Fruit has long been known for its curative properties and is one of the best sources of hydrogen-rich water that you can give your body.
As water is the primary nutrient of all life processes required by your body to function, including both the absorption of all vitamins, minerals, oxygen etc., including the excretion of waste material that is created as a by-product of absorption and assimilation, fruits level of service is grand.
As the old adage states… “It’s not the water you drink; it’s the water you absorb!”
As a remedy for the most frustrated mind, fruit has the ability to heighten the senses, calm the spirit and balance the electrolyte levels in the blood.
Although this is not an absolute list of the fruits or benefits that fruits offer us, may it offer you a glimpse of the benefits fruit has to offer.
Apples
Are helpful for cleansing the digestive system and aiding in the lung function.
Used down the ages for fainting, melancholy, stress, anxiety and palpitations, if left to brown, they are very useful in treating stomach ailments and diarrhoea.
As apples are gentle on the digestive system, they have been known to help people with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high cholesterol, and as a gentle laxative.
An apple a day used to keep the doctor away!
Apricots
Are renowned for adding moisture to the body, hence apricot oil, and are especially beneficial for breathing and the throat area.
Known as the king of all fruits, apricots have been known to help the body deal with various cancers (including stomach and lung cancers), high blood pressure, low energy levels and mental depression.
Apricots contain good levels of beta carotene and potassium, which makes them useful for ailments of the eyes (cataracts, night blindness etc).
Avocados
A good and yummy source of vitamins E and some B’s, oil and essential fats, avocados help the immune system maintain longevity and vital energy production.
Found to be beneficial in aiding the liver, lungs and intestinal functioning (ulcer treatments), avocados pack in the nourishment, in such a small package.
Bananas
High in potassium, bananas are a great alleviator of headaches and migraines.
Noted to help with intestinal and lung problems, ulcers (due to the lining bananas leave on the stomach), constipation, mental alertness (the elderly with confusion), high blood pressure, risk of heart disease, maintenance of blood sugar levels, diabetes and to increase energy.
Athletes devour them by the kilogram.
Keep in mind though, one must chew the banana very well to maximise its fibrous goodness.
Berries
High in water content, the berry varieties have been noted to help with varicose veins, menstrual problems, premature greying, joint ailments, insomnia, liver, spleen and pancreas problems.
The berry family has been found beneficial when treating stomach and colon cancers, they are also known to aid sufferers with rheumatoid arthritis, and people with weight loss issues.
Citrus Fruits
Oranges (also known as “The Sun of the Fruit World”), tangerines, kumquats, lemons and limes were used by the ancient mariners for scurvy (vitamin C deficiency).
The orange also contains potassium, calcium, magnesium, selenium and folic acid.
Lemons help keep the body alkaline, which may be one of the reasons why this family of fruits has been found beneficial when treating stomach and colon troubles, infections, colds, cataracts and the prevention of colon and stomach cancers.
Figs
Are renowned as a laxative and have been found to be beneficial in the treatment of boils, anaemia and the prevention of osteoporosis.
To treat a boil, simply open the fig in half and strap the flesh straight on to the sore. Leave it on overnight or for a couple of hours, and if there is improvement, repeat regularly.
Grapes
High in water content, grapes are associated with cleansing of the body and helping with water retention, urinary issues, jaundice and hepatitis.
That’s why grapes are used extensively in detoxification programs.
They’re a funny little fruit, full of bacteria yet the body obviously likes them.
Medicinally, grapes have also been found to be quite beneficial in healing rheumatoid arthritis and aiding the elderly with mental confusion and depression.
You see grapes, oranges and pineapples are all good sources of much-needed selenium.
European studies are now confirming that diets rich in selenium inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
No wonder the Europeans are masters of the home brew!
Mango
Is there anything quite like a mango?
Found to be beneficial in the prevention of anaemia, the zinc levels found in mango’s strengthen the immune system, helping the body deal with infections and tumours.
When a bout of diarrhoea comes on, or a dose of abnormal sweating, or your mental alertness fades, go the mango!
Pawpaws or Papayas
Affectionately known as the “Mother of All Fruit”, this may be due to the fact that from the planting of the seed, pawpaws can provide you with ripe fruit in just nine months.
Pawpaws have been used by medicine folk throughout the ages, in the natural science of fertility.
Also known as papaya, pawpaws contain more vitamin C than oranges, more vitamin A than carrots, abundant vitamin B’s and vitamin E.
Mature green pawpaw also contains complex enzymes that help digest protein, carbohydrates and fats.
Pawpaws have been found beneficial in helping with intestinal treatments, aiding the production of white blood cells and with cancer prevention.
Pears
Babies love stewed pears, there must be something in that!
With similar characteristics to the apple, pears provide moisture for the body, are slow to digest and have had few allergic reactions reported.
Found to be beneficial for coughing, diabetes, cholesterol levels, dryness in the chest cavity, skin injuries, boosting brain power, and staving off hunger.
Pineapples
Pineapples help with digestion, which is why a couple of slices of fresh pineapple after a meal just feels so good in the tummy.
Pineapples have been found to be quite beneficial in dissolving blood clots (related to thrombosis), healing wounds, and helping prevent cancer.
Again, as with grapes, oranges and pineapples, this may be due to the selenium factor.
Plums/Prunes
Renowned through the ages as a laxative (good exhaust – good inhalation), prunes help with constipation due to the fact that prunes are a high-fibre food.
Gram for gram, prunes contain more fibre than dried beans and most other fruits and vegetables.
Over half of this fibre is the soluble type which studies have linked to lowered blood-cholesterol levels as well.
And prunes aren’t really prunes, they’re plums.
Prunes are a rich source of beta-carotene (good for the eyes) and are a good source of iron, potassium and the B complex vitamins.
Prune puree is a yummy substitute for butter and margarine (plastic/petroleum), and can safely be used by people cutting down on their saturated fats.
Strawberries
Containing more vitamin C than any other berry, the strawberry is rich in iron, potassium and magnesium.
You can see why strawberries are a useful food to the athlete.
A good blood purifier, strawberries are a natural source of a phytochemical called ellagic acid, which has proved quite fruitful against carcinogens.
As a strengthening tonic for the entire system, strawberries are an excellent food choice for children and for convalescents.
Found to be beneficial for diarrhoea, dysentery, night sweats, liver complaints, gout and jaundice.
The only down-side to strawberries is that most commercially available produce is grown using large amounts of pesticides. Go organic!
Watermelon
Ahhh, watermelon!
Is there anything quite like cool watermelon when you are hot and sweaty?
Particularly when summer is on!
There’s a good reason for this.
Quite apart from the pure water content, watermelons are rich in vitamin A and the minerals potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Electrolytes are bountiful in this fruit, and it’s the electrolytes that keep the battery charged up and maintain the body’s ability to be re-charged.
This makes watermelon just as good whole or juiced. For the athlete, the child in us all, or the elderly, lap it up – your blood and cellular matrix will love your gift.
And as a passing thought: Of all the fruits that are available to us, i recommend eating lots of Oranges! Oranges! Oranges!
