Five tasty fruits with a range of nutritional benefits (Copy)
Fruit has always been good for us, but alongside the odd apple strudel or strawberries and cream, the general population aren’t eating enough of it. For example, in America, a CDC study revealed that only one in 10 adults meet the federal recommendation for fruit intake, which is for most people to eat 1.5 cups of fruit each day. The same applies in the UK, with the vast majority of people not having their five a day.
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Thankfully, awareness of healthy eating is growing. After all, what we put into our bodies is essentially what we get out of them, therefore making ingredients like fruit hugely beneficial to us and our bodies. Fruit offers a range of nutritional benefits, too, alongside having the ability to spruce up a range of dishes and even add more flavour to a dull salad. Instead of drinking fruity cocktails and playing fruit-themed slot games like Fruit Shop, there are a number of ways you can incorporate fruit into your daily diet and feel healthier thanks to the range of nutritional benefits specific fruits provide. Below is a look at five fruits well worth eating if you can.
Bananas
Some people don’t necessarily like fruit, but one fruit they can potentially bear is bananas. A ripe banana contains plenty of potassium while also offering polyphenols and phytosterols, which support overall health. Bananas also help provide beneficial bacteria to our gut while also improving blood sugar control and giving us a great deal of energy, particularly before a long workout in the gym.
Blueberries
A popular snack for many, blueberries are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in particular and have been linked with lowering the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and a range of different cancers. Thanks to anthocyanins, which blueberries are rich in, the health benefits of consuming blueberries are mightily impressive, although other berries share similar benefits, such as cherries, blackberries, and elderberries.
Apples
As they say, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” and, according to healthcare professionals, they aren’t necessarily wrong either. Delicious to eat for breakfast or as an afternoon snack, apples are full of nutritional benefits. For starters, they’re rich in both soluble and insoluble fibre. Then, even more impressively, apples also contain pectin, hemicellulose, and cellulose, all things we need to manage our blood sugar levels, promote good digestion, and support heart and gut health. Apples also contain a huge amount of vitamin C and have been linked to reducing the risk of developing the likes of heart disease and cancer.
Mangoes
Mangoes are a favourite fruit for many people. Offering a rich source of potassium, folate, fibre, and vitamins A, C, B6, E, and K, adding mangoes into your diet is not only fresh and tasty, but it can also do a great deal of good for you and your all-round health. Thanks to a range of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, mango consumption has also been linked to a reduced risk of developing chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease, and diabetes.
Oranges
You’ve probably tried orange juice before, but sometimes that can be filled full of sugar and therefore doesn’t necessarily offer the same of health benefits as it would do if you were to eat an orange, for example. Oranges aren’t just loaded with vitamin C either, also offering potassium, folate, thiamine (vitamin B1), fibre, and plant polyphenols. Over the years, a range of studies has shown that oranges help contribute towards better blood pressure and cholesterol while also helping to lower levels of inflammation.