How do you know if it is a fruit or vegetable
In this brief article, we will answer ‘’How do you know if it is a fruit or vegetable’’. This article will also discuss the benefits of fruits and vegetables and why it is important to know the difference between them.
How do you know if it is a fruit or vegetable?
Fruits most often develop from flowers with seeds inside them that continue the reproductive cycle. Vegetables are a part of the plant which has roots and stem, and it does not necessarily participate in the reproductive cycle.
In short, fruits come from the ovary of the plant while vegetables are the rest of the parts of a plant such as stems and roots.
A comparison between fruits and vegetables
| Fruit | Vegetable |
| Fruits always have seeds either inside or on the outside. An example of fruits having their seeds outside is strawberries. | Vegetables don’t have seeds in them. |
| Fruits usually have a sweet taste and are sometimes sour or tangy. | All vegetables have a unique taste which can’t be classified into a single category. While some are slightly sweet, others can have a mix of both or a completely new taste. |
| Fruits are very high in fibers, for example apples. They have low fat and calories. | Some starchy vegetables such as potatoes are high in sugar. Vegetables also have a high amount of fibre in them. |
Are fruits mistaken as vegetables?
Yes, fruits are sometimes mistaken as vegetables especially if you don’t know the difference between the two. A well known example of this are tomatoes which are still termed as vegetables because of the way they are used in foods but it is actually a fruit.
Similarly, cucumber is also a fruit which is mistaken as a vegetable because of its color and use mostly. Cucumber has seeds inside which are able to continue the reproductive cycle.
Difference in the nutrition they provide
Fruits contain more sugar as compared to vegetables which means that a cup of fruits has a higher amount of glucose than vegetables. There are exceptions to this, which is potatoes and sweet potatoes which are sweet.
What are the different types of vegetables?
Some of the types of vegetables are
Root vegetables
These type of vegetables are grown under the ground and are further classified as
Bulb vegetables
Bulb vegetables include garlic and onions, these are known to be medicinal, especially garlic.
Tuberous roots
For example sweet potatoes and yams. Tuberous roots are enlarged structures in plants which store nutrients and so these vegetables are enriched with nutrients.
Edible flowers
These include flowers of a plant which are either consumed cooked or uncooked. These are high in fiber and help in the normal functioning of the digestive system. An example of this type is a cauliflower.
Difference in the way they are cooked
Fruits are mostly used in raw form in salads while they are used in desserts for baking or frying such as fried bananas. Vegetables on the other hand are mostly cooked with other vegetables to prepare complete meals. Undercooked vegetables can give you a stomach ache while you can eat raw fruits.
Sweet vegetables which are mistaken as fruits
Sweet potato is one of the vegetables that is used just like fruits in desserts. They have a naturally sweet flavor which is why they are used in sweet dishes but is actually a root vegetable.
What are the health benefits of fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables have a lot of nutrition and fibre in them, they help boost the immune system and also strengthen bones. Green vegetables such as broccoli and kale provide calcium which is good for bone health.
Fruits are rich in vitamins, oranges, strawberries and bell peppers are enriched with Vitamin C which improves the body’s natural immunity.
Several studies have also found that people who eat more fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of getting heart diseases. Specialists advise that a normal person should eat 3 cups of vegetables and 2 of fruits daily.
What does the different colors of fruits and vegetables mean?
The different colors of vegetables and fruits symbolize the different vitamins and nutrients present in them. For example, red vegetables and fruits contain nutrients that promote cell regeneration and prevent cancer.
White color in vegetable such as garlic mean that they contain compounds which help maintain normal blood pressure.
Conclusion
In this brief article, we answered ‘’How do you know if it is a fruit or vegetable’’. This article also discussed the benefits of fruits and vegetables and why it is important to know the difference between them.
