According to the dictionary, fruits are the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seeds, that can be eaten as food. According to Wikipedia, fruits are the fleshy seed-associated structures of a plant that are sweet or sour, and edible in the raw state, such as apples, bananas, grapes, lemons, oranges and strawberries. Both definitions come to the conclusion that:
According to the dictionary, fruits are the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seeds, that can be eaten as food. According to Wikipedia, fruits are the fleshy seed-associated structures of a plant that are sweet or sour, and edible in the raw state, such as apples, bananas, grapes, lemons, oranges and strawberries. Both definitions come to the conclusion that:
- Fruits are fleshy,
- Fruits are the product of a tree,
- Fruits contain seeds and above all,
- Fruits can be eaten in its raw state.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF FRUIT
Eating fruits provides so many health benefits. Primarily, people who eat more fruits as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Fruits provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body. Also, eating fruits may promote emotional well-being among healthy young adults. That’s exactly what the youths of today need—fruits, fruits and more fruits. Here are some other health benefits of an adequate intake of fruits, to list but a few:
- Prevents Diseases
- Energy Boost
- Healthy Heart
- Regulates Blood Pressure
- Kidney Stone
- Bone Health
- Aids in Digestion
- Weight Loss
- Skin Care
- Healthy Hair
Prevents Diseases: The combination of powerful flavonoids, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals, and the countless micro and macronutrients make fruits very advantageous for your health. The daily consumption of fresh fruits lowers the risk of strokes, high blood pressure, indigestion, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Some fruits like bananas contain vital chemicals such as potassium, which helps prevent strokes, high blood pressure, and anxiety. Fruit consumption basically eliminates vitamin and mineral deficiencies and their associated symptoms. Fruits also have high quantities of water and fibre in them, which helps keep your digestive tract clean and your weight under control.
Energy Boost: When you eat fruits, your supply of energy increases in no time; this is one of the prime benefits of fruits that we can utilize in our busy schedules. This is the reason why athletes often eat fruit during and after exercise and why diets for pregnant mothers almost always involve fruits.
Heart Health: Fruits like apricot, apple, banana, cantaloupe, berries, grapefruit, and orange are great for protecting your heart as they are rich in flavonoids, carotenoids, fibre, potassium, and magnesium. Fruits also contain vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, and folate, all of which aid in regulating cholesterol levels and preventing diseases like stroke, atherosclerosis, and heart attack.
Cancer: Vitamin-rich fruits are great for prevention and treatment of many types of cancer like liver cancer and breast cancer. These include sour-sop, goji-berry, and citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, etc., When consumed regularly, fruits have the ability to show some protective properties which help in driving away cancer.
Blood Pressure: Potassium-rich fruits like banana, apple, melons, plums, pear, apricots, and mango help in lowering hypertension. This mineral has been connected to regulating blood pressure owing to its vasodilation (dilation of blood vessels) properties.
Kidney Stones: Fruits are rich in vitamin C, which helps in treating kidney stones. Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are great for keeping your body hydrated and reducing your chances of suffering from kidney stones. Also, fruits are low in sodium, which is great news for people suffering from the painful condition. Fruits can literally cure kidney stones.
Bone Health: Fruits like grapefruit and orange are rich in calcium and vitamin K, both of which aid in maintaining healthy bones and also help improve the bone mineral density.
Aids in Digestion: Fibrous fruits aid the digestive process in the body. The skin of some fruits is also rich in dietary fibre, which is a major contributing factor in proper digestion and the excretion process of your body, while simultaneously keeping you safe from problems like gastritis and constipation. However, in some cases, the skin is thick, like in lemons, bananas, melons, and oranges, and cannot be consumed by humans. In those cases, the edible part of the flesh within the skin has plenty of fibre as well. The fibre content in fruit not only has a brilliant laxative effect but also makes you feel full by adding bulk nutrition to the diet. Fibrous fruits also benefit conditions like heart diseases by reducing hyperlipidaemia and hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity. Owing to this fibrous composition, fruits also have anti-carcinogenic properties and are known to prevent colon cancer and fight bowel irregularity disorders.
Weight Loss: Once you start including a significant amount of fruits in your diet, you will begin to see that your weight is being controlled and your health is improving. However, fruits alone cannot reduce your weight. You also need to exercise regularly.
Many surveys done around the world has showed effective weight reduction after fruits were included in the family’s diet. Many food scientists, agrees that a person who habitually eats fruits will be less inclined to have snacks and junk foods between meals that hardly have any nutritional value. Also, fruits are composed of 90-95% water, having a powerful diuretic effect on your body, thereby flushing out the nitrogenous wastes and unwanted toxins from the body.
One example of this is lychee, a fruit that is a great laxative with a negligible amount of calories, and no saturated fats or cholesterol. It also helps to cut down excess body weight. Except for a few fruits like coconuts, avocados, and olives, fruits are usually fat-free.
Skin Care: Fruits keep your skin supple and hydrated, and nourish it with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; thereby retaining your radiant skin for a long period of time.
In fact, if you are tired of using the commercial anti-pimple creams, just try including fruits like berries, apples, or bananas into your daily diet and see the acne disappear quite quickly. Acne is one of the most irritating skin disorders that can affect people of any age. With a good amount of fruit in your diet, you can naturally curb this problem rather than opting for expensive dermatological creams. Acne mostly occurs from skin infections and dermatological issues, but there are other reasons for such eruptions as well. Apples are the best option for treating acne; eat the skin of the apple, which has a high level of pectin that helps control constipation, which can be a trigger for acne. Bananas also help to alleviate acne, as they are high in fibre that again relieves constipation. Berries have excellent cleansing properties and keep you protected from skin disorders. If you eat grapes during the day, it helps to cleanse your skin and body. Papayas (paw-paw) rejuvenate your skin and repair minor damage that you may not even notice, lemon juice slowly eliminates the signs and scars from acne spots.
Apart from including fruits in your diet, try to watch your other food habits as well. Reduce caffeine consumption since it increases certain hormones in your body and thus increases acne. Cut down on red meat and dairy intake as well, since they aggravate your hormonal generation, resulting in acne. You should also keep your skin clean by frequently washing with herbal soap or mild face wash.
Healthy Hair: Just as fruits enhance the radiance of your skin, they also contribute greatly to long and healthy hair. Vitamin A brings lustre to your hair and also softens its texture. If you have fruits on an empty stomach, it will prevent hair loss and premature greying. Citrus fruits are excellent hair stimulants. The vitamin C content in citrus fruits prevents hair loss and keeps your hair shiny and healthy. Fruits like kiwis, strawberries, and pineapple are also known for aiding hair growth. Fruits even ensure healthy hair growth and keep your locks lustrous and soft.
The benefits of fruit for your hair health can also be enjoyed through hair masks. Melon and banana hair masks are recommended by many beauty professionals for hair care at home. You can also make a paste of lemon juice and aloe-vera and apply it to your hair. Keep the paste on for approximately 45 minutes and then thoroughly wash your hair with mild shampoo. These packs not only improve hair quality but also eliminate scalp disorders like dandruff and itching. Avocado has an impressive amount of vitamin E, which is widely known to be very good for hair. Avocado hair masks strengthen hair and delay premature greying of your hair. Coconuts are also very good for healthy hair growth. Coconut oil is used extensively throughout the tropical world for hair care.
We can never ever underestimate the importance of eating fruits. Some of us eat fruits once in a while like it’s a treat, no its not; it should be on daily bases.
Eating fruits adequately has so many benefits it can never be over-emphasized. Here is my advice for you as a sign off: eat fruits, eat fruits and eat fruits.
To learn how to make your favourite meals, visit Foodnify Recipes