Fruit is a natural source of sweet for those of us with sweet tooths. But fruit contains a ton of nutritional value as well as fiber for a healthy diet. Check out these top contenders for the most nutritional fruits you can eat.
Apples
The old saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away may be true. Americans eat about 65 fresh apples every year. Whole apples can provide health benefits for the prevention of heart disease by helping to regulate healthy blood fat levels. This all around popular food is portable and delicious, easy to include in your diet as is, or diced into cobblers, salads, chutneys, and more.
Nutrients: Vitamins A, C, E, and folic acid.
Minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and selenium.
Bananas
Besides being tasty, bananas are a great source of potassium. One banana contains up to 467 mg of potassium. Bananas are known to help protect against atherosclerosis and prevent high blood pressure. Bananas are a fruit most kids like to eat, and can be used in fruit salads and desserts.
Vitamins: A, C, E, B6, niacin, folic acid, and pantothenic acid
Minerals: calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium.
Grapes
Whether eaten fresh or partaken in its raisin form, the grape is full of antioxidants. Drinking grape juice and eating whole grapes are known to help better insulin regulation. Grapes make a good partner paired with savory cheeses and meats for an appetizer tray, in cereal or yogurt, or added to a fruit salad. Freeze fresh grapes for a sweet, low cal snack.
Vitamins: A, C, B6, and folic acid
Minerals: calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium
Oranges
The vitamin C in oranges and other citrus fruits helps keep you healthy. Oranges are great as is, juiced for fresh orange juice, and work wonderfully in sweet and savory recipes. You can even grate the citrus rind into desserts. The rind and white pulp of oranges is known to help lower high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Vitamins: A, C, B1, folic acid, and pantothenic acid
Minerals: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium
Strawberries
Fresh strawberries are a treat, whether sugared and eaten as is, cooked into jams, diced into salads, or used for strawberry shortcake. Strawberries are chock full of taste and good for you vitamins and minerals. Strawberries are ranked fourth in the top fruits known for their antioxidant properties.
Vitamins: A, C, and folic acid
Minerals: calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium
Tomatoes
These sweet garden gems are techinically a fruit in a botanical sense, but used in mostly savory recipes. Tomatoes are a powerhouse of good for you containing the antioxidant lycopene known for its cancer-preventing properties. Tomatoes taste great fresh out of the garden or from your local farmers market.
Vitamins: A, B6, C, niacin, and folic acid
Minerals: calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and sodium
