What’s In Your Fruit Bowl?
Are you getting enough vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients found in fruits? The American Cancer Society and the U.S. Department of Agriculture both recommend that we eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Fresh produce is especially beneficial in helping you to maintain optimum health because it’s hasn’t lost any nutrients from being processed.
Here are what the most common fruits have to offer:
Apples are a good source of antioxidants, pectin, flavonoids, and Vitamin C. Apples also contain fiber which can help lower your cholesterol. Antioxidants help reduce the signs of aging, and they also help fight off killer diseases such as cancer. Pectin helps to regulate the intestinal tract, so they assist in proper digestion. Flavonoids help to reduce the risk of heart disease. And, Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that helps to strengthen your immune system. It’s also helps to fight against heart disease.
Bananas contain Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium. They are a good source of fiber too. Our bodies need Vitamin B6 because it’s vital in the regulation of our thinking processes. Vitamin B6 also aids in our fight against osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s Disease. The potassium in bananas helps to regulate blood pressure and it’s also an essential mineral for good cardiac health.
Oranges contain flavonoids which are antioxidants. Flavonoids help fight cancer, and they also enhance your body’s absorption of Vitamin C, another powerful antioxidant. Oranges are full of Vitamin C. They are also full of water-soluble fiber which helps fight against cancer also. Water-soluble fiber also helps lower your cholesterol levels. It can also help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Grapes contain magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, phosphorus, thiamin, and Vitamin C. You never realized there were so many good nutrients packed into such a little, thumb-sized fruit, did you? Magnesium has been found to help people who have Glaucoma, a medical condition that results from increased pressure inside the eyes. Copper is needed for your body to use iron, and iron helps to fight against anemia. On top of everything else, grapes are also a good source of fiber.
Grapefruits are packed full of antioxidants, including Vitamin C. Grapefruits contain pectin, just as apples do, which can help lower your cholesterol and reduce the risk of coronary disease.
Peaches are a great way for you to get antioxidants Vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber into your body.
And finally, apricots contain Beta Carotene, potassium, iron, and boron. Your body converts Beta Carotene into Vitamin A. Potassium helps to prevent high blood pressure. Iron, of course, helps to keep your body strong by preventing against anemia. The boron in apricots is especially important to older women. Studies show that boron helps to prevent osteoporosis by helping the body retain its natural supply of estrogen. Estrogen in turn aids in the absorption of calcium.
Medical studies have proven that eating your daily requirement of fruit can help you to live a longer, healthier life. So, stock up your fruit bowl today, and enjoy plenty of fresh, delicious fruit. Your body will thank you for it!
