Eating fruit on a regular basis can boost health.
However, not all fruits are created equal. Some of them provide unique health benefits.
Here are the 20 healthiest fruits on earth.
Grapefruit is one of the healthiest citrus fruits.
Besides being a good source of vitamins and minerals, it is known for its ability to aid weight loss and reduce insulin resistance.
For example, in a study in 91 people, those who ate half a fresh grapefruit before meals lost 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg) more weight than those who didn’t (1).
In the same study, the grapefruit group had a significant reduction in insulin levels and reduced insulin resistance (1).
BOTTOM LINE:Grapefruit is highly nutritious. Eating it may reduce insulin resistance, cholesterol and help prevent kidney stones. Grapefruit may also be useful for weight loss.
Among the tropical fruits, pineapple is a nutrition superstar. One cup (237 ml) of pineapple provides 131% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for vitamin C and 76% of the RDI for manganese (5).
Pineapple also contains bromelain, a mixture of enzymes known for its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to digest protein (6).
BOTTOM LINE:Pineapple is rich in vitamin C and manganese. Its bromelain content may fight inflammation and reduce the risk of cancer.
Avocado is different from most other fruits.
Most fruits are high in carbs, while avocado is low in carbs and comprised mainly of healthy fats.
In addition to healthy fats, avocados are loaded with potassium, fiber and magnesium (11).
BOTTOM LINE:Avocados are rich in healthy fats and potassium, both of which are well known for their role in promoting heart health.
Blueberries have powerful health benefits.
They have an impressive nutrition profile, being particularly high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese (13).
Blueberries are also exceptionally high in antioxidants.
In fact, they are believed to contain the highest antioxidant content of the most commonly consumed fruits (14).
The antioxidants in blueberries may reduce the risk of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s (15).
Blueberries are also known for their powerful effects on the immune system.
One study found that eating blueberries regularly may increase natural killer cells in the body. These help defend you against oxidative stress and viral infections (16).
BOTTOM LINE:Blueberries are rich in a few important nutrients. They have a high antioxidant capacity and immune-enhancing properties, which may protect the body from illness.
Apples are among the most popular fruits, and also happen to be incredibly nutritious.
They contain a high amount of fiber, vitamin C, potassium and vitamin K. They also provide some B vitamins (19).
The antioxidant activity in apples has also been linked with increased bone density in animal and test-tube studies (24).
Another notable health benefit of apples is their pectin content.
BOTTOM LINE:Apples are very nutritious. Their nutrients, antioxidants and fiber may reduce the risk of disease and improve digestion.
Pomegranates are among the healthiest fruits you can eat.
Not only are they nutrient dense, they also contain powerful plant compounds that are responsible for most of their health benefits.
BOTTOM LINE:Pomegranates have wide-ranging health benefits. They are incredibly high in antioxidants and other plant compounds that can help reduce inflammation and prevent disease.
Mangoes are an excellent source of vitamin C.
They also contain soluble fiber, which can provide many health benefits.
BOTTOM LINE:Mangoes contain vitamin C and soluble fiber. They also contain plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Strawberries are highly nutritious.
Their vitamin C, manganese, folate and potassium contents are where they really shine (34).
Similarly to other berries, strawberries have a high antioxidant capacity, which may reduce your risk of chronic disease (37).
BOTTOM LINE:Strawberries are rich in several nutrients and antioxidants. Eating them may help control your blood sugar levels and reduce your risk of some diseases.
Cranberries have impressive health benefits.
They have an excellent nutrition profile, being rich in vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E, vitamin K1 and copper (40).
BOTTOM LINE:Cranberries are rich in several nutrients and antioxidants. They also contain beneficial plant compounds that help prevent urinary tract infections.
Lemons are a very healthy citrus fruit known for their high vitamin C content.
Other studies show that the citric acid in lemon juice has the ability to treat kidney stones (49).
BOTTOM LINE:Lemons are rich in vitamin C and other plant compounds that may promote heart health, boost weight loss and help prevent kidney stones.
Durian is nicknamed the “king of fruits.”
One cup (237 ml) of durian provides 80% of the RDI for vitamin C (50).
It is also rich in manganese, B vitamins, copper, folate and magnesium (50).
Furthermore, durian contains several healthy plant compounds that function as antioxidants (51).
BOTTOM LINE:Durian is rich in nutrients and plant compounds that can provide some promising health benefits.
Watermelon is high in vitamins A and C. It’s also rich in some important antioxidants, including lycopene, carotenoids and cucurbitacin E.
Some of watermelon’s antioxidants have been studied for their anti-cancer effects.
Consuming lycopene-rich foods can also promote heart health because of their ability to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure (52).
Of all the fruits, watermelon is one of the most hydrating. It is made up of 92% water, which can help you feel more full (52).
BOTTOM LINE:Watermelon is high in water, nutrients and antioxidants. It is also particularly high in a powerful antioxidant called lycopene.
Olives are a good source of vitamin E, iron, copper and calcium.
Additionally, animal studies have linked some of the plant compounds in olives with a reduced risk of osteoporosis (59).
BOTTOM LINE:Olives provide a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These may reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis.
Blackberries are another incredibly healthy fruit, packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.
They provide an impressive amount of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese.
One cup (237 ml) of blackberries provides a whopping 8 grams of fiber (60).
BOTTOM LINE:Blackberries are a good source of many nutrients and beneficial plant compounds. Their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties may lower the risk of chronic disease.
Oranges are one of the most popular and nutritious fruits in the world.
Eating one medium orange will provide a significant amount of vitamin C and potassium. They’re also a good source of B vitamins, such as thiamine and folate (62).
The plant compounds in oranges are responsible for most of their health benefits. These include flavonoids, carotenoids and citric acid.
BOTTOM LINE:Oranges contain some important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These may reduce the risk of several conditions such as kidney stones and anemia.
Bananas are rich in vitamins and minerals and have quite a few health benefits to offer.
They are well known for being high in potassium. One medium banana provides 12% of the RDI for this mineral (67).
One unique property of bananas is their carb makeup.
The carbs in green, unripe bananas consist largely of resistant starch, which may improve blood sugar control and make you feel full (68).
Moreover, studies have shown that the high carb and mineral content of bananas makes them a great source of fuel before exercise (72).
BOTTOM LINE:Bananas provide several nutrients and plant compounds, including resistant starch and pectin. Bananas can have benefits for exercise, blood sugar control and digestive health.
17. Red and Purple Grapes
Grapes are very healthy. Their high antioxidant content is what makes them stand out.
BOTTOM LINE:Red and purple grapes are rich in nutrients and other plant compounds that can decrease inflammation and lower your risk of disease.
Guava has a remarkable nutrition profile.
Eating just one ounce (28 grams) of guava will give you 107% of the RDI for vitamin C (80).
Guava is also rich in fiber, folate, vitamin A, potassium, copper and manganese (80).
Guava is another great source of pectin, which benefits digestion and may help prevent colon cancer (83).
BOTTOM LINE:Guava is high in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. It may reduce inflammation and help prevent certain cancers.
Papaya is a very healthy fruit that is high in vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium and folate.
It is also rich in the anti-cancer antioxidant lycopene (84).
What’s more, studies show that the body absorbs lycopene better from papaya than from other lycopene-rich fruits and vegetables (85).
There is also some evidence that papaya may improve digestion. It contains papain, an enzyme that makes protein easier to digest (86).
BOTTOM LINE:Papaya is nutrient dense and rich in antioxidants. Eating it may reduce your risk of cancer and improve digestion.
Cherries are rich in nutrients, especially potassium, fiber and vitamin C.
Another impressive health benefit of cherries is their melatonin content (89).
Melatonin is a hormone that signals your brain when it’s time to sleep. It may help treat insomnia and other sleep disorders (90).
One study concluded that the melatonin content in tart cherry juice enhanced sleep duration and quality (91).
BOTTOM LINE:Cherries are rich in nutrients and antioxidants. They also contain melatonin, which may improve the quality of your sleep.
Take Home Message
All fruits are healthy, but some are even healthier than others.
Try eating a variety of fruits from the list above to boost your health.
An evidence-based article from our experts at Authority Nutrition.
Written by Brianna Elliott, RD on October 3, 2016
Originally from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/20-healthiest-fruits