Apples, Bananas, And Pears (Oh My): 5 Healthy Fruits Whose Benefits May Surprise You
You don’t have to go to an exotic grocer to buy a nutritional piece of fruit. Some of the healthiest produce can be found in any average fruit basket. Not only are fruits from our childhood loaded with tons of vitamins, but they also have a number of lesser known but equally beneficial health benefits.
Apples Are Good For Your Brain
The apple was named Medical News Today’s number one most healthy food in the world. Now, whether the apple is truly the most healthy food in the world is up for debate, but there are many reasons that make it deserving of this recognition. What is truly exceptional about apples is their ability to promote brain health. The antioxidant called “quercetin” found in apples reduces cellular death caused by oxidation and inflammation of neurons, according to a study at the University of Quebec. This helps to improve overall neurological health. Cornell University proved apple’s brain-strengthening abilities with their study, which showed how apples may help protect neuron cells against oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity. This helps lower the risk of developing conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Bananas Can Prevent Heart Disease
The fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and B6 found in bananas all work together to help ensure your heart is always at top working condition. According to Mark Houston, an associate clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School, in Medical News Today, increasing your potassium intake and decreasing your sodium is the most important dietary change an individual can make to improve their heart health. One study found that individuals who consumed higher amounts of potassium were 49 percent less likely to die from ischemic heart disease, compared to those who consumed lower amounts.
Grapes Can Help You Burn Fat
Grapes are particularly good at burning fat because of the resveratrol they contain. Resveratrol is a compound found in purple and red grapes. It may help prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces “bad cholesterol” and prevents blood clots. A study from the University of Georgia found that resveratrol also may have an interesting effect on fat in the human body. The study found that resveratrol can help reduce the cells’ ability to store fat by about 130 percent. The compound was also found to cause fat cells to disintegrate at a rate 246 percent higher than normal.
Oranges Can Help Reduce Wrinkles
It is common knowledge that oranges are an excellent source of the very important vitamin C. When applied topically, though, oranges have the ability to improve the overall health and appearance of your skin. Medical News Today reports that the vitamin C in oranges helps to reverse skin damage caused by the sun and pollution, reduces wrinkles, and improves your overall skin texture. This is because vitamin C plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, the firming component of skin. The vitamin C in oranges helps improve the absorption of vitamin E and iron in the body, which in turn can help give you a radiant complexion, The Times of India reported.
Pears Can Prevent Cancer
Pears contain more fiber than most other fruit. This fiber helps to pass food more easily along the digestive tract. The gritty fiber also removes cancer-causing chemicals in the colon, which reduces your risk of developing colon cancer. As reported by Food For Breast Cancer, pears have the flavonoid phloretin. This compound has been found to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in human melanoma, leukemia, liver, and colon cancer cells in a laboratory. One study also found that consumption of pears was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.