The Benefits of Fruit

With so much emphasis on low-carb, low-sugar diets lately, fruit is starting to get a bad rap, as people are avoiding it due to its sugar content. Yes, there is sugar in fruit, but the benefits far outweigh the amount of sugar. 

Fruit comes from the Latin word “frui” which means “to enjoy use.” Fruit is certainly an enjoyable food in many ways. It most often makes an appearance at breakfast, but makes a great snack and yummy dessert as well. It can even be used in savory dishes. Fruit is a versatile food that is high in vitamins and phytonutrients that our bodies need. Unlike grains and legumes, fruit has no anti-nutrients or lectins, which is a type of protein that reduces the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.

Vitamin C is just one of the many essential nutrients we get from fruit. What does this mean? An essential nutrient is one that we must take in through our diet — it’s not naturally produced in our bodies. So if we aren’t consuming foods with vitamin C, like fruit, we may not be getting as much vitamin C as we need. 

Want to make sure you’re reaping the benefits of fruit? Incorporate these into your diet:

Grapefruit: used to clear infections, especially urinary tract infections 

Pineapple: contains bromelain, a beneficial enzyme shown to aid in digestion

Watermelon: contains amino acids which help blood vessels dilate naturally benefiting people with hypertension

Cherries: good for inflammation and pain because of compounds called anthocyanins 

Lemon: (or lemon water) used to as an alternative therapy for people with kidney stones

Papaya: works topically on skin ulcers and when eaten is loaded with vitamin C, potassium, and many other nutrients

Kiwi: used in combination with hawthorn extract proves to lower cholesterol

Cranberries: help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections 

Elderberry: used as an anti-respiratory infection remedy due to its flavonoid content

Plantains: have been used by many cultures in the management of persistent diarrhea

Strawberries: along with many red fruits are valuable for heart health by improving a person’s lipid profile and by relaxing the lining of the blood vessels