fruits

Fruits

Althoughmostfruitsaresweet,

still,theyareagoodsourceoffiberandarepackedwithnutrients-especially

VitaminC.

Onreasonthatthemuch-talkedabout"Mediterraneandiet"isconsidered

WorldHealthOrganizationrecommendsthateveryoneshouldtrytoeatat

leastfiveportionsofdifferentfruitorvegetableachday.

Aportionoffruitcountsasasinglefruit,suchasanappleororange,acup

ofsmallfruitsuchasgrapesorraspberries,

canincludedried,tinnedandfrozenfruitaspartofyourquota,buttinnedfruit

isoftensweetenedinsyrup,spossiblebuy

ruitand

juiceprovidemostofourdailyintakeofvitaminCwithcitrusfruit(oranges,

lemons,grapefruitandtangerines)op

vitaminCprovidersincludeKiwiFruit,strawberries,raspberries,blackcurrants

withorangeordeepyellowflesh,suchas

apricots,mangoesandcantaloupemelons,gettheircolorfromayellow

orangepigmentcalledbetacarotene,

carotenepigmentssuchaslycopenearefoundinredfruits,andthealong

withbetacarotenearethoughttoprotectagainstfreeradicalsandpossibly

srichinpotassium,especiallybananasanddriedfruits.

sintandemwithsodiumto

regulatethebody'sfluidbalance.

Anotherreasonwhyfruitissoimportanttothedietisbecauitcontains

olublefiberhelpreducetheriskof

colonCancerwhilesolublefibercanhelptolowerbloodcholesterollevels.

Citrusfruitanddriedfruits(suchasfigs,dates,apricotsandraisins)are

idesareappliedtocropstoensure

thattheproduceisofahighqualityandfreefrompestsanddias,andin

mostfruitthelevelsaresolowthattheyponohazardtohealthevenfor

children,howeveritisnsibletothoroughlywashfruitincleanrunningwater

astesgood,it

ichsource

ofpotassiumwhichhelpstoregulatebloodpressureanditprovidesmostof

ourdailyintakeofvitaminC.