Everyone knows that fruits are healthy for you, but most people do not know exactly which fruits boost their health in precisely which ways. The amount of healthy fruits that you should eat depends on whether you are male or female, your age, and how active a lifestyle you live. For example, women who are lightly active and are between the ages of 31 and 50 should be eating 1 ½ cups of fruit a day. Men who are heavily active and are between the ages of 19 and 50 should be eating about 2 ½ cups of fruit a day.
Let’s cut to the chase. What are the six healthy fruits to eat and what do they do to boost your health?
Healthy Fruits to Eat
If you are looking to increase your vitamin C intake, lemons are the key. They will provide you with more than 100% of the necessary daily amount that your body requires. Vitamin C increases what are considered as the “good” cholesterol levels (HDL) in your body, as well as strengthen your bones. The citrus flavanoids that lemons contain provide anti-inflammatory properties and researchers say that they also inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Additionally, that fresh citrus scent of lemons has proven to alleviate anxiety, nervousness and fatigue, and can boost alertness and concentration.
Just one avocado has more than 50% of the fiber and 40% of the folate that the human body requires daily. Folate could attribute to reducing your risk of heart disease. A study proved that avocados contained ample amounts of the healthy fats that reduce cholesterol by nearly 22%. If you add some avocados into your salad, they will help your body absorb the nutrients in the salad up to three to five times than without this amazing fruit.
healthy fruits and vegetables
Apples are not only filling because of the soluble fiber that they contain, this fiber also contributes to controlled blood sugar levels and also improves colon health. Apples are also a great source of vitamin C, which is a great source for boosting the immune system. Finally, do not skip out on the skin on the apples, because the skin contains quercetin, which provides antiallergy and antihistamine characteristics.
The main cause of most patient’s discomfort and disease is inflammation, and inflammation is known to cause problems with the vascular system. Tart cherries have the highest concentrations, out of any other healthy fruits, of anthocyanins 1 and 2. These pigments are associated with flavanoids, which have the proven ability to protect against disease, and they can also block the enzymes which are related to inflammation.
Besides being chock full of powerful antioxidants, recent research has dubbed this fruit a natural “Viagra” due to its ability to assist with counteracting erectile dysfunction. Essentially, pomegranates reverse oxidative damage that occurs to the vascular system, thereby fixing the problem that causes erectile dysfunction.
If you want to lose weight, grapefruit may be the key. Like apples, grapefruits act as an appetite suppressant due to the pectin (soluble fiber) they contain. Therefore, you will feel full after eating grapefruit without adding a whole lot of calories to your diet. You will need to ask your doctor about eating grapefruit while you are on prescription (and even over-the-counter) medications, however, because grapefruits have shown to interact with the enzymes in the liver and hold the medications in your body longer than they should be there.
So, if you want to start boosting your health and preventing diseases the natural way, consider eating more healthy fruits and vegetables.