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Traditional medicines are making a comeback and part of that healthy lifestyle is the changing of your diet and getting back to more natural foods. Fruit is still highly recommended by doctors as being the primary means of getting vitamins and minerals into your system.
Fresh fruits are divided into food fruits and flavor fruits according to food composition. Food fruits are those which contain more than 20 percent solids such as avocados (alligator pear), bananas, figs, grapes, and olives. Flavor fruits are those valued more for their flavor, mineral and vitamin content. They have less than 20 percent solids and include apples, apricots, peaches, pears, cherries, berries, melons, pineapples, and other citrus fruits. Other kinds of fruits for sale in the market are those which are dried and those which are canned. Dried fruits include raisins, prunes, dates, figs (dried), apricots (dried), citron, and all candied preparations for fruits cakes. Canned fruits are sometimes cheaper than fresh ones when the latter are not in season. How Fruits Keep Us Well: 1) Fruits whet the appetite because of their pleasant flavor and appearance. Fresh fruits are more stimulating in flavor than the cooked or dried fruits. They can make our mouth water, which means that they stimulate the digestive juices. Thus the stomach is made ready to digest this relished food as soon as it is swallowed. 2) Fruits have a laxative effect because of their fiber and acids. The fiber (cellulose), sometimes also called roughage, is not digestible but it helps in the elimination of waste from the body. 3) Fruits are sources of vitamins. Fresh raw fruits are excellent sources of A, B, and C, and many furnish vitamin G. Acid fruits retain their vitamin C very well when canned. 4) Fruits are important sources of minerals. Most fruits contain iron, such as peaches, apricots, strawberries, pineapples, oranges, and grapefruit. The pulp as well as the juices of fruits should be eaten because they contain large amounts of iron. Phosphorus also is well distributed in fruits. Copper occurs in many fruits in small amounts. Oranges, grapefruit, and figs are fair sources of calcium. Potassium, sodium, and calcium which serve as a source of alkalinity are usually present in fruits. Dried fruits, because of their concentration, are sources of iron, calcium, and phosphorus. Skins of apples and guavas are thiamin-rich. 5) Fruits vary greatly in their energy value. They are the most important sources of sugars occurring naturally in food. Dried fruits have much sugar in them and therefore have high fuel value. Avocado and ripe olive have good amount of fat which makes them good sources of energy. There’s nothing like fresh fruits to keep you healthy and shiny new after an illness. So remember to eat your fruits—fresh ones—and feel their nutritional benefits day in and day out.
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