Every household should have a fruit bowl. Whether it stands with pride, overflowing with an abundance of rainbow colours and shapes with a bit of panache, or it sits on the side filled with just the basics only, it’s a necessity. Fruit provides not only a healthy alternative to a sweet afternoon snack, it nourishes your body with vital nutrients forming part of a balanced diet. Each piece can offer a delicious taste sensation, with something for everyone’s palate. Let’s take a closer look in Get to Know Your Fruit Bowl!
1. Apples
‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’. This saying has become universally spoken, and for a reason. The most common of the lot, apples come in 7,000 varieties – so get your hands on some to reap some potent benefits. Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, apples can help reduce the risks of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, whilst being a great source of your everyday fibre. Get your teeth into a Golden Delicious, fizzy, crunchy Pink Lady or a flavoursome Jazz or Cox for a sweet heavenly moment.
2. Bananas
The potassium content in bananas can help regulate heart function, whilst building up energy levels, making this fruit a great pre or post workout snack. With the presence of pectin (a soluble fibre), bananas offer a great option for helping lower cholesterol whilst maintaining a healthy gut and improving blood sugar levels. This yellow fruit works wonders on your immune system. If you like them sweet, just wait until they go a bit spotty. Got a bunch gone brown and a bit mushy? Turn them into banana cake!
3. Oranges
Oranges are bursting with Vitamin C, helping to fight infection such as the nasty common cold and flu, whilst also increasing iron absorption, keeping anaemia away. They offer a refreshing, zesty, juicy, sunshine-reminding burst of flavour. The citrus flavour, with its acidic properties, has been linked to reducing risks of stroke. Peel open, and enjoy, segment by segment – be sure to keep your teeth well-brushed afterwards so that the orange’s acidity doesn’t linger on your teeth for too long.
4. Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries…any berry you like! Berries are full of antioxidants which can help reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol. They are the perfect size for snacking, as well as being the ideal accompaniment to your morning porridge. Why not have a vitamin-fortified boost, any time of the day?
5. Pineapple
The feature piece of your fruit bowl – standing tall with its big spines. Packed with vitamins, it’s great for immunity, wrapped in a delicious, often sweet and or tangy pulp. It contains bromelain (an enzyme within pineapple stems) which possesses anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to digest protein. So, they’re beautiful… inside and out.
6. Mango
A heavyweight tropical addition and packed with vitamin A and vitamin C, mango provides great benefits for your hair and skin as well as tasting no less than heavenly. They also aid iron absorption and strengthen immunity. It’s not known as the ‘King of Fruits’ around the globe without reason!
