The Most Useful Fruits And Berries

Purveyors and proponents of overseas fruits and berries, such as guava and acai, insist on their super benefits. However, the research results will please apple and grape fans: the most vitamins are found in the fruits that have been familiar since childhood - even if they are not always local . Let's find out which fruits are the most useful for health and beauty.

If we delve into the details, it will turn out that we often count as fruits and berries things that actually do not belong to this category. Without going into botanical details, gastronomy divides the so-called fresh fruits into 6 categories:

• All citrus fruits (orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon), as well as persimmons, figs, and pomegranates belong to subtropical ones. They are rich in vitamin C, potassium and folic acid. Vitamin C not only plays the role of a protector against colds, but also synthesizes collagen. Potassium maintains normal blood pressure, and folic acid promotes cell health.

• Tropical fruits (papaya, kiwi, pineapple, banana, mango) are sources of the same vitamins and trace elements as the previous group. Manganese is added to them, which is useful for bones, thyroid gland, nervous system and maintenance of normal blood sugar levels.

• Stone fruits (cherries, cherries, apricots, peaches, plums) provide the body with beta-carotene, potassium and vitamin C.

• Seed fruits (apple, pear, quince, mountain ash) contain vitamin C and potassium, as well as fiber.

• Melon category (watermelon and cantaloupe) is useful due to the presence of vitamins A, C, and PP, iron and sodium. In addition, melon and watermelon improve digestion.

• A separate category includes berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries, grapes). They are the only ones among their colleagues literally loaded with antioxidants.

The beneficial properties of fruits are not limited to shock doses of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers. Let's find out which of the most useful fruits , berries and fruits can be easily found on store shelves, and which of them are the most important for the health of the body in general and for beauty in particular.

Bilberry

Blueberries rank first in terms of antioxidant activity among dozens of other berries and fruits (and vegetables, too, by the way). Without exaggeration, it can be called the most useful berry in the world. In particular, anthocyanins, which give blueberries their beautiful blue-purple color, improve memory and increase learning ability. The berry helps reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. But the ability of blueberries to improve vision is a myth. However, the glycosides present in the berry can reduce the risk of cataracts and glaucoma . And vegetarians should take into account that there is a lot of iron in blueberries.

Blueberry antioxidants are desirable components of antiaging face creams.

Apples

Apple - the healthiest fruit - also contains antioxidants, flavonoids, which can help reduce the risk of diabetes and asthma. 1 apple every day for a year can replace a visit to the cardiologist: the fruit lowers the level of so-called bad cholesterol and increases the level of good cholesterol. The cardiovascular and digestive systems will be grateful for polyphenols and pectin.

Fruit acids present in apples are the active ingredients of most peelings.

Grapefruit

An antioxidant called naringenin present in grapefruit minimizes the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Plant nutrients are good for the gut, pectin lowers cholesterol, and lycopene and flavonoids can protect against cancer. Unfortunately, contrary to popular opinion, grapefruit does not burn fat and calories, but it is quite capable of speeding up digestion and removing toxins.

The essential oil of this fruit relieves fatigue and invigorates. Cosmetics with grapefruit extract successfully fight cellulite and swelling, lighten pigmentation and exfoliate dead cells.

Grape

Grapes contain the most polyphenols. The main one - resveratrol - reduces blood pressure and the risk of blood clots. Resveratrol may also help stop the spread of many types of cancer, including breast cancer. Berries fight any kind of inflammation. Dark varieties have more useful substances than white ones.

Grape seed oil preserves reserves of hyaluronic acid and effectively fights the culprits of aging - free radicals.

Cranberry

Antibacterial properties of these red forest berries help in the prevention and treatment of infections and viruses, it is not for nothing that doctors recommend drinking cranberry juice before and during epidemics of acute respiratory infections and flu. And unsweetened juice will replace mouthwash: antioxidants with the long name of proanthocyanidins kill bacteria that cause bad breath and caries.

Cranberry significantly improves the condition of problematic, oily and combination skin.