Summer is just around the corner, and so is fresh fruit season! Regularly replacing traditional desserts with fresh fruit is a great way to give your body some extra nutrition. The natural sweetness of fruit sugars will help satisfy the craving for sweets, and you can rest assured knowing there’s really no such thing as eating too much fruit. All fruits are good for you, but here are just a few of our favorites:
1. Apples
The old “an apple a day” adage has some truth to it! Apples are rich in an anticancer flavonoid called quercetin and improve cardiovascular health and the risk of diabetes when eaten regularly. Apples also contain pectin and prebiotic fiber, which help nourish the beneficial bacteria involved in digestion.
2. Avocados
Avocados are great at improving cholesterol and actually contain more potassium than bananas. They are rich in healthy fats and are a good source of magnesium, folate, and vitamins E, C and B6. You can spread avocado on your breakfast toast, whip up some fresh guacamole, or add a few slices to a veggie platter.
3. Berries
Despite their small size, berries are well known for packing a big nutritional punch. Berries are packed with antioxidants, quercetin, folate, and vitamin C, contain little sugar, and are rich in manganese, a nutrient that helps activate key enzymes in the body. Many types of berries also contain anthocyanins, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack. In short, all berries are winners: blueberries contain the most antioxidants of any fruit or vegetable, strawberries’ potassium and flavonoids improve heart health, and blackberries’ many seeds improve digestive health.
4. Grapefruit
The flavonoids in grapefruit have been found to improve cholesterol and may lower the risk of skin cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. Grapefruit is a great food to eat more of if you are diabetic or concerned about becoming diabetic. Grapefruit contains a lot of vitamin A and an eye-sight-improving antioxidant beta keratin. Depending on your preference, you can eat grapefruit raw, tossed into a fruit salad with sweeter fruits, or sweetened with a bit of honey if you find the taste too bitter.
5. Pomegranates
Like blueberries, pomegranates are often considered to be a superfood. One pomegranate will give you the same amount of antioxidants as three cups of green tea. The antioxidants in pomegranates help shield your body’s cells from free radicals and oxidative stress. Pomegranates are rich in vitamin K, an important component in bone health and strong blood cells. Some studies have shown that pomegranates may lower the risk of cognitive diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimers.
Browse our blog for more health advice, and as always feel free to schedule a virtual or phone consultation with Dr. Jones at https://www.eohinfo.com/schedule-appointment.
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