Health Benefits of Fruit
Fruit is often called "nature's candy"---unlike candy, fruit is good for you. Sweet, delicious, easy to eat, and visually appealing, fruit is served in a variety of ways: in salads and smoothies, added to cereal, yogurt, or kefir, cooked and added to meat and grains as a flavor enhancer or eaten out of hand as a quick snack. No matter how fruit is consumed, it adds nutrition to your diet and enjoyment to your palate.
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Vitamins and Minerals
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Fruit is an important source of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C, folic acid and potassium. Vitamin C aids in healing cuts and bruises, repairs body tissues, maintains healthy gums and teeth and strengthens the immune system. Fruits high in Vitamin C include papaya, strawberries and kiwi. Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is important to prevent birth defects, form red blood cells and repair cells. Oranges, cantaloupe and papaya are good sources of folic acid. The mineral potassium, found in bananas, plums and peaches, is essential to regulate blood pressure, maintain a good balance of electrolytes and may help prevent kidney stones and stroke.
Low Calories
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Fruit is low in calories and high in nutrition, making it an excellent food source when dieting or craving sweets. Two cups of cantaloupe, apple slices or strawberries have the same 100 calories as one ounce of pretzels, 1/4 of a bagel or 3/8 cup of ice cream. You can eat more volume for fewer calories with fruit and benefit from feeling satisfied sooner.
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Fiber
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Dietary fiber reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain regular bowel function. Fiber in fruits and other whole foods can reduce cholesterol and may help prevent heart disease. To get the most fiber, eat whole fruit instead of juices, and eat the peel of apples, peaches, plums and other fruits. Apples, bananas, berries and dried fruits are especially high in fiber.
Antioxidants
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Antioxidants protect cells from damage by free radicals from pollutants, stress, and chemicals in the environment. These can cause cancer, cellular and DNA damage, heart disease and diabetes. Antioxidants in fruits help neutralize damage by these toxins. Blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries and plums are all high in antioxidants.
A Natural Food
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One of the health benefits of eating fruit is that it is a whole, natural food, with no added or harmful ingredients. Eaten raw, it contains natural enzymes that aid digestion. Unlike other sweet snacks, fruit does not contain high fructose corn syrup and won't upset blood sugar levels. Natural fruit contains no artificial preservatives, colorings, flavorings, cholesterol or trans fats, which have been linked to numerous health problems.
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