There is some evidence that some of the fruits we enjoy eating today have been around for tens of thousands of years, in much the same form. For example, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of 780,000-year-old figs at a site in Northern Israel, as well as olives, plums, and pears from the paleolithic era.
But most likely, if someone handed you a fruit from 10,000 years ago, you might be surprised how small and sour the fruit you were tasting was, it would hardly resemble the plump, juicy fruit we enjoy today.
Bananas are believed to have originated up to 10,000 years ago and some scientists believe they may have been one of the world’s first fruit mankind began to manipulate and use for human nutrition. The first bananas are thought to have grown in the region that includes the Malaya Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, and New Guinea.
In Kazakhstan from 30,000 years ago; figs, olives, plums, and pears, many of the fruits of the Paleolithic era were similar in form, but much small and not as sweet to the ones we eat today.
Less than 10% of most Western populations consume adequate levels of whole fruits and dietary fiber. Evidence of the beneficial health effects of consuming adequate levels of whole fruits has been steadily growing, especially regarding their bioactive fiber prebiotic effects, high antioxidant and mineral content which can help improve weight, blood pressure, heart & cognitive health and slow down the aging process.
Nature Got It Right