Pre Order Christmas Cherries Now!
NEW Gift Box Range Now Live!
Featured on RNZ - Listen Here
Free Shipping on all Orders $98 and Over
Fast Delivery - NZ Wide
We all know the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but is this actually true?
Health professionals tell us to eat 5+ a day when it comes to servings of fruit and veggies, but just how beneficial is fruit?
Is it merely part of a balanced diet, or does fruit have genuine, proven healing powers?
Curious minds are dying to know – including ours – so we dove into the research and came up with the answers.
Does Fruit Have Healing Powers?
An Apple A Day…
Let's start at the beginning. Most sayings have an ounce of truth in them, so how about this one? Well, it turns out, apples are pretty amazing!
Firstly, they are high in fibre, and fibre is an essential part of a healthy diet. They contain pectin too, which helps your gut stay in good shape. Research also shows that munching on apples regularly could reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers. This is thanks to their abundant phytonutrients and potent antioxidant activity.
The Power Of Lemons
Now we know that apples are good, what about other fruits?
In 2014, scientists crowned the humble lemon as the top fruit, ranked by nutrient density and low calories. The men in white coats (the lab kind, not the other kind) tell us that the flavonoids in lemons and other citrus help fight bacteria, cancer, and diabetes.
The Cherry On Top
Researchers have discovered that cherry skin contains a powerful anti-inflammatory substance that is included in drugs like ibuprofen. In fact, Montmorency cherries contain the most powerful anti-inflammatory properties of any food.
A study discovered that athletes who chugged Montmorency cherry juice for a week before a race experienced less pain, inflammation, and faster muscle recovery than those who didn’t.
Essential Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps us absorb iron, boosts the immune system, promotes wound healing, helps fight infection, and a bunch of other great things. Human bodies can’t naturally manufacture vitamin C, so we need to ingest it in our diet.
Bring on the fruit! Citrus provides plenty of this vital nutrient, as do tomatoes, avocadoes, mangos, strawberries, and more.
Fighting Illness With Phytonutrients
Plants tend to be rather defenceless. They can’t run away from their problems, so instead, they are packed full of phytonutrients to protect them from things like disease, insects, fungus, radiation, and other nasties.
When we eat fruit (and vegetables), we absorb these phytonutrients along with all the good vitamins and minerals. Science tells us that these have potent anti-inflammatory effects and may even possess anti-cancer properties. They can also help us detox, balance glucose and insulin, boost immunity, and more.
A Neverending List
We were going to make a shortlist of all the best, most healthy, most healing fruit – but it would be an endlessly long list. The long and short of it is, every fruit offers its own unique blend of vitamins, minerals and other powerhouse nutrients.
So consider them all shortlisted!
Embrace The Power Of Fruit!
So there you have it in a nutshell (or lemon peel, if you will). Plants do have healing powers! The research tells us that eating a wide variety of fruits as part of a broader, balanced diet can reduce your risk of certain diseases and help your body stay stronger for longer.
No one fruit has it all, so spread the love, eat the rainbow, embrace fresh, seasonal, organic fruit, and help keep that pesky doctor away.
If you are looking for some amazing fresh produce, then we have just what you need! Head on over and shop our selection of great, in season produce. Better yet, we can deliver it right to your door!