The ABCs of Healthy Fruits (Part Two)

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

Fruits are great cures for what ails you. There are many fruits that you can use; this article takes a look at only a few of them.

The fuzzy brown exterior of the kiwi fruit gives way to a bright green interior which is an excellent cancer fighter. Kiwis contain a lot of vitamin C and fiber. Vitamin C is believed to play an integral role in preventing cataracts.

Grapes are a tremendous source of boron, which is a type of mineral that may be connected to a lower risk of osteoporosis. Grapes when turned into red grape juice are full of not just boron but also something known as reservatrol. Reservatrol is a chemical that is believed to be able to ward off heart disease by inhibiting the clumping action of blood cells.

Mangoes are full of vitamin C and beta-carotene, both of which are considered to be anticancer antioxidants. This fruit is also full of copper and vitamin B6. The USDA research into the importance of vitamin C to the body has found that this essential vitamin is beneficial at lowering blood pressure.

Oranges and oranges made into orange juice are filled with vitamin C and folic acid. Folic acid is beneficial for preventing a number of birth defects such as spina bifida and encephalitis. Folic acid is believed to help reduce the risk of cervical cancer.

There are other types of citrus fruits besides orange juice that are full of limonoids which are substances that can help the body to detoxify itself and by so doing can decrease the risk of cancer. Be aware that smokers need twice the daily intake of vitamin C as non-smokers and should therefore drink double the quantity of orange juice.

Pears are not only delicious but they are also an excellent source of fiber. Fiber has a great deal of benefits but when combined with a diet low in fat it is able to decrease the chance that a person will develop polyps in the colon which can lead to the development of cancer. Pears are not just full of fiber but also they contain plenty of vitamin C, boron (which is also prevalent in grapes), and potassium (which is also prevalent in bananas).

Prunes are the recommended fruit for relief of constipation, however some people prefer to drink prune juice instead. Prunes are good for this purpose because they are full of fiber. Prunes they have a natural sugar called sorbitol. Prunes are excellent for the bones and like grapes contain boron as well as plenty of vitamins A and E.

Berries in general contain plenty of fiber and strawberries are a perfect example of this. Strawberries have more fiber as well as more vitamin C in them than the majority of other fruits. Strawberries contain a substance called ellagic acid, which is a natural chemical that is excellent at fighting cancer. Studies of ellagic acid have discovered that it very potent as an inhibitor of carcinogens that the body takes in, particularly for smokers, including nitrosamines and tobacco smoke.


Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Food Cures.

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The ABCs of Healthy Fruits (Part One)

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

All fruits are healthy to the human body in specific ways. A combination of fruits in your diet can help to keep you healthy, and cure certain diseases as well. There is a huge variety of fruits that can help you, including apples, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, kiwi fruit, lemon/limes and oranges. Other healing fruits include papaya, pears, pineapple, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries and watermelon. Here we take a look at a variety of the healing properties of a selection of fruits.

Amaranth is a food that not everyone is familiar with. While technically a fruit, amaranth is commonly used as a type of grain that is found in many different types of breads, muffins, pasta and other foods that are as an adjunct to flour. The seeds of amaranth are extremely high in protein that builds muscle. Amaranth is much richer in protein than most grains. Amaranth seeds are also excellent at building up the immune system because they are high in zinc, copper and magnesium.

Apricots are excellent antioxidants. They are chock-full of vitamin C and beta-carotene. Research studies have yielded the fact that beta carotene is beneficial at protecting the body against lung cancer. Apricots are great sources of fiber. Apricots are more nutritious if you buy them fresh as opposed to canned.

Bananas are full of potassium, and therefore great at reducing blood pressure. Bananas are full of vitamin B6, which is good for encouraging the strength of the immune system. Bananas are particularly good to start off the day. Eat a banana with a glass of low fat milk and a piece of whole wheat bread (or toast) with peanut butter for breakfast and it will give you plenty of energy. For a change of pace whip up a banana shake in the blender and drink your start to a good day!

Cantaloupe is full of plenty of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, potassium and fiber. Research studies have shown that beta-carotene is particularly helpful at fighting cancers that originate in the lungs but more recent studies have shown that it is also worthwhile for fighting other types of cancers such as cancer of the cervix, uterine cancer, stomach cancer and oral forms of cancers. Evidence also supports that vitamin C decreases the incidence of mouth cancers, throat cancers, pancreatic cancer and stomach cancer.

Figs are beneficial to health and that is the case regardless of whether you choose to eat figs fresh or in their dried form. Figs have plenty of vitamin C, fiber, magnesium and potassium in them. Figs contain a type of fruit fiber that is able to decrease blood pressure, and in particular, systolic blood pressure, which is the top number of the blood pressure reading which in turn, calculates the pressure of the contractions of the heart. Fiber in general is connected to decreasing the bottom number of the blood pressure equation, which is the diastolic blood pressure. The diastolic blood pressure stands for the pressure of the heart when it is resting between its contracting action.


Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Food Cures.

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