Despite the flack they’ve got in recent years due to their fructose content, I’m a huge fan of fruits.

For a start, they’re packed with a ton of vitamins and minerals. These help your body to function effectively and make the best use of everything you eat and drink. Fruit is also a great source of fibre, which is good for your digestion. What’s more, the presence of this fibre slows down the absorption of fructose and provides you with a steady source of energy.

But my favourite thing about fruit has got to be their suitability as a snack.  Especially for someone with a sweet tooth, like myself. Fruit is so pleasant to eat that they make a great substitute for unhealthy snacks like cookies, cakes, and lollies. Packing a portion of fruit makes resisting less beneficial snacks all that much easier. Plus, they’re portable and you can pick them up almost anywhere: the ideal snack.

Now, I’ve explained some of the many benefits of fruit, let’s take a look at 5 that are great for you:

Bananas

Bananas are bound to make anyone’s list of top fruit and that’s for good reason. They’re an excellent source of potassium, a mineral known as an electrolyte that helps with muscle contractions. Ever had muscle cramps during or after exercise? This was probably due to a lack of electrolytes. Eating a banana before a workout will definitely help prevent such cramps.

An often overlooked benefit of bananas is their ability to lift your spirits. They contain an amino acid called tryptophan which is then converted by your body to create serotonin, the ‘feel good’ hormone.

Oh, and just before I move on, here’s a recipe for a delicious, one-ingredient banana ice cream. It’s easy to make and makes a great-tasting substitute if you’re craving Ben and Jerry’s.

Blueberries

Blueberries, like all berries, are an excellent source of antioxidants, particularly vitamin C. Antioxidants prevent cell damage, which is the main cause of ageing, so blueberries can help keep you looking and feeling young and vibrant for longer. Antioxidants have also been shown to protect your brain and help it to function optimally, which is particularly desirable if you’re constantly busy and have to constantly juggle tasks.

Blueberries also contain a large amount of vitamin K, which is great for the health of your bones. Vitamin K is also needed for your blood to clot correctly, which helps your body to heal itself.

One of my favourite ways to use for blueberries is to mash them up and add them to a bowl of oats or muesli.  It’s an easy way to make your breakfast tastier and healthy.

Avocados

If you’re like me, you probably don’t tend to think of an avocado as a fruit. I mean, I know it’s a fruit and accept it as one, but I’m not one of those people who pick up an avocado and eats it on its own, like I would, say, an apple. If you are one of those people, you’ve definitely got the right idea because avocados are great for you.

Firstly, avocados are distinctive amongst fruit for containing healthy, monounsaturated fats. These fats are good for your cardiovascular system, help lower your blood pressure and, reduce inflammation. Secondly, they’re a rich source of antioxidants, one of which is vitamin E. You’ll frequently find Vitamin E is in beauty and grooming products such as moisturisers and face creams because it’s dynamite for your skin. Avocados’ vitamin E and healthy fat content are the reason they’re used in so many face masks.

Now, if you’re not one of those aforementioned people that like to eat them whole, they are many ways to add avocado to your diet. You could chop them up and add them to a salad; chuck them in a smoothie; or make delicious guacamole and scoop it up with pieces of carrots, cucumbers, celery, or capsicum.

Grapefruits

As with all citrus fruits, grapefruits are a rich source of vitamin C. As well as being an antioxidant, vitamin C is great for your immune system, which is why people always advise you to consume more of it when you pick up a bug, like the flu. They also contain the antioxidant naringin which helps your digestion; this is also what gives grapefruits their distinctive bitter taste.

Pink and red grapefruits also contain another, particularly potent, antioxidant called lycopene, which gives them their colour. You’ll also find lycopene in tomatoes, and, you guessed it, it’s what makes them red!

Grapefruits are also renowned for aiding weight loss. Although some exaggerate their ability to burn fat, particularly in diets that require you to just only drink grapefruit juice, they do help manage your blood sugar levels and improve your insulin resistance. You’ll have fewer sugar cravings as a result and this will help you lose weight.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates aren’t known as ‘a fruit from heaven’ for no reason – they benefit your health in so many ways. They contain a potent cocktail of fibre, protein, and vitamins A, B9 (folic acid), C, and K – a combination that both prevents cell damage and restores those already in need of repair. They also have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to help with joint pain.

If you don’t usually eat pomegranates, the good news is that they’re versatile and, therefore, easy to add to your diet. For instance, they made a delicious addition to savoury dishes so you can add them to any salad or stir fry. You could also simply just scoop the seeds out into a cup and pick at them, so great for grazers!

Got Fruit?

If you feel you need to get in the habit of eating more fruit every day, our Fruit Basket service is perfect for you. We’ll ensure you get a variety of fresh, nutritious fruit along with every cook date to guarantee to get in your five your day!