5 Health Benefits of Eating Fruit

There’s a lot of debate about the health benefits of fruits. Sure, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but is it really worth it with all the natural sugars found in fruit?

Our answer... yes! But the idea is to eat fruits in their natural form. So, skip the fruit juice. You need to eat the whole fruit to actually get the benefits they offer.

Let’s dive a little deeper into the main health benefits of eating fruit, the best fruits to eat for antioxidants and athletes, and the drawbacks of overeating fruit.

Benefits of Eating Fruit

Antioxidants

The first health benefit of many fruits is their antioxidant-richness. Anti-oxidants help prevent oxidative stress within the body and keep free radicals under control. Oxidative stress is a complicated process, but, basically, it’s when your body has an oxygen imbalance.

Antioxidants can be found in many fruits, and particularly in berries like blackberries and blueberries.  

Vitamins

Fruits are packed with vitamins -- one of the main vitamins being Vitamin C. Fruits with Vitamin C are typically associated with citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruit. But Vitamin C can be found in all kinds of fruits, including bananas, pineapple, pomegranate, and more.

Vitamin C helps support your immune system and is essential for the formation and repair of tissue throughout the body. Plus, it even helps your body absorb important minerals like iron.

Minerals

Not only does fruit give you many of the vitamins you need, but they also offer your body minerals, with the most common fruity minerals being potassium and magnesium.

Both potassium and magnesium help support your muscles and reduce any cramping or soreness, making these minerals particularly beneficial for anyone with an active lifestyle.

Fiber

Fiber helps to regulate bowel movements and is important in reducing cholesterol and regulating blood sugar. Usually, fiber is found in the skin or pulp of fruits, so eating whole fruits is so important.

Apples, dates, and plums are exceptionally high in fiber and are an excellent addition to any diet.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Finally, some fruits even have anti-inflammatory properties, which can benefit your overall health. Inflammation in the body is natural, especially when your body is healing. But, too much inflammation can lead to disease.

So, the anti-inflammatory benefits of fruits like pineapples and cherries and do wonders for reducing inflammation and improving your overall health.

Top 3 Fruits for Antioxidants

If you’re looking for fruits that are bursting with antioxidants, your best bets include:

• Berries
• Mangoes
• Plums

Berries like cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and goji berries are packed with amazing antioxidants from what’s called anthocyanins. But, mangoes and plums also feature an antioxidant-rich makeup.

Top 3 Fruits for Sports

Athletes need energy and endurance to help them perform at their best. So, the best fruits for sports include:

• Bananas
• Apples
• Cherries

Bananas are terrific for athletes by providing carbs and potassium to keep you going while supporting your muscles. Plus, apples are great for regulating blood sugar, and cherries seem to have recovery benefits for your muscles, which can help support athletes. 

Drawbacks of Overeating Fruit

Keep in mind, there is a potential downside of fruit. Again, fruit is packed with sugar, and although this sugar is in its most natural form and has some benefits in terms of energy, it’s processed in the same way your body processes refined sugars.

But, the upside is that when you eat whole fruit, you’re also getting the fiber that helps break down these sugars, a decent amount of water, and you’ll also have quite a bit of chewing resistance. 

So, while drinking fruit juice means you’re just getting the sugary parts of fruit without the fiber or calories burned by chewing, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about their sugar content when you eat fruit whole.

Still, a well-balanced diet with not only fruits but vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats are all crucial to overall health and wellbeing. They all work together to keep your body running smoothly!

Balance your fruit intake by adding fresh fruit to your smoothies with our SUPER Greens Superfood supplement. You’ll get the health benefits of fruit and vegetables all in one.