Why Fruits Are Good For You ?

Fruits are an important part of a well-balanced diet.

P.P.Aniruddha Bapu also describe benefits of consumption of Fruits in his Ramrajya discourse.

              He said ," All the fruits that we eat cause weight gain. Remember always, the fruit is actually the primary food of man. All the human digestive enzymes are meant to digest fruits. The fruit increases the ‘oj’ (valour) in man. 

                In both men and women, eating fruits brings about changes that are both appropriate and necessary. So do eat all kinds of fruits for breakfast and also after dinner. Also fruits that can be eaten with the skin, must preferably be eaten with the skin. The skin of certain fruits contains vitamins, selenium, cobalt and other such substances that are missing in other foods."

        
Fruits provide fiber and some vitamins and minerals essential to good health and also ,
• Fruit is 100% bad-cholesterol free;
• Fruit stimulates the memory;
• The idea that fruit is an expensive nutrition;
• The miraculous healing effects of fruit;
• Pears :

Pears are rich in Vitamin C and copper. Vitamin C and copper are great antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect the body against oxygen-related damage. it also helps with blood regulation and it has anti-cancer properties as well.
**1 pear - 103g, fiber 15%, Vitamin A 1%, Vitamin C 24%, Calcium 6%, Iron 2%.

• Oranges :

Oranges have extremely high level of Vitamin C. Oranges contain antioxidant properties that reduce cholesterol and reduce inflammation. Vitamin C helps to build strong bones and teeth as well as fighting cell damage that may lead to cancer or heart disease.

• Grapefruits :

Grapefruits are a great source of Vitamin A and C. It also contains some potassium, calcium and iron as well.
Grpefruits also contain the antioxidant lycopene, known to possess anti-tumor activity.
Grapefruit is also great for constipation, it aids in bowel movements. This fruit has also been promoted as a food that helps burn fat. It helps prevent cancers, in particular prostate cancer.
**1 Grapefruit (230g) = Vitamin A 53%, Vitamin C 120%, Calcium 5%, Iron 1%.

• Watermelon :

Watermelon has many antioxidants, namely lycopene. Lycopene protects against many cancers including breast, prostate, lung and colorectal.Watermelon also contents high levels of Vitamin A (good for the eyes) and Vitamin C, a great antioxidant.

**1 cup of watermelon (154g) - Vitamin A 18%, Vitamin C - 21%, Calcium 1%, Dietary Fiber 1%.

• Papaya Nutritional Benefits for Health :

Papayas are rich in vitamin C . Papayas help with colon cancer as well as regulating cardiovascular system.
It helps prevent atherosclerosis, which is the building of plaques in the arterial walls leading to heart attacks and strokes.
Papaya prevents colon cancer by preventing toxins from binding to colon cells. Papaya also contains the enzyme papain which helps decrease inflammation in inflammatory diseases such as arthritis or ashtma.
**1cup (140g) - 10% fiber, 31% vitamin A, 144% Vitamin C, 3% calcium, 1% iron.

• Bananas :

Bananas are healthy for you because they are rich in potassium. Potassium helps to regualte blood pressure and therefore reducing changes of a heart attack or stroke. Potassium also help to regulate calcium loss in the urine, therefore strenthening bones.

Potassium in bananas also helps muscles contract properly so it helps assist when you get cramped during sports activities .Bananas are also have high levels of B6 for energy and it also contains pectin, a fiber which helps you during bowel movements. Bananas are also given to babies as one of their first solid foods, since it's tasty, nutritional, easily digestible, and rarely ever allergic.
** 1 medium banana - 105 calories, Vitamin A 2%, Vitamin C 17%, Dietary fiber 12%, Potassium 12%

• Mango Health Benefits :

Great for indigestion, constipation, cancers and heart problems.
Mangos have high fiber content and is also a great source of vitamins and minerals. They contain enzymes that aid with digestion. it has been found that manogs help with prostate and skin cancer. Mangos also contain magniferin which is beneficial in inflammation, and bacterial repression.
**1 medium mango (135 calories, 15% dietary fiber, 12% carbohydrate, 1% fat, 32% vitamin A, 96% Vitamin C, Calcium 2%.

• Nutritional guide to apples :

A medium apple contains 3 grams of fiber. Apple has two types of fiber: insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber helps lower LDL cholesterol. Soluble fiber helps the LDL be removed from the liver.
Apples also contain quercitin a flavinoid that helps you lower your heart disease risk.
**1 medium apple - 1 serving: Calories 65 - has Vitamin A - 1%, Vitamin C - 10%, calcium 1%, iron 1%.


**SOME FRUITY IDEAS**
• Select fresh fruits that have no signs of bruising.
• Most fresh fruits are perishable and should be refrigerated.
• Use fresh fruits quickly to avoid spoilage and waste.
• Store canned fruits in a cool (best if below 85 degrees Fahrenheit), clean, dry place.
• Fruits that are cut up should be served just after preparing to prevent vitamin loss.

• Which Fruits are good FRESH, FROZEN OR CANNED ?

Processing fruits can cause some nutrient losses. Freezing, canning and drying can result in variable losses of vitamin C and vitamin A.Also, canned and frozen fruits are often packed in sweetened syrups, which add extra calories.
           Nowadays, FDA has established standards of identity that apply to many processed fruit products. They include requirements for what may be identified as a particular canned fruit, fruit juice, fruit jelly, or frozen fruit pie etc. Dried fruits have a high concentration of sugar because most of their water content has been removed.
          When buying fresh fruits, consumers should look for bruising because the chemical reactions that occur from bruising cause loss of some nutrients. Nutrients can also be lost by paring, slicing or dicing fruits.
          Slicing, dicing, chopping and mashing can also rob fruits of some of their vitamins by exposing the surfaces to air and light.