If you buy Australian, winter fruit offerings can be pretty dull – apples, oranges, mandarins, bananas, etc. Now, though, spring is here and our fruit options are back.
Spring offers an embarrassment of fruit riches and the question becomes how you decide which fruit to indulge in. If you are struggling to pick, here are four fruits with enormous health benefits.
1. Plums
One of my favourite stone fruits, plums contain strong antioxidants that support heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. A Harvard study found that eating three or more servings of anthocyanin-rich fruit per week (anthocyanin is the antioxidant present in plums) lowered women’s heart attack risk by as much as 34 per cent. Darker plums, such as black or red, provide the biggest benefit.
2. Raspberries
Not only do raspberries provide you with a massive fibre boost, they are also a great snack that can help you achieve weight loss goals by making you feel full for longer. Raspberry ketones are currently being used in Japan as a weight-loss supplement. Raspberries also contain strong antioxidants such as Vitamin C, quercetin and gallic acid that fight against cancer, heart and circulatory disease and age-related decline. They are high in ellagic acid and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Mango
Now that the warmer weather is here, you can get your Vitamin C from sources other than oranges. A cup-sized serving of mango provides more than three quarters of your recommended daily Vitamin C intake. Mangos also contain a powerful antioxidant that helps defend your skin against pollution and is essential for the production of collagen, the protein that keeps your skin supple and smooth.
4. Cantaloupe
Not to everyone’s taste, but if you are looking for a potassium boost and have tired of bananas, cantaloupe could be the answer for you. Cantaloupe is a fantastic source of potassium (one cup contains the same amount as a large banana), which keeps bones dense and can fight osteoporosis. The antioxidant zeaxanthin, found in cantaloupe, filters out harmful blue light rays and is thought to play a protective role in eye health and possibly ward off damage from macular degeneration. The fibre, potassium, vitamin C, and choline content in cantaloupe all support heart health, as well.
What fruit are you most looking forward to welcoming back to your diet this season?
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