous pressure on the environment, conventional food sources and farming techniques. Insects could help meet demand for food.
Plenty of people in non-Western countries already eat insects regularly. They are very efficient at converting vegetation into edible protein and full of vitamins and minerals.
Previous studies have found that four crickets provide as much calcium as a glass of milk, and dung beetles, by weight, contain more iron than beef.
Farming insects generates one-tenth of the methane produced by farming traditional meat sources, and it uses comparatively little water, making the process better for the environment.
Daily Mail
