One of the best things about spring and summer is the fruits that are in season. When you really think about it, we all enjoy fruit, and we all enjoy how they’re both a sweet and healthy snack. However, we seemingly more often stress the nutritional value of vegetables compared to fruits. We all know that carrots are good for your eyes, but we don’t focus on what grapes and watermelon do for our bodies –we just enjoy them.
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A lot of people normally utilize citrus fruits like lemons for their antioxidants. Of course, they’re good for their high quantity of vitamin C. Oranges are one of the richest sources of vitamin C. For generations, we’ve been using them for home remedy teas that fight against colds and congestion. I’d like to add that I use lemons in a mixture to help tone and brighten my skin, even though that is not a benefit I found in my research. This isn’t something I’ve read about, but it’s just something I grew up with my mom doing.
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Something people are considering about fruit lately is how much water they contain, so there’s this new concept of “eating your water.” Strawberries have a high water content and the small seeds on the outside provide plenty of dietary fiber. Strawberries themselves contain many vitamins and minerals that help boost heart health. For example, the fiber and potassium in strawberries aid in maintaining healthy heart cells. Strawberries, along with other berries, also contain a flavonoid called quercetin that is a natural anti-inflammatory. So, in just one strawberry, you’ve knocked out taking a lot of different vitamins that some people have lined up in their medicine cabinets.
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Grapefruits are one of my favorite fruits. Surely, my favorite citrus fruit. They have flavonoids that help protect against some cancers, inflammation and even obesity. The anticancer properties may be especially effective against breast cancer, skin cancer and leukemia.
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As much as we love fruit, it’s important to be aware of the properties of specific fruits that can help you combat any problems you may be having or want to avoid having.