How many of these Nigerian fruits have you actually eaten?

We often talk about “healthy fruits” as if you need expensive imported fruits to eat well.

You don't.

Nigeria has many locally available fruits, and different fruits provide different vitamins, minerals, fibre and protective plant compounds.

Here are 10 to know:

1. Pawpaw — vitamin C and carotenoids

2. Guava — vitamin C and fibre

3. Watermelon — water, vitamin C and carotenoids

4. Orange — vitamin C, folate and fibre when eaten whole

5. Pineapple — vitamin C and plant compounds

6. Mango — carotenoids and vitamin C

7. African star apple (agbalumo/udara) — fibre and vitamin C

8. African pear (ube) — healthy fats and fibre

9. Garden egg — fibre and plant compounds

10. Banana — carbohydrate, fibre and potassium

The goal is not to find one “perfect” fruit.

Eat different fruits when they are available and affordable.

And remember: whole fruit is generally preferable to turning the same fruit into a sugary drink or adding lots of sugar.

Your local market may already have many of the foods your body needs.

Which Nigerian fruit would you add to this list?