Fruit Health Benefits
We’ve all known for a very long time that fruit is good for us, but the discussion on the exact fruit health benefits that we can expect are many times left unsaid when having discussions on subject. Think about it; we always urge our kids to eat more fruit because it’s good for them, but when they ask “why”, then we are often stumped when it comes to knowing the right answer.
Though the common understanding that fruit is good for us is something that is universally recognized, this does not mean we should not be knowledgeable about the specific benefits that we get from each serving of fruit we consume. Then when asked by someone exactly what the fruit health benefits are, we will know the answer.
So let’s take a look at this in greater detail. We’ve all known for quite a while that the most important advantage of eating more fruits is that they supply our bodies with the right kind of nutrients, including but not limited to, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and more. This is not the total answer. The crucial bit of information that is often lacking is to know which specific fruits give which specific nutrients. If you can answer this question in detail, then you will be able to explain fruit health benefits to the younger generation so they better understand the reasons.
· Antioxidants. Some years back, antioxidants were not part of the discussion when one talked about fruit health benefits. Times have changed. Today, it is difficult to discuss health benefits from fruits without starting with the value that antioxidants bring in terms of promoting health via reduction of free radical damage. This is why it is very important to recognize some of the fruits that we often take for granted but are in fact very good sources of antioxidants and all the health benefits that they bring. The berry family of fruits dominates this category by the widest of margins. Among the fruits that are rich in antioxidants are blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, cherries, and some others include grapes, apples, and kiwi. Exotic fruits like the acai berry are also widely known to be a great source of antioxidants.
· Vitamins. Different fruits contain different types of vitamins which in turn lead to different fruit health benefits. Vitamin A is more predominant in fruits that are yellowish in color owing to its beta carotene content. This vitamin plays a big role in promoting healthy eyesight. Among the fruits with high vitamin A content are apricots and melons. Vitamin C is predominantly found in the citrus family which includes oranges, lemons, tangerines and pomelo. This vitamin is crucial for boosting immunity against common illnesses.
· Minerals. Much like vitamins, different fruits contain different types of minerals. Potassium, which is important for heart and muscle health, is commonly found in bananas. Iron, which is crucial for blood health, is abundant in tomatoes, apricots and olives.
The value of fruit health benefits remains to be an underrated component of our daily diets. For example, our current fruit consumption cannot compare to our appetite for meat. We are missing out on a lot of fruit health benefits because our diets do not take advantage of the value that fruits bring.
By being more informed about the healthy contents of fruit, we will then be able to take the next step of slowly but surely re-orienting our meals so that they truly benefit us. Fruit offers some of the best answers to many of our daily health questions. So, let’s start taking advantage of all of those wonderful fruit health benefits by adding them to our daily diet.
If you are interested in learning more about the fruit health benefits of each and every fruit, be sure and check out our website which will give you all the answers.