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Fruits to be eaten during summer

by Sharon Hopkins

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Summer is the season where the sun rays are at their highest peak. To stay well hydrated is very important in these days. Although most of the fruits like apples, bananas, or pears are now available through out the year, some fruits are seasonal.

Summer along with the scorching heat also brings these sensational seasonal fruits like pineapples, watermelon, muskmelon, honeydew melon, mangoes, cherries, strawberries, and other beautiful berries. These fruits not only satisfy our taste buds but are also great as a part of a healthy diet. They provide vital vitamins and minerals, fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants with negligible amount of fat.

Fruits have approximately 80-90% water, natural sugars and give you a healthy, radiant looking skin.

Summer fruits and health benefits -

Watermelon – this summer fruit not only helps to quench the thirst but is also a good source of beta carotene, vitamin C, pectin, lycopene, potassium and iron.

Apricots – fresh apricots are good source of iron, vitamin C, beta carotene, potassium and fiber.

Dried apricots help people with fluid retention and constipation.

Berries – enjoy most of the berries in summer. Strawberries with stem intact can be stored up to one year with or without added sugar. The phytochemicals in blue berries, blackberries, strawberries helps boost immunity, have a protective effect against cancer, protects against heart diseases and circulatory problems. Cranberries have a healing effect in urinary tract infection.

Peaches and plums – contain good amount of vitamin C, beta carotene, antioxidant phytochemicals and anthocyanins all of which help to eliminate the free radicals from the body.

Papayas and mangoes – both are excellent source of vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin A and fiber. Eating sufficient amount of mangoes alone can make the body a rich store of vitamin A which lasts for months.

Cherries – bright red cherries not only taste great but also contain ellagic acid which inhibits the growth of carcinogenic cells in the body.

Pineapples – besides being packed with most of the vitamins and minerals, pineapple is a very good source of an enzyme bromelain which aids digestion.

For variety you can even try fresh fruit salad with some flavored low-fat yoghurt or just a plain fruit salad for dessert.

A fresh fruit juice will also help to satisfy thirst and avoid dehydration in summer months. But avoid consuming preserved fruit juices which contains preservatives, added sugar and negligible fiber in it.

Summer is a great season to enjoy these delicious seasonal fruits not only to satisfy your sweet taste buds but also to gain maximum nutritional benefits from them.