What Are the Top 5 Healthiest Fruits?

Fruits are Nature’s candy. They come in all shapes and sizes, much like vegetables. Unlike vegetables, most fruits are sweet or tart and are a great way to reduce sugar intake. After all, there’s no added sugar in fruits! Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet is the easiest way to improve your overall well-being. It’s true! Fruits are packed with vitamins and nutrients that are best absorbed when eaten from their whole, natural source. A diet high in fruits can decrease the risk associated with many different illnesses and diseases. That said, we know how difficult it is to choose from all those colorful fruits at the supermarket. Our fruit and nut bars aren’t the only way to get your fruit fix. We’ve taken a look at all the info and put together the top five healthiest fruits you should start adding to your diet. Soon enough, you’ll be trying out every new fruit you see!

1. Oranges
2. Blueberries
3. Lemons
4. Strawberries
5. Grapefruit

Oranges

There are a few things that make a fruit healthier than others. Tarter fruits are better than sweeter ones. That’s not due to their sugar content. Rather, it’s because the plants have a higher concentration of nutrients. The sharp, tangy taste is to ward off predators, but it also means that they are higher in antioxidants and micronutrients. Which is why oranges are one of the most healthiest fruits. They’re a citrus fruit that is made entirely of carbs and with very little protein or fat. The carbs all come from simple sugar content which provides the sweet, tart flavor. Despite that, they’re low on the glycemic index. That means they don’t spike your blood sugar!

Oranges are a good source of fiber. Fiber helps with digestive health and weight loss. Having a diet high in fiber will make sure you don’t overeat. Fiber keeps you fuller for longer than other carbohydrates. They’re also high in multiple vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C is good for immune boosting and necessary for the growth, development and repair of bodily tissues. Potassium lowers high blood pressure and can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the most nutrient-dense berries. One cup of blueberries is 84 calories with only 15 grams of carbohydrates. They are incredibly high in antioxidants which happen to be the main compound responsible for most of this fruit’s health benefits. Several studies suggest that eating blueberries can reduce DNA damage and lower the risk of cancer.

Those same antioxidants can also help improve memory and maintain brain function. Oxidative stress accelerates the brain’s aging process. Eating blueberries or drinking blueberry juice can help improve brain function in older people. Incorporating them into your diet can help delay brain age. They’re also great for diabetics and can help fight UTIs. If you want a super healthy fruit that’s low in calories but high in all the good vitamins and minerals, look no further. Blueberries are the superfood to add into your fruit salad.

Lemons

Another high vitamin C fruit, lemons are a nutrient-dense sour fruit that’s great for helping to control weight. They’re high in fiber, just like oranges, making them a good way to eat less. It could be that adding lemon juice to water not only promotes more water intake, but also burns more calories. All that vitamin C is an immune booster, too. With the added benefit of folic acid, lemons help boost overall cardiovascular health. They also have limonin, found in lemon juice. It helps lower bad cholesterol!

Lemons can also help with kidney stones. They have the most citric acid of any fruit. Citric acid helps prevent the formation of kidney stones. So, if you or anyone you know suffers from kidney stones, try adding a squeeze of lemon in some water. They also protect against anemia due to vitamin C and folic acid. Aside from the juice of the lemon, grating the skin onto salad is also super beneficial. Lemon peel can help with weight loss due to improvement in intestinal microbiota associated with weight.

Strawberries

If you have a sweet tooth, but can’t spike your blood sugar levels, you might want to try strawberries instead. They’re another antioxidant rich fruit, making them helpful in reducing plenty of different illnesses and ailments. They are a good source of fiber, but low in calories and they’re low on the glycemic index. A good fruit for diabetics looking to get their sugar fix.

Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, folate, manganese and potassium. Combine all these nutrients together and you have one super healthy fruit! Its antioxidants keep your body healthy by reducing inflammation and bad cholesterol. Some of its nutrients are even helpful in fighting and reducing the risk of developing cancer. Strawberries help due to their flavonoid content, the same as blueberries. Flavonoids are phytochemicals with anti-cancer properties.

Grapefruit

These tart fruits are known as one of the best to add to your breakfast! It contains more water than almost any other fruit at 92%. Grapefruit helps you stay hydrated. Eating it before a meal can even help with weight loss. This might be due to eating low calorie food or simply because of the water content of the fruits. And don’t just eat the glistening fruity meat. The white stuff around the grapefruit is called a pith and it’s rich in antioxidants. So, not only can it be helpful with appetite control, its also a super health booster all around.

Lower your risk of diabetes by eating this fruit, which helps reduce the risk of insulin resistance. This fruit can also help with blood sugar control. Most fruits can boast the same benefit and that’s why they’re known as nature’s candy. Grapefruit’s also great for heart health and, like lemons, may reduce the risk of kidney stones.

If you’re not sure how to add this fruit to your diet, try a yummy fruit parfait.

Make your Diet Colorful

Fruits and vegetables really are the best things to add to your diet. They are high in healthy vitamins and minerals which lead to a longer, healthier life. If you want to improve yourself, then eating fruits and vegetables is the way to go. Whole foods are always best, but grabbing a cup of fresh squeezed fruit juice is also good. The best thing about fruits and vegetables is how versatile they are. They can be added to just about any meal. Fruits can even be used as an alternative to sugary deserts. You’ll feel a lot better grabbing a couple of blueberries and strawberries rather than indulging in a big slice of cake. So the next time you’re in the supermarket, stop at the fruits and vegetable aisle. You just might find your new favorite foods.