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Health Benefits of Fruits
Almost all of us hope for good health, not just for ourselves, but also for our family members and loved ones. A right diet is one of the key elements of your health. You can boost your immunity and reduce the risks of several health problems by eating the right foods, especially fresh fruits. Most fruits are high in vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and other essential nutrients. They contain natural sugar, which makes them sweet and easily palatable.
Fruits also consist of about 90% to 95% water, which has a diuretic effect on your body. Therefore, the consumption of fruits eliminates nitrogenous wastes and other toxins from your body. This is why almost all health experts will advise you to consume at least 3 to 5 servings of fresh fruit each day.
The old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is quite a well-known one. However, do you know of other fruits that can also reduce health problems? While we know that fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, there are several other fruit secrets and benefits that most of us are not really aware of.
A few interesting fruits secrets that you should know about include –
Apples
The regular consumption of apples can help:
- Avoid Alzheimer’s
- Boost the immune system
- Detoxify the liver
- Get healthier and whiter teeth
- Improve overall functioning of the heart
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Neutralize irritable bowel
- Prevent gallstones, diarrhea, constipation and hemorrhoids
- Protect the body against Parkinson’s
- Reduce risks of cancer, diabetes and high cholesterol
Bananas
Some health experts believe that bananas outweigh most other fruits, including apples, when it comes to nutrient content. Eating a banana every day can help:
- Increase brain power
- Promote better bowel health
- Relax the mind and avert depression
- Elevate energy levels
- Reduce the symptoms of a hangover
- Soothe ulcers
- Treat warts
- Improve hemoglobin function, to alleviate anemia
- Prevent high blood pressure and strokes
- Enhance nerve function
- Relieve stress
Grapes
Being high in flavonoids and other powerful antioxidants, grapes can control the damage caused by free radicals in your body. With the regular consumption of grapes (or fresh grape juice), you can:
- Alleviate minor stomach ailments like indigestion and constipation
- Avoid fatigue
- Boost the immune system
- Decrease the risks of heart diseases
- Delay ageing
- Prevent serious health problems like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and high cholesterol
- Purify the blood
- Reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches
- Treat asthma
Mango
Most people consume mangoes because of their wonderful taste and texture.
However, this fruit is highly beneficial and can help:
- Boost the immune system
- Enhance vision
- Improve digestion
- Increase focus and concentration
- Keep the skin clear
- Lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the body
- Prevent serious problems like cancer diabetes
- Treat a heat stroke
Strawberry
Sweet, juicy and delicious strawberries find their way into several desserts, mainly because of their wonderful taste. However, numerous health benefits have been associated with these delicious fruits. Strawberries help:
- Boost immunity
- Fight off infections & inflammatory disorders like osteoarthritis and asthma
- Lower blood pressure
- Promote eye health
- Reduce the risks of cancer
- Delay the formatting of wrinkles
- Decrease the levels of bad cholesterol
- Improve digestion
- Maintain healthy weight
There are several health benefits that you can enjoy by consuming these fruits regularly and in the right amounts. However, it is best that you check with your doctor, before adding these fruits to your daily diet.
References
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Fruit_and_vegetables_benefits
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC442131/
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