FRUITS - a miracle in our life

Eat (more) fruit 
These ideas might stimulate your fruit consumption!
Why should we have five to nine fresh pieces a day, organically grown if possible?

1. For the largest part fruit consists of water just like the human body does;

2. Fruit is 100% bad-cholesterol free;

3. Fruit stimulates the memory;

4. The idea that fruit is an expensive nutrition;

5. The miraculous healing effects of fruit;

6. Fibers;

7. Fruit makes you feel better;

8. Ethical reasons to eat fruit;

9. Fruit is the most natural food;

For the largest part fruit consists of water just like the human body does 

Like 80% of our body is water so does 80% of fruit consist of water! 
If you think about it, it's logical for the human body to consume food that contains as much water as the body itself. The nutrition that meets that requirement is fruit. There is no other food than fruit on this planet that contains on average 80% water. 
Vegetables also contain a lot of water and are therefore second best. 

Fruit is 100% bad-cholesterol free 

No doubt about this argument. Too much bad-cholesterol is not good for our bodies and fruit doesn't contain bad-cholesterol. Animal products like meat and dairy contain a lot of bad-cholesterol.

Fruit stimulates the memory 

If you didn’t know yet: fruit is the ultimate brain fuel. Fruit has a positive effect on our brains. The way this works still has to be found out and many scientists are looking into it as we speak. What we do know is that if you consume fruit effectively, your brains can recall information faster and more easily. This is very useful information for people who are preparing for an exam. 

The idea that fruit is an expensive nutrition

Did you always think that fruit was an expensive product? Take a good look at how much money you spend on other food. It could be worth something to replace some of those expenses with fruit. We think that fruit is the healthiest food on earth and therefore it is well worth spending our money on.

The miraculous healing effects of fruit 

Spectacular stories about people that cured from uncurable diseases by a strict diet of raw fruits and/or vegetables are well known but do we want to believe them? We still don't know that much about fruit and its contents.

Fibers 

We do know now that a diet with plenty of fibers helps against corpulence, high blood pressure, and other factors that increase the chance for a heart disease. The consumed amount of fibers maybe even a more important factor than the amount of fat that is consumed by people! 
The food that contains these healthy (natural) fibers is.... right: fruit! (vegetables as well). The American Heart Association advises to consume 25 to 30 grams of fibers out of fresh fruits and/or vegetables. In practice this means: have five to nine portions of fresh fruits or vegetables a day.

Fruit makes you feel better 

Several stories have told us about people that were frequently depressed and how they got out of their depression slowly but surely after consuming substantial amounts of fresh fruit on a regular basis. Eating much fruit can have a mysterious healing effect on human beings. Even better is to drink a lot of freshly squeezed fruit drinks on a regular basis. It will take approximately 30 days until you start to notice the effects. Don't forget to drink these smoothies 20 minutes before the consumption of other meals. This way the fruit will not ferment in the stomach and the nutritious elements can be absorbed by the blood effectively.

Ethical reasons to eat fruit 

Fruit doesn't have to be killed and slaughtered before you can eat it. The fruits are just hanging there waiting to be picked by you! 
This ethical argument (often used by vegetarians and vegans to not eat meat) claims that fruit is a non-animal food. Many people see animals, especially mammals, as living creatures just like humans. There are religions that say that animals have souls like us. The native Americans first asked the animal's spirit if they could kill it before they did so. Fruit has never been said to have a soul and thus can be eaten without causing any harm. Ethical or religious arguments aside, we think it's a shame that we as human beings don't eat much fruit when there is such an abundant assortment of fruits and vegetables available.

Fruit is the most natural food

When you see a piece of fruit hanging from a tree that tree is telling you something: 

"Eat my fruits and help me spread my seeds."  That’s how nature works. Humans eat vegetables and fruits and consequently help the plants to spread. Humans use animals to work the land to grow the plants and trees that produce these fruits and vegetables. In more and more people's opinion this is the way it was all meant to be. 

 

 BENEFITS OF MANGO

1.  Prevents Cancer: 
antioxidant compounds in mango protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. These compounds include quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat, as well as the abundant enzymes.

2.  Lowers Cholesterol: 
The high levels of fibre, pectin and vitamin C help to lower serum cholesterol levels, specifically Low-Density Lipoprotein (the bad stuff)

3.  Clears the Skin: 
it can be used both internally and externally for the skin. Mangos clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples.

4.  Eye Health: 
One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes.

5.  Alkalizes the Whole Body:
The tartaric acid, malic acid, and a trace of citric acid found in the fruit help to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.

 

 BENEFITS OF APPLE

An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away,

But what exactly are the health benefits of apples? Here are ten reasons to heed the advice of that old proverb.

1. Bone Protection
a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.

Asthma Help
children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.

Alzheimer's Prevention
the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.

Lower Cholesterol
The pectin in apples lowers LDL cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.

Lung Cancer Prevention
those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.

Breast Cancer Prevention
Rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.

 

BENEFITS OF GUAVA

1. Cancer Prevention:  Guava is an excellent source of the cancer-fighting antioxidant, lycopene. Lycopene consumption is associated with significantly lower rates of prostate cancer, and it has also been found to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Lycopene promotes good health by acting against the influence of “free radicals”, which can damage cells and can contribute to developing cancer and coronary heart disease.

2. High Blood Pressure:  Guava, being hypoglycemic in nature and fiber rich, helps in decreasing blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This makes guavas highly beneficial for those at risk for heart disease and hypertension. Also, a medium guava (165 gm) provides you with 20 percent of the recommended daily value (DV) for potassium.

3. Diarrhea:  Guava has astringents which are helpful in binding up loose stools during the conditions of diarrhea. These alkaline compounds display antibacterial properties and have the ability to prevent microbial growth during dysentery.

4. Cough and Cold:  The decoction of guava leaves or the juices of raw or immature guavas bring relief to individuals suffering from cough and cold. This can be attributed to the astringent properties of guava juice.The juice works by loosening the cough, decreasing mucus and by making the respiratory tract, throat and lungs infection-free.

 

BENEFITS OF WATERMELON

The health benefits of watermelon are really great. No matter how it is sliced, it is packed with some of the most important antioxidants found in nature.

1. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, particularly through its concentration of beta-carotene.

2. The beautiful red watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant which is called lycopene. These antioxidants travel throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause much damage to us. They are able to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to blood vessel walls and thicken them which can lead to heart attack or stroke. The lycopene which gives fruits the attractive red colour that we find in watermelon can help reduce the risks of prostate cancer.

3. It is a surprising fact that watermelon is the only fruit that contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.

4. Watermelon is a fruit that is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium that we lose through our perspiration.

5. Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Food experts recommend watermelon as a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1 and magnesium. Because of its higher water content approximately ninety percent and calorie value it is ranked more valuable than other fruits.

6. Watermelon has a special cooling effect and is exceptionally high in citrulline, an amino acid that our bodies use to make another amino acid, arginine, which is used in the urea cycle to remove ammonia from the body.

7. The antioxidants help reducing the severity of asthma. It also reduces the risk of colon cancer, asthma, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate cancer.

Watermelon is a good source of thiamin, potassium and magnesium which protect our body from so many diseases.

Watermelon is fat free but helps energy production. It protects against macular degeneration.

 

BENEFITS OF OATS

1. Lowers cholesterol: Beta-glucans, a soluble fiber present in oats has been proven effective in lowering blood cholesterol thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).  A study confirms that having a bowl of oat meal everyday reduces the CVD risk by 10%.

2. Reduces high blood sugar: Being a low glycemic index (GI) food and the fact that it is high in fiber content, it can normalize blood sugar spikes. Type 2 diabetes patients can benefit a lot from a morning breakfast of oatmeal.

3. Boosts Immune system: Selenium and Vitamin E present in Oats significantly enhances the human immune system's response to bacterial infection. This makes oatmeal the perfect food to have on the table during flu season. Zinc, present on oats, helps in metabolism, healing wounds and growth of new cells.

4. Reduces weight: The high amount of soluble fiber in oats forms a gel when digested. This causes the viscosity of the contents of the stomach and small intestine to be increased. The gel delays emptying of the stomach making you feel full longer which helps with weight loss. Also, being low in fat content, oats don't add to your weight as well. A new research found that the children who ate oatmeal were 50% less likely to become overweight, when compared to those children that did not eat it.

5. Good source of Protein: Oats have a higher concentration of well-balanced protein (100 gm of oats have around 17 gm of protein) than other cereals - 100 gm of oats contains twice as much protein as 100 gm of wheat or cornflakes). Also, the quality of the protein is superior to the quality of protein found in wheat or other grains.  Protein is used to build, repair, and maintain all body tissues and provide the body energy.

6. Improves digestion: The high fiber content of Oats makes it an ideal medicine-food for individuals suffering from gastritis, colitis, and other digestive problems. Oats promote healthy bowel movement and cure constipation.

7. Reduces the risk of cancer: Phytochemicals present in oats are thought to reduce a person's risk of getting cancer. Lignan, a type of phytochemical especially abundant in oats has been linked to decreased risk of breast cancer and colon cancer. Whole oats result in bulky stool, which in turn dilutes carcinogens.

8. Stronger bones: Oats are rich in calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Regular consumption of oats helps keep bones strong and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

9. Excellent for Pregnancy: It is a good source of folic acid, thiamin,riboflavin, and niacin. Pregnant women need 400mcg of folic acid a day. A bowl of oatmeal can reduce the chances of having a baby with spina bifida.

10. Good for skin: Oatmeal bath helps heal dry & flaky skin, eczema and other skin conditions. Skin rashes and insect bites are also healed with mashed oats. Oatmeal scrubs exfoliate your skin and are very beneficial to oily skin.

11. Reduces stress: The use of oats is very suitable in cases of depression, insomnia, and physical or nervous fatigue. A mixture of oats, milk and honey reduces stress in the morning and boosts concentration.

12. Energy booster: Being high is carbs, they are excellent when it comes to boosting performance. Other nutrients present in oats like Phosphorus, vitamin B, magnesium and iron help in energy production.

 

BENEFITS OF GRAPES

Asthma: Due to its eminent therapeutic value, grapes can be used for cure of asthma. In addition to it, the assimilatory power of grapes is also higher. It increases the moisture present in lungs.

Heart diseases: Grapes increase the nitric oxide levels in the blood, which prevents blood clots thereby reducing the chances of heart attacks. In addition the antioxidant present in grapes prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which blocks the blood vessels.

Migraine: Ripe grape juice is an important home remedy for curing migraine. It should be taken early in the morning, without mixing additional water.

Constipation: Grapes are very effective in overcoming constipation. They are considered as a laxative food, as they contain organic acid, sugar and cellulose. They also relieve chronic constipation by toning up intestine and stomach.

Indigestion: Grapes play an important role in dyspepsia. They relieve heat and cure indigestion and irritation of the stomach. They are also preferred as they constitute a light food.

Fatigue: Light and white grape juice replenishes the iron content present in the body and prevents fatigue. Though, the dark grape juice might not give an iron boost and on the other hand, decrease the iron levels. Drinking grape juice also provides you with instant energy. The anti-oxidants present in grapes also provide the needed boost to your immune system.

Kidney disorders: Grapes can substantially reduce the acidity of the uric acid and helps in the elimination of the acid from the system, thereby reducing the work pressure of kidneys.

Breast cancer: Through a latest study, it has been discovered that purple coloured Concord grape juice helps in preventing breast cancer. Significant reduction in mammary tumour mass of laboratory rats was seen after they were fed the grape juice on the experimental basis.

Alzheimer’s disease: Resveratrol, a beneficial polyphenol present in grapes reduces the levels of amyloidal-beta peptides in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Studies suggest that grapes can enhance brain health and stall the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.

Macular degeneration: Grapes can prevent the age related loss of vision or macular degeneration. Three servings of grapes a day can reduce the risks of macular degeneration by over 36 %.

Prevents cataract: Flavonoids present in grapes have antioxidants, which can reduce and fight the damage caused by free radicals such as cataract apart from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and age related problems.

Blood cholesterol: Grapes contain a compound called pterostilbene, which has the capacity to bring down cholesterol level. Saponins present in grape skin can also prevent the absorption of cholesterol by binding with it.

Antibacterial activity: Red grapes have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties and can protect you from infections. They have a strong antiviral property against poliovirus and herpes simplex virus.

Anticancer properties: Grapes are found to have strong anti cancer properties due to the anti-inflammatory effect of resveratrol present in grapes. It is particularly effective in colorectal cancer and breast cancer. Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins present in grapes have properties of an anti-proliferate and can inhibit the growth of cancer causing agents. Grape juice not just prevents the risk of cancer but also suppresses the growth and propagation of cancer cells. The pigments contained in grapes enhance the overall immunity of the body.

Thus, grapes play a pivotal role in preventing innumerable health disorders and can be used as home based remedies for several ailments. Dried grapes, known as raisins, are extremely nutritious and help in many disorders including constipation, acidosis, anemia, fever, sexual weakness and help in gaining weight and eye care. Read more about benefits of raisins.