How many fruits do you know that start with the letter L? Well, I’m sure that most of us are familiar with lemons and limes as they are quite common and readily available. However, many fruits are starting with L that you probably haven’t heard about. They also have numerous health benefits, and you should consider adding them to your diet. Here is a list of 8 such fruits: Lakoocha is a tropical fruit of Indian origin. Other names like lakuchi or money jack also refer to the fruit in some regions. Lakoocha fruits are somehow round and have a pale-yellow color with a hint of pink. The fruit pulp is edible and has a sweet-sour taste. You can either eat them raw or as sauces (chutney) and pickles. Lakoocha fruits contain calcium, phosphorous, and protein. They also have a generous amount of fiber, hence, good for digestion. The fruit extract is beneficial as it can alleviate hair and skin diseases. Moreover, it is useful in treating wounds, dysentery, and arthritic swelling. The small potato-like fruits have white flesh and bitter seeds. Their shape ranges from oval to nearly round, and the color from gray-yellow to pale brown. Langsat fruits are native to Malaysia, but their cultivation is currently in other Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand, India, and the Philippines. They are edible fruits with a sour-sweet or tangy taste. You can eat the flesh directly, on desserts, or after cooking. However, you might consider consuming the fruits when fresh as their taste deteriorates after a few days. Langsat fruits have a robust nutritional composition that constitutes minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, and vitamins (A, C, riboflavin, and thiamine). Vitamin A is crucial in maintaining the health of your eyes, body tissues, teeth, and skin. Vitamin C aids in keeping colds and flu at bay. On the other hand, Riboflavin helps in red blood cells production and boosting the body’s energy capacity. The fruit’s peel has medicinal value as it is resin component aids in relieving diarrhea. Powder from the crushed seeds can be used to lower body temperature and as a de-wormer. Lapsi fruits are small plum-like subtropical fruits of Nepalese origin. Ripe Lapsi fruits are green-yellow and have a sour taste, despite having a pleasant flavor. They contain brown seeds enclosed by a firm skin and pale-yellow flesh. Therefore, you may find it quite hard to separate the pulp from the seed unless after cooking the fruit. Due to their welcoming tart smell, one may prefer to eat Lapsi as fresh fruits. However, most people usually dry them into sweet and salted fruit nuggets. Others use Lapsi to make pickles, souring agents or add them to vegetables while cooking. People also convert their seeds into fuel to cook their meals. Lapsi have several nutrients like high levels of Vitamin C, minerals, and vital amino acids. In some Asian countries like China, Mongolia, and Vietnam, they are part of cardiovascular disease treatment. The fruits also contain flavonoids and phenol, phytochemicals that destroy harmful radicals in the body. Lime berries are tropical fruits that originate from southeastern Asia. As its name suggests, the lime berry is closely related to other citrus plants as it bears some of their properties. For instance, the plant has thorny branches and glossy leaves. The fruits are small, red hesperidium (partitioned pulp) with a fleshy pulp. They are edible and contain a lime-like flavor. Lime berries are useful plants due to their various benefits. In addition to eating it raw, you may use the fruit to make jellies, jams, or sweet-smelling tea. The fruits offer relief from colds and sore throats. Extracts from the leaves also help in treating diarrhea, as well as skin and colic diseases. A relatively unpopular tree, limequat is a cross between lime and kumquat trees. Limequats are native to Florida and tolerate cold temperatures, despite doing well in tropical regions. The fruits are small-sized, and you may find them as spherical to oblong in shape. They have smooth, shiny green skins that turn yellow when the fruits mature. The flesh of limequats is lush, soft, and yellowish-green. Despite their pleasant fragrance, the fruits have a more bitter taste. Limequats have a variety of applications. For example, you can either eat them raw or when cooked. However, note that you should remove the seeds before cooking as they are very bitter. You can also add them to salads, jams, jellies, or marmalades. The fruits are still useful when preparing pies, tarts, cakes, and cocktails. Interestingly, limequats add flavor to various meats and other fruits such as avocados. Limequats contain high amounts of folic acid and ascorbic acid. They, therefore, aid in maintaining healthy skin and in the formation of red blood cells. The fruit can also help in weight maintenance as it has low-calorie content. The berries are common European fruits that resemble the cranberries from North America. The small red berries are slightly less tangy than cranberries. Lingonberries are edible but rarely consumed as raw fruits. In most cases, they are part of the ingredients used in preparing juices, jams, and pies. Due to their rich nutritional make-up, Lingonberries promote health and wellness. Firstly, they contain fiber and polyphenols, which regulate blood sugar levels and prevent heart conditions. Secondly, Lingonberries have several antioxidants that alleviate inflammation and protect the eyes. Thirdly, phytochemicals, vitamins, and fiber in these berries help in reducing the risk of cancer. The fruits are native to Asian countries and are neither nuts nor berries. Longan fruits have a close resemblance to Lychee as they are both in the soapberry family. They are approximately like large grapes in size and are rounded. The inner part of a longan fruit has an eyeball appearance where white flesh embeds a dark seed. Due to this unique feature, the Chinese refer to it as the “dragon’s eye.” The pulp is quite juicy and has a grape-like taste. Longans are available as fresh, dried, and canned fruits. However, the fresh ones are only common in Asian nations. Although there lacks sufficient scientific evidence about the health benefits of Longan fruits, they have various nutrients. For instance, fruits have a significant amount of Vitamin C, which takes part in tissue repair and boosting heart health. They also contain potassium, a nutrient that contributes to regulating one’s blood pressure. Loquats are indigenous Chinese fruits and are among the most nutritious fruits. They are small, rounded, and yellow or reddish-orange. The fruits may either have white or red flesh, and both types have different plant compounds. Additionally, the fruit is popular due to its pleasant taste and fragrance. The uses of loquats are inexhaustible as you can eat them while fresh; add them to salads, smoothies, pies, jams, and cocktails. Loquats have many nutrients, a fact that has qualified them as traditional medicinal plants. The wide array of nutrients includes vitamins, proteins, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. The fruit also constitutes a significant amount of fiber and little calories. The plant compounds in loquats have carotenoid antioxidants that improve the immune system and prevent fatal health conditions. Magnesium and potassium are crucial in controlling blood pressure and maintaining healthy arteries. As medicinal components, loquats can relieve coughs and also aid in treating burns. Nature is a rich source of fruits, vegetables, and other plants that support human and animal life. While there are countless fruits, this article has just highlighted a few that start with L. Apart from nutrition, some of these fruits have significant medical applications. Hence, if you were only conversant with lemons and limes, take note of the above-listed fruits, and you will have more reasons to appreciate nature.
