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HEALTHIEST FRUITS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR DIET

In our last blog post, we discussed some of our favorite healthy vegetables to start incorporating into your diet. Today, we’re going to be discussing our favorite fruits that you can easily add into various recipes or eat by themselves. Of course, it’s always important to stay healthy, but especially now. One of the best ways to keep yourself both physically and mentally healthy is to make sure that you’re consuming foods that are good for your body. Plus, with all the down time due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s the best time to experiment with various recipes and ideas! When things return to normal, you’ll know how to easily incorporate these into your diet. Keep reading to learn more! 

 

GRAPEFRUIT 

Grapefruit has been named as one of the healthiest citrus fruits. It has a large amount of vitamins and minerals and is also known for its ability to help aid in weight loss and reduce insulin resistance. It has also been able to help reduce cholesterol levels and help prevent kidney stones. Grapefruit is a delicious fruit to eat by itself but can also be included in salads, smoothies, juices, and other things. It has the perfect combination of sweetness and bitterness. 

 

BLUEBERRIES 

Blueberries are one of the most powerful fruits when it comes to antioxidants. They’re actually believed to contain the highest amount of antioxidants out of all the commonly consumed fruits. These antioxidants have been thought to help reduce the risk of various chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. While there have been no confirmed cases of research saying that they indeed do reduce the risk, it can’t hurt to eat them just in case! These tiny berries are packed with fiber, vitamin D, vitamin K, and manganese. Blueberries are so small that they make great snacks and additions to other types of foods. Add them to your morning juices, oatmeal, or whatever you’re eating! 

 

APPLES

The saying “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”, became popular for a reason! While they won’t promise that you won’t ever have to take a visit to your local health care provider, they can keep you healthy! Apples are one of the most popular fruits and contain high amounts of fiber, vitamin D, potassium, and vitamin K. They also provide your body with a good amount of B vitamins, which many of us may be lacking. Apples contain something called pectin. Pectin is a prebiotic fiber that helps feed the good bacteria in your gut and can help improve the digestive system and your metabolic health. 

 

AVOCADOS

Yes, avocados are indeed a fruit. Whether or not you view avocado as a fruit or not, it’s incredibly good for your body and that’s truly all that matters. Many fruits tend to be high in carbs, which is not a bad thing since these macronutrients are natural and not processed. However, avocados are extremely low in carbs and contain healthy fats. The main type of fat in avocados is called oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat that has been linked to the reduction of inflammation and increased heart health. They’re also loaded with potassium, fiber, and magnesium. One whole avocado provides about 28% of the recommended daily intake of potassium, which helps to reduce blood pressure and lowers your risk of stroke. Avocado toast has become one of the most popular ways to get your avocado intake in and is the perfect savory and quick breakfast that helps keep you feeling full for longer. Including avocado into your smoothies can help give it that creamy texture without adding any flavor, so that you truly won’t even know it’s there! 

 

POMEGRANATES

Pomegranates are extremely nutrient dense and contain powerful plant compounds. The antioxidant levels in pomegranates have been shown to be about three times higher than those of green tea! Prepackaged pomegranate juice or seeds are delicious but can be a bit expensive. Instead, pick up some pomegranate whole fruits at your local grocery store, and peel and shell them yourself. It may be a bit longer of a process, but hey, you’ve got time! 

 

STRAWBERRIES 

Strawberries are one of the most popular and most consumed fruits in the world. Their sweet flavor is the perfect addition to almost anything. Not only are they tasty, but they’re very high in nutritional value. They contain high levels of vitamin C, manganese, folate, and potassium contents. In comparison to other fruits, strawberries have a relatively low glycemic index and eating them shouldn’t cause large blood sugar spikes. Similarly to other berries, strawberries have high levels of antioxidants and may be able to help reduce your risk of other chronic disease. There’s nothing better than a bowl of fresh strawberries on a hot afternoon! Lucky for you, these fruits are almost always in season as well! 

 

ORANGES

Another popular fruit, oranges are some of the most consumed  fruits in the world. Almost every culture has a dish that includes orange flavors so getting creative with them shouldn’t be an issue. Consuming one medium orange can provide you with a significant amount of vitamin C and potassium. They’re also a great source of B vitamins like thiamine and folate. These plant compounds in oranges are responsible for most of their benefits and include flavonoids, carotenoids, and citric acids. Citric acid has been shown to help reduce the risk of kidney stones. 

 

The list goes on and on, and these are just a few of our favorite ones, but do more research, and find out more about other fruits and their nutritional benefits. As we mentioned in our previous blog, try and reach for the fresh and healthy foods right now. So much of the processed foods, which lack nutritional value, are flying off the shelves. Do something good for your body and your mind by consuming healthy and whole foods. Consuming fresh foods can also help keep your mind healthy. Cooking and preparing food can even help lower your stress rates and help improve quality time spent with your family, which all of us could benefit from during this time. 

Remember to keep yourself healthy and safe right now. AFM Healthcare is following closely  the CDC’s recommendations that are pertaining to the coronavirus and will be posting updates about our Oviedo and Winter Park locations throughout all of our accounts. This includes our social media, too. 

If you are or think you’re having symptoms of coronavirus, please call our office before coming in. We can set up televisit appointments. We do urge you, if you’re feeling sick with any of the symptoms, to avoid going to public offices like emergency rooms or urgent care clinics.  For more information about what we’re doing or questions about what to do if you’re feeling symptoms, connect with us today! We’re here for you.

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