The 10 Healthiest Fruits

There are a hundred and one reasons for eating fruits.  Fruits are delicious, nutritious, need no cooking, are travel-friendly, kid-friendly and come in a variety of colors, textures and tastes.  All fruits are bursting with nutrients and protective phytochemicals.  But there are some which are especially endowed with greater concentrations of nutrients.  Here is a list of the 10 healthiest fruits.

1.  Apples

A medium-sized apple packs 5 grams of fiber, meeting a fourth of your daily fiber need.  Fiber soaks up cholesterol and aids in weight management.  It has potent flavonoid antioxidants which reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.  Yet for all its fiber and nutrient content, an apple has 80 calories only.

2.  Apricots

Apricots provide Vitamins A, C and E, potassium and iron.  Its Vitamin A load meets a third of our daily requirement.  The antioxidants it contains include carotenoids and lycopene which protect against heart disease and skin cancer.  The best part is that it only has a measly caloric count of 19.

3.  Bananas

A piece of banana gives a whooping 400 mg of potassium which is essential for blood pressure regulation and normal neuromuscular  function.  Bananas are also high in fiber for good bowel function.  Packing 108 calories apiece, a banana is quick energy source.  A great plus is its sweet, creamy and smooth taste.

4.  Berries

Touted as veritable antioxidant storehouses, berries of whatever variety are teeming with protective substances which fight diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer.  A cup of berries, be they blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or cranberries, has less than a hundred calories.  Their tangy and intensely flavors make them the favorite fruits for cooking.

5.  Cantaloupes

These mildly-tasting and sweetly fragrant fruits are high in Vitamin C and glutathione which protect against sunburn, fight inflammation and improve immunity.  Half a melon has less than a hundred calories. 

6.  Cherries

These tartly sweet fruits are loaded with iron to prevent anemia, Vitamins C and E which are antioxidants, folate which enhance the absorption of iron and magnesium necessary for normal muscular function.  It is also packed with carotenoids and flavonoids which are especially effective against arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.

7.  Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are best known for their Vitamin C content.  These fruits which include red and pink grapefruits, lemons, limes and oranges are also storehouses of a long list of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and fiber.  Juicy, sweet and sour, they make the most wonderful juices.

8.  Kiwi

Ounce for ounce, kiwi fruits have twice the Vitamin C of oranges and are excellent sources of magnesium, potassium and nutrients.  Kiwi is linked with a healthy respiratory system.

9.  Papaya

These carotenoid-rich tropical fruits boast of the digestive enzyme papain which aids in the digestion of proteins.  It also scores high in fiber and has been shown to have laxative effects.  Succulent and sweet, a cup of cubed papaya has just 55 calories.

10.  Red Grapes

These dark-colored grapes are the original sources of the widely-acclaimed antioxidant, resveratrol which fights oxidation to prevent the development of cancer.  They also have a wide array of nutrients and other antioxidants such as anthocyanins and flavonoids.