Eating a piece of whole fruit is a wonderful way to add vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your diet while also satisfying your sweet tooth. fruits basket
Of course, some fruits rise to the top in terms of health value, so if you’re looking for the healthiest fruits — those that have the greatest potential to promote balance and healing in your body — pick from the list below. fruits basket
10. Papaya
Papaya is loaded with vitamins C and A, as well as contains papain, a protein-digesting enzyme often used to make digestive enzyme dietary supplements. Taken together, the nutrients in papaya may help you to ward off heart disease, cancer, and macular degeneration while also promoting your digestive health. Plus, papaya’s antioxidants and enzymes also offer anti-inflammatory effects and immune system support.
9. Kiwi
Just one kiwi will give you nearly 100 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, and research shows that eating just two or three kiwis a day may help reduce your risk of cancer, thanks to their rich content of DNA-repairing antioxidants.[ii] Kiwi has also shown promise for improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome,[iii] and offers natural laxative properties to promote healthy bowel function.
8. Apples
Apples, and particularly apple skins, contain quercetin, catechin and other compounds that are protective to your cardiovascular system. In addition, apples are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories shown to lower the risk of asthma and lung cancer, help with blood sugar regulation, and possibly lower your risk of macular degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Watermelon
Watermelon is one of the best lycopene-rich foods there is, and this phytonutrient shows great promise for boosting both heart and bone health. Watermelon also contains citrulline, an amino acid that your body converts into arginine, another amino acid.
Citrulline is drawing scientists’ attention because it appears useful for blood flow and cardiovascular health, and may even help prevent the accumulation of body fat. Thanks to its citrulline content, fresh watermelon juice may even help to prevent sore muscles if you drink it prior to your next workout.
6. Oranges
Oranges are another excellent source of vitamin C for immune support (just one orange will give you more than 100 percent of the daily recommended value), along with healing phytonutrients like hesperidin, which is anti-inflammatory and has been shown to help lower high blood pressure and cholesterol. When you eat an orange, try to eat as much of the inner white pulp as possible, as this is where many of the healing nutrients are contained.
5. Plums
Along with the ‘usual’ benefits of antioxidants like vitamins A and C, plums have been shown to help increase iron absorption in your body. They also contain an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which may have a calming, anxiety-reducing effect.
4. Grapefruit
Rich in vitamins A and C and lycopene (in pink and red varieties), grapefruit is another superfruit for protecting immune function and helping to ward off infections like colds along with inflammatory conditions like arthritis and asthma.
Grapefruit also contains phytonutrients called limonoids, which inhibit tumor formation.
3. Pomegranate
Pomegranates have super high levels of antioxidants and other phytonutrients that have been linked to anti-aging, cancer-fighting, anti-inflammatory benefits. Research also shows that pomegranates may lower bad cholesterol and help control blood pressure while boosting testosterone — and possibly offering improvements for erectile dysfunction.
2. Blueberries
These tiny blue fruits are among the highest in antioxidant content of all fruits and vegetables, plus they contain a wealth of anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, including anthocyanins, flavonols, resveratrol, and hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids.
The super nutrients in blueberries make them especially powerful at offering protection from cancer, neurodegenerative and other chronic diseases, as well as benefits to your brain, blood sugar, cardiovascular system, eyes and more.
1. Bananas
Bananas contain heart-protective potassium and contain substances that may help protect your stomach lining from acids and damage from stomach ulcers. Plus, bananas contain fructooligosaccharide (FOS), a prebiotic that “feeds” the beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in your gut, allowing them to flourish.
