Fruits: Secret To Health
Everyone desires a better health. Our ancestors were very wise when they coined such phrases as ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’. Fruits help in building up immunity against diseases and also aid in good digestion. One should have 3-4 servings of fruits in a day to derive maximum benefits from the fruits.
It is not just the apple which has health benefits, but other seasonal fruits are also excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Another major point in favor of fruits is the low fat content and low number of calories, making them exceptional food alternative for people trying to loose or maintain weight.
It is easier for the body to absorb minerals from the fruits as compared to from other foods. In order to get maximum gains from fruits, they should be eaten whole with skin, where possible. Another thing to remember is to avoid clubbing fruits with main meals. There should be a gap of at least 2 – 3 hours between the meals and fruits.
The many benefits of fruits are; fruits have up to 95% water content and therefore act as a diuretic and help the body in eliminating toxins and nitrogenous wastes. Fruits are a rich source of potassium, which helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance and reducing the blood pressure.
Most of the fruits are a rich source of fiber and is a good aid in digestion. It also helps in relieving constipation. The satiety levels of fruits are very high this basically means that you feel full for a longer time. It also helps in maintaining blood sugar levels and hence helps in is useful for diabetics. Fiber also helps in reducing the risk of colon cancer.
Red grapes are a rich in resveratrol and blueberries, kiwi, plums and cherries are rich in anthocyanin, both of which are helpful in lessening the hazards of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin C is abundantly found in guava, oranges and papaya and is a good anti-oxidant.
Papaya is also a very good source for beta carotene. Beta carotene and lycopene are anti-oxidant in nature and help in preventing the oxidizing of LDL cholesterol. Good sources of these tow compounds are apricots.
Banana, though rich in calories, is a great source of potassium, Vitamins B & C and manganese. It is also good source of fiber. Cherries have been found to help in relieving symptoms of gout and arthritis. Vitamin E is an excellent anti-oxidant and helps in fighting aging. It is found in fruits such as kiwifruit, papayas. Papaya is rich in Vitamin E, C, A and D. All these act as anti-oxidant agents and reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, thus reducing the risks of heart strokes and building of plaque in arteries.
The benefits of fruits are so may and so diverse that they should be included in the daily diet. Therefore for good health include at least 2 to 3 servings of fruit in a day.
