![\"Persimmon](\"https:\/\/www.blissfulbasil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/15-DSC_94302.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nGood news, my\u00a0lovely\u00a0blog friends: it's persimmon season!<\/p>\n
I rediscovered persimmons last November after maybe eating them once or twice in a \"fancy\" salad when I was a kid, and I'm absolutely in love with them. They're sweet, creamy, and bursting (literally, like they're about to burst open with a mere poke of the finger) with flavor. Although they look like they've tossed on a tomato costume, these orange-hued beauties are actually berries. Not even kidding. Often referred to as the \"Divine Fruit,\" persimmons have an abundance\u00a0of good-for-your-bod properties, including the following:<\/p>\n
1| They're rich in phytochemicals, including Catechin which is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Our bodies love anti-inflammatory foods because inflammation is\u00a0a nagging, draining, pesky jerk when it wriggles\u00a0its way into our bodies.<\/p>\n
2| They have a wonderful balance of fiber (aka digestion cheerleader) and tannins (aka digestion pace-keepers) so they promote an evenly-moving digestive process.<\/p>\n
3| They contain cancer-busting antioxidants including Vitamin A, C + K,\u00a0Shibuol, Beta Carotene, Lycopene, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Cryptoxanthin, and Betulinic Acid. Extra perk = vitamins a, c + k are also\u00a0good for our eyeballs. Eat more persimmons, see more persimmons.<\/p>\n
4| They contain copper which encourages proper absorption of iron which, in turn, improves our production of red blood cells.<\/p>\n
5| Fun fact: persimmons are known to alleviate hiccups. Forget those scare tactics, drinking water upside-down, and altering your breathing patterns to rid yourself of pesky hiccups; eat a persimmon instead!<\/p>\n
6| They're packed with\u00a0potassium, which makes them powerful stress- and fatigue-warriors. Afternoon slump? Slice into a persimmon.<\/p>\n
7| They're juicy and fabulous and readily available in the winter months when it's a bit trickier to find juicy and fabulous fruits.<\/p>\n
Since persimmons are already so tasty on their own, this recipe keeps things simple and props their flavors right up on a pedestal where they belong. A simple vanilla chia pudding is layered with sweet persimmon cream (i.e., ripe persimmons blended with a pinch of cinnamon). Some might classify this as a dessert, others as breakfast. I say it's suitable for both occasions, so let your heart guide you. My heart guided me to eat this for breakfast this past Monday and let me tell you, it made the start of the week so much sweeter.<\/p>\n