We all know we should be eating the recommended ‘ five a day ’ of fruit and veg . Now there ’ s a host of exotic superfruits that are said to help reverse the skin ’ s ageing process , boost energy levels and even fight disease . MANGOSTEEN . Native to South-East Asia , mangosteen is also known as the ‘ queen of fruit ’ , because Queen Victoria offered a reward to anyone who could deliver some to her palace . Perhaps she ’ d heard about its amazing health benefits , which range from healthy joints to improving the immune system . Mangosteen ( pictured ) is also known as the ‘ queen of fruit ’ and is native to South-East Asia . ‘ Mangosteen has been touted for its high content of xanthone compounds , which studies have shown to possess antioxidant , anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties , ’ says Naomi Mead , lead nutritionist and founder of nutrition clinic Food First . Mangosteen is also good for acne , PMS and younger-looking skin . Buy your mangosteen in liquid form from Holland & Barrett ( £2.45 ) or Planet Organic ( £2.75 ) , or order a bottle of capsules from biovea.com ( £17.20 ) . PITAYA . More commonly known as dragon fruit , this is mild- tasting , but packs a powerful nutritional punch . Pitaya ( pictured ) is more commonly known as dragon fruit and although it 's mild-tasting it has high nutritional values . ‘ Pitaya is rich in vitamin C , which has been repeatedly proven to protect against auto-immune diseases , heart problems and even the signs of ageing skin . It contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids , which help reduce inflammation and improve cell function , ’ says Mead . Ocado stocks it in fresh ( £2.99 ) and tea ( £2.99 ) form . GAC . The spiky outer layer of this vine fruit might be poisonous , but the edible arils , or extra seeds , hidden inside are used across South-East Asia because of their fantastic red colour . Gac fruit ( pictured ) has a spikey outer layer which might be poisonous but the extra seeds inside are edible . The fruit contains huge amounts of beta-carotene and lycopene , known for their medicinal properties . ‘ Research has found the concentration of lycopene in gac to be around ten times higher than in tomatoes and carrots , ’ says Mead . ‘ Several studies , including research from the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at Portsmouth University , suggest lycopene helps protect against cancer of the lung , stomach and prostate. ’ Order gac , in powder form , for the princely sum of £66.57 from Amazon . No one said every superfood comes cheap . SAW PALMETTO . The berries of this plant have been used in American Indian herbal medicine for hundreds of years — and for good reason . The fruit contains antioxidant compounds that can help in the treatment of an enlarged prostate gland or benign prostate hyperplasia . ‘ Clinical research has shown that taking one 320mg capsule of saw palmetto daily for two months before prostate surgery reduces blood loss , the development of problems during surgery and the total time spent in the hospital , ’ says Mead . Capsules available from Holland & Barrett ( £12.25 ) or Amazon ( £7.99 ) . LUCUMA . ‘ Not only is it a good source of antioxidants , fibre , beta- carotene , niacin , potassium , zinc and iron , but the caramel taste makes it a healthy sugar alternative for diabetics and those avoiding refined sugar , ’ says Mead . Pick up this yellow Peruvian fruit at Planet Organic ( £6.99 ) or Whole Foods Market ( £7.42 ) . PICHUBERRY . Another Peruvian export , this small berry looks similar to a kumquat , but has a much higher vitamin content . Not only does it boast excellent levels of vitamin D , vital for healthy bones and skin , but it also contains vitamins C and B12 . ‘ It has been shown to reduce inflammation as well as possessing anti-cancer properties , ’ says Mead . Pichuberry ( pictured ) is a Peruvian export and looks similar to a kumquat but has a much higher vitamin content . Also known as Inca berries , green-fingered experts say they ’ re hardy enough to be grown in Britain . Find them at biovea.net/uk ( £13.05 ) or suttons.co.uk ( £2.49 for seeds ) . ARONIA . All hail this North American berry , which has one of the highest antioxidant values recorded for a fruit . The deep purple berries , often called chokeberries due to their tart taste , are packed full of natural compounds that help protect cells from free radicals that cause ageing , degenerative diseases and cancer . Buy from Ocado ( £4.55 for juice ) , biovea.com ( £12 for capsules ) or Whole Foods Market ( £18.29 for 1kg of berries ) . MONK . ‘ In its purest form , this Chinese fruit is 300 times sweeter than table sugar , but is all natural and has a low glycaemic index , which means it is absorbed very slowly , making it suitable for diabetics and hypoglycemic individuals , ’ says Mead . Fans of monk call it the ‘ longevity fruit ’ as they believe it increases life expectancy . Studies suggest it helps to support the immune system , digestive tract and acts as a natural antihistamine . You can order it from Amazon for £11.99 .
Everyone knows that we should be eating 'five a day ' These unusual fruits help reverse ageing , boost energy and fight disease . The fruit is also rich in antioxidants which can reduce the risk of cancer by up to 50 per cent - but it has been found they are not as effective when eaten at high doses over