Eating healthy and dieting in a tropical country is interesting due to so many fresh food choices. In a country like Costa Rica, for example, the variety of herbs, plants and foods is vast. The local people include fresh fruits in their diets and value the benefits like high antioxidant content, vitamins and minerals. Add a tropical twist to your dieting regimen for a change in taste and reap health benefits as well.
Hibiscus Tea
This beautiful, tart, red beverage is known in Latin America as flor de Jamaica. It tastes a bit like cranberry juice. The dried Jamaica calyces are sold in health food stores and in Latin American or Caribbean grocery stores in the United States. It is used widely for weight control, as it has no calories, and as a mild laxative and diuretic. It may also benefit people with high cholesterol. Infuse the calyces as you would make sun tea or gently brew them with boiled water. Add a bit of honey or a splash of lemon or lime. Unsweetened and sour beverages are ideal for dieting. Drink it hot or cold, like iced tea.
Coconut Water
Young coconuts or pipas are harvested in tropical countries for their nutritious water. Coconut water is consumed in tropical countries right from the coconut with a straw. In the United States, coconut water is available in cans at health food stores, and in ethnic markets you are likely to find the young coconuts. The thin coconut water is not the same as coconut milk, which is produced from the meat of a mature coconut. Coconut water contains B vitamins, vitamin C, a variety of minerals including calcium. It is low in sodium, free of cholesterol and has only about 40 calories per cup.
Papaya-Pineapple Drink
Aside from their refreshing tastes, the health benefits are an even better reason to try papaya and pineapple juices. According to the World's Healthiest Foods website, papaya contains the enzyme papain, which is used to make digestive enzyme dietary supplements, and pineapple is a good source of dietary fiber. Make a nutritious, low-calorie drink by blending chunks of very ripe papaya and pineapple in a blender and adding coconut water or unflavored yogurt. A half-cup of fresh pineapple has 37 calories and a half cup of papaya has 27. Both fruits contain B vitamins, vitamin C and several minerals.
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