10 Strange but Healthy Foods

Some of the world’s healthiest foods look a bit, well, unappetizing and even a little scary. We’ve already raved about a few strange health foods including blue-green algae, chlorella, and ginkgo biloba. Now we bring you a list of 10 bizarre fruits and vegetables that may have alien-like features but taste amazing and do wonders for your body from helping to speed up your metabolism and preventing cancer.

1. Cherimoya

Originating from the Andean valley in South America, Cherimoya is a greenish-yellow fruit that is said to taste like a mix of bananas, coconut, strawberries, mangoes, pineapple, and papaya. Its sweet, tropical nature inspired the nickname, “ice cream fruit.” Others call Cherimoya the “custard apple” as its hard exterior gives way to a custard-like flesh. Cherimoya has been popular among locals and the nobility alike. Even Mark Twain once called cherimoya “the most delicious fruit known to man.”

Cherimoya is not only delicious—it’s packed with health benefits too. It contains a good amount of fiber, which helps protect your colon against toxic substances and the absorption of bad cholesterol. Cherimoya is also a great source of vitamin C, which helps strengthen immunity, and B-complex vitamins, which relax irritability, tension, and headaches. Moreover, this “ice cream fruit” contains numerous other important minerals and nutrients from copper and iron to magnesium and manganese.

Serving suggestion: Pair cherimoya and strawberries to make a heavenly-sweet crepe or pancake topping.