When we feel sick or start to feel run down, we may rush to the local pharmacy to find the best pill to give us a boost or to alleviate the symptoms. A much better option would be to head to your local organic fruit shop and fill your basket with fruits that are not only tasty but, due to their many health properties, can act as a form of medicine.
Do you suffer from headaches? Or, perhaps you’re trying to improve the health and appearance of your skin? Well, you’ll be happy to know that many fruits provide you with essential nutrients and vitamins while helping you to tackle various symptoms and conditions.
Here are 10 fruits that are known to act as medicine.
Kiwi
Kiwifruit provides you with plenty of potassium, fiber, and vitamin C, making it a fruit that you should think about adding to your diet every day. It is a superfruit that contains the perfect mixture of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients and helps fight respiratory ailments, stroke, heart disorders, and cancer. Kiwifruit is also known to have blood-thinning components, which can help your vascular health while regulating your LDL cholesterols level and blood pressure. To maximize the benefits you can get from Kiwifruit, buy the riper ones. Riper Kiwifruits are considered to come with more antioxidant components. The more antioxidants in your Kiwifruit, the better the effects it has on your health.
Tart cherries
Tart cherries might be small, but they are full of healthy nutrients that can help keep your body in excellent condition. Cherries are full of essential nutrients, which can help fight cancer, inflammation, and infections. Scientific studies show that they are filled with quercetin and ellagic. Both ellagic and quercetin are known to help stop tumor cells’ growth without damaging the healthy cells. Cherries contain properties that benefit the heart, the colon, and other parts of the body.
Strawberries
Strawberries, just like many other dark-colored fruits, are known to assist with cardiovascular health. Health experts say that these berries are helpful to lower your blood pressure. They can help relax and soothe the lining of the blood vessels. The extract of strawberry leaves is known to further enhance the blood flow of the coronary arteries. To get the best health benefits from strawberries, try to consume at least eight per day. By doing so, you can get as much as 160% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C. This can reduce the risk of developing cancer of the stomach, breasts, or cervix.
Cranberries
Cranberries are a very healthy fruit. They are believed to be a powerhouse, as they are high in vital compounds and nutrients, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, which can boost your immune system. They also help to fight free radicals and neutralize them. Such fruits are known to come with anti-cancer properties, preventing the spread of oral cancer cells, colon cancer cells, and prostate cancer cells. Scientific evidence shows that cranberries can make you more resistant to microorganisms which can cause bacterial and fungal infections.
Watermelon
Watermelons are not only refreshing; they are also very nutritious and should definitely be added to the list of fruits that act as medicine. Watermelons contain L-citrulline, a type of amino acid known for its promotion of the dilation of blood vessels. This can help to regulate blood pressure and can prevent heart attacks and strokes. Watermelon is also a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant known for its ability to neutralize free radicals and prevent free radicals from damaging the body.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate can help the regeneration of skin cells and is known to help wounds to heal faster. Pomegranate can protect your skin from sun damage and sunburn, as it can inhibit the debilitating effects that free radicals have. Are you noticing more and more wrinkles when you look in the mirror? If so, consider eating pomegranates every day. It is a highly nutritious fruit that can help you defend your skin against age spots, wrinkles, or hyperpigmentation caused by damaging UV rays.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. It is known to help promote healthy skin, good vision, healthy mucus membranes. Additionally, it helps the body fight oral and lung cancers. Grapefruit is also recognized as having weight-loss properties. Therefore, if you’re watching your weight and trying to improve your general health, grapefruit might be the right choice for you. A great way of adding grapefruit to your diet is by adding it to your smoothies. Try also including other citrus fruits like oranges or lemons – delicious!
Papaya
Papaya is a tropical fruit, which contains papain. Papain is a kind of proteolytic enzyme that can help with digestion. It has many digestive enzymes and is recommended for any who suffer from cystic fibrosis or pancreatic disorders. Like many of the fruits on our list, papaya contains properties that help skin health. This is due to its protein enzymes, such as papain and chymopapain. Papaya can therefore serve to stimulate quick healing of burns and wounds and can help to reduce inflammation. If you suffer from skin-related issues, such as ringworms, cold sores, or psoriasis, papaya is a great fruit that you should consider consuming every day.
Elderberries
Elderberries are very beneficial for your general health, but they can particularly help your respiratory system. Interestingly, Elderberries have been used for many centuries to treat the flu, coughs, nasal congestion, and colds. They might also be able to help protect you against the H1N1 infection. Elderberries can also have diuretic and detoxifying effects, which can help to manage your weight naturally. Additionally, elderberries can help restore the youthful appearance of the skin and its tone.
Pineapple
Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain that is useful in eliminating cancer cells. Pineapple is also very rich in vitamin C. As you know, Vitamin C can help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and strengthen the immune system. The high content of vitamin C in pineapples can serve to enhance oral health. Furthermore, recent research shows that pineapple might have the ability to minimize the risks of suffering from gingivitis and periodontal disease.
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/20-healthiest-fruits#:~:text=Oranges%20are%20one%20of%20the,most%20of%20their%20health%20benefits.
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324431
- https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/healthiest-fruits-in-world
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6315720/