What We Know About the Health
Benefits of Fruit
Apples, " Put away the peeler, and eat your apples with the peel intact. “The peel contains three- quarters of the fibre and most of the antioxidants in the apple,” says Wendy Davis, RD, director of communications and consumer health for the US Apple Association. Cornell University food scientists who tested four varieties of apples found that the peels better inhibited the growth of cancer cells than the rest of the apple. As a result, apple peels “may impart health benefits when consumed and should be regarded as a valuable source of antioxidants,” the researchers wrote.An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Our great-grandmothers knew about the benefits of fruit long before medical science began proving that eating fruit is one of the best things you can do for your body. There are many benefits of fruit in a healthy diet? And not all of them are from vitamins.
Digestion
Most fruits function as natural laxatives, helping to regulate your body's digestive process. They provide roughage and fiber that is important in helping your body get rid of wastes.
Protection From Illness
Fruit contains important vitamins that your body needs to stay healthy. Oranges and other citrus fruits, strawberries and many other fruits contain vitamins C, A and E which are important anti-oxidants, protecting your body from the damage caused by free radicals.
Newly Discovered Phytonutrients Add to the Benefits of Fruit
The bright colors of many fruits are actually another source of benefits of fruit. The pigments that make blueberries blue and cranberries red are actually something called phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are extremely powerful antioxidants that help protect your body against cancer-causing free radicals and may slow down some of the effects of aging.
The Brain
Not surprisingly, studies have shown that a diet high in fruit can help prevent many of the symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer's disease and other deteriorating conditions of the brain.
The benefits of fruit are so well accepted that the USDA recommends at least five servings a day of fruit in your diet.