Why you need to eat fruits

Why you need to eat fruits

Fruits are the edible sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contain seeds. They are nutritious and also essential to your health. Many studies have proven how beneficial fruits are to the human body.

However, there are still people who would rather go for junks instead of a healthy choice which is fruits and vegetables. Therefore, there is a need to educate everyone on the benefits of taking fruits, how fruits can help weight loss and how you can identify a good fruit.

Firstly, what are the benefits of taking fruits? Fruits provide numerous benefits as summarized below.

1. They keep diseases away

Daily consumption of fruits helps to keep illness away. Some of these illnesses are high blood pressure, stroke, indigestion, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases. This is made possible with credits to the combination of powerful flavonoids, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals and the countless micro and macronutrients which can be found in fruits.

2. Fruits give you smooth and radiant skin

Certain fruits like banana, papaya, cucumber have been attributed to facial treatment because they help fight acne and pimples. You can include berries, apples and banana into your diet and watch your skin look fresh and radiant. Fruits also keep your skin supple and hydrated and nourishes it with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

3. They supply you with instant energy

Fruits supply instant energy in no time. This explains why athletes take fruit before and after training because they supply instant energy; also, pregnant women are advised to take lots of fruits.

4. Fruits aid healthy hair growth

Fruits have always been good source of vitamins and nutrients, making them the main source of healthy diet. It is not surprising to know that fruits can improve hair growth, strength and quality. Fruits like orange, apples, strawberry, avocado and pineapple are very beneficial to hair growth.

Now, how can fruits aid weightloss?

Weightloss is often achieved through different strategies and one of those strategies is through healthy eating, which entails eating lots of fruits. Fruits help to achieve weightloss because they contain lots of fiber.

According to a report by the National Institute of Health newsletter, people on high fiber diets tend to eat about 10 percent fewer calories. In addition, other large studies found that people who have a high intake of fiber tend to weigh less. This is made possible because fiber is an indigestible plant-based carbohydrate which is quite filling and has no calories.

However, consumption of fruits alone cannot help attain weightloss. It can be achieved with the combination of exercise, dieting, and healthy eating.

How to identify good fruits

Look out for the following things below to identify if the fruit is a good one.

  • Check for molds on the fruit, if you find any do not buy it
  • Check the color if it is the right color of the fruit
  • Look for spots and bruises to know the handle rate of the fruit
  • Buy fruits during them the right season
  • Feel them carefully before buying

Conclusively, we will start a series on fruits and vegetables. The aim to help you get to know more about fruits and go for more healthy choices.

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5 health benefits of carrots

5 health benefits of carrots

Carrot is an important vegetable with lots of health benefits, little wonder why every 4th of April is an International Carrot day. To buttress our point, we have put together the major 5 health benefits of carrots below.

1. It improves vision

Carrots are linked to good eyesight because they are rich in beta-carotene which has proven to protect the eye against macular disintegration and senile cataracts. Also, a study found “that people who eat large amounts of beta-carotene had a 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little”.

2. It helps prevent cancer

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, “the antioxidant beta-carotene contained in carrots has the capability to protect cell membranes from oxidative stress and inhibit the growth of cancer cells”.

In addition, natural compound called falcarinol are present in carrots. This natural compound is said to slow down the growth of cancerous lesions when fed to rats. Also, a study carried out in 2011 discovered that carrot juice extract could kill leukemia cells and inhibit their progression.

3. Carrots prevent heart disease

Carrots do not only contain beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein. These two components help to prevent heart disease. A study of over 20,000 people discovered that a higher intake of deep orange fruit and vegetables and most especially carrots may protect against CHD.

Carrots also contain an essential component which is vitamin K content. Vitamin K triggers the protein Gas6, this compound is said to promote cellular communication, which also includes communication among the cells that make up your heart.

4. It helps your weight loss journey

Carrots contain quite a few calories per gram i.e. they are low in energy mass, which is as a result of their high water and fiber content and low-fat content. Therefore, consuming carrot which has a low energy density makes you more filling and less hungry which helps to control what you take in.

5. It boosts immunity level

A high immunity level is important because it helps fights against disease or virus that may attack the body. Vitamin A helps to build the immunity level of the body and one of the major components of carrot is vitamin A. Carrots also contain a small amount of Vitamin C which also help to boost immunity level.

You will see from the foregoing that carrots are essential food you should always eat. You can add them to your smoothie ingredient, use them in your sauce or eat directly. Will you eat carrots today?

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