Health benefits of fruits
Fruits are some of God’s most beautiful creations and are given to us as food. Humans have gathered wild berries for food since the time of Adam and Eve. In fact, many people appreciate the beauty and flavor of fruits, but without giving much thought to their goodness and nutritional value. Simple sugars such as fructose and sucrose, as well as some fibers, are the main nutritional components of fruits. They are also the best source of natural sweeteners packed with smaller amounts of many other nutrients like vitamins A and C, and minerals like potassium. Fruits contain a wide variety of nutrients that we need to maintain good health. The luscious and irresistible taste of healthy fruits has surely earned them pride of place in the natural foods diet.
When shopping for fruit, it is best to select fruits that are local and in season. Fruits with a cooling nature are more suitable for people with overheated blood systems. According to traditional Chinese medicine, refreshing fruits can cause gas and should not be taken by people with a cold-blooded system. The wind in the body can cause tremors, convulsions, spasms and travel pains. Certain refreshing fruits can aggravate epilepsy, arthritis, and rheumatism. Therefore, it is very important to understand the nature of fruits, i.e. whether they are refreshing, neutral or warm in nature before consuming them so that the fruits are beneficial to the body and not the other way around. Check out the few examples below that I would like to share about the health benefits of each of them:
The apple is a fruit with a refreshing, sweet and slightly acid character. Red and sweet apples have a more neutral nature. Apples have very little vitamin C and it is easily lost when stored for a long time. Low in sodium but high in potassium, apples enhance the muscular functions of the heart, thus strengthening it. Apples quench thirst, normalize blood pressure and cholesterol, relieve constipation when eaten with the skin, also aid digestion and increase appetite in convalescents. For people with a cold-blooded system, steamed apples can help reduce the cooling effect.
Dates are neutral to warm and sweet nature. They are rich in phosphorus, vitamin B 2 and C. Red dates nourish body fluids and blood, tone the spleen and stomach, stop diarrhea, detoxify and harmonize the internal body, as well as calm the mind. Dates lubricate the lungs and stop coughing. Black dates are made from red dates that are dried in the sun and then steamed and baked. This is done repeatedly until they turn black. They are slightly warm in nature. Be careful that too many dates can cause distended stomachs and create mucus.
Kiwis are refreshing by nature, sweet and sour. They contain more than 100% of the Vitamin C of our daily needs, fiber and magnesium. They lower cholesterol and blood pressure, strengthen arteries, and are good for skeletal repair and growth. When shopping for kiwis, select fruits that are firm, but give a little when pressed. They are best taken cold and plain, scooped directly from the skin with a teaspoon. Beware that kiwifruit can cause coughing spasms or wheezing in people who are allergic to it.
Pineapples are neutral to warm, sweet and sour in nature. The most nutritious pineapples are sun-ripened. The fullness of the eyes and the strong aroma are good indicators of maturity. Check the stem of the fruit to see if it is fresh. Do not pick pineapples with shriveled fruit stems. Sour or unripe pineapples heat less. Pineapples are good for quenching thirst. They help maintain a healthy spleen, ease digestion and urination, reduce bloating, stop diarrhea, and remove heat from the body.
Carambolas are refreshing to warm in nature, sweet and slightly astringent. Green and sour fruits are naturally more refreshing, while yellow and sweet fruits are warmer. Carambolas help in the formation of body fluids and activate the production of saliva. They promote urination and reduce fever. Star fruits also aid digestion and soothe stomach upsets, relieve blood pressure, relieve coughs and sore throats, and help detoxify the body.
Other health benefits of fruits like:
Pomegranate Health Benefits
I personally like fruits very much and have tried to include different fruits in my daily diet. By eating different types of fruits, my health improves a lot and the problem of constipation doesn’t bother me at all anymore since I started this “rich in fruits” diet about 2 years ago. Each of us should try to gain more knowledge about the health benefits of fruits and include as many fruits as possible in our daily diet.