Have you ever wondered what is a fruit and why are they so essential for our health!!
Growing up, all I’ve heard is: Eat your fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. I’m pretty sure you’ve heard the same. And if not, then the oft-quoted “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is enough to tell us about the importance of Fruits.
In this article, I’ll talk about what is a fruit, types of fruits, and also the various benefits of fruits.
What is a Fruit?
Fruits are a delicious, juicy, and nutritious gift of Mother Nature. Not only humans but many animals and bird also love consuming these little packets of sweets. But in case, you ever wondered that what is a fruit then you’re not alone.
And once I learned how some vegetables are actually fruits, I got even more curious.
In terms of science, fruits are the part of a flowering plant or a tree that contains seeds and that can be consumed as food. So that is why tomatoes, avocadoes, cucumbers, lemons, and squash are actually fruits!
But what is a fruit in culinary terms? Well, a plant product that is sweet or sour in taste and edible in raw form is called fruit whereas any not so sweet or savory tasting plant product is called vegetable.
What are the Different Types of Fruits?
Fruits come in a wide range of shape, size, taste, and colour. Following are few of the common fruit types:
Simple Fruits
When a single flower grows into a fruit, that fruit is called simple fruit. Simple fruits can be dry as well as fleshy. Examples are plums, mangoes, peaches, etc. Walnuts and hazelnuts are examples of dry simple fruits.
Aggregate Fruits
You might have noticed clusters on fruits such as blackberries. When a single flower has multiple ovaries, it gives rise to aggregate fruit.
These fruits are actually small clusters of fruit tightly packed together, e.g. raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and custard apple, etc.
Multiple Fruits
When different flowers merge together to form a single fruit it is called multiple fruits, such as pineapples, mulberry, and figs, etc.
Accessory Fruit
In some cases, apart from the ovary, other parts of the flower also form into a fruit. These fruits are called accessory fruits such as apple, strawberry, and pineapple, etc.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
STRENGTH TRAINING: An Incredible Exercise Routine that Works for All
What is ORGANIC FOOD, and How Does It be Really Beneficial for Your Health?
Benefits of Fruits
Fruits possess many health benefits and therefore I advise that you religiously make them a part of your daily diet. Some of the important benefits of fruits are:
Beneficial for the Heart
Fruits such as apple, banana, oranges, berries, apricot, and cantaloupe are rich in fiber, potassium, magnesium, carotenoids, flavonoids as well as Vitamin A, B6, C, E, K, and folate.
These are extremely beneficial for the health of your heart and regulating cholesterol levels. They also help to prevent diseases such as strokes and heart attacks.
Beneficial for Bones
To ensure you maintain healthy bone density, it is important that you have an adequate amount of Vitamin K in your diet. This can be found in fruits such as avocado, apricot, and grapefruits, etc.
Calcium and Vitamin K both are crucial to healthy bones so make sure to eat plenty of fruits!
Beneficial for Kidneys
If you have a family history of kidney stores then you should become friends with citrus fruits. Vitamin C rich fruits help to fight against kidney stones. Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons can ensure that your kidneys remain stone free!
And since the sodium content of fruits is very low, they are overall very beneficial for the health of our kidneys.
Beneficial against Cancer
Next time you wonder what is a fruit, be glad to know it’s a natural prevention for cancer! Yes, and that is because the vitamin-rich fruits are a great way to prevent as well as treat many cancers such as liver and breast cancer.
Fruits such as soursop, Goji Berry, Gardenia Fruit, Camu-Camu, and citrus fruits such as lime, orange, and lemon should be a must in your anti-cancer diet.
Beneficial for Digestion
Fruits are rich in fiber which is a natural laxative. In some cases, the flesh, as well as skin of fruits both, is rich in fiber and aid in digestion.
Fruits also have enzymes that can help to break proteins so your gut will thank you for having them! Fruits which are beneficial for digestion are pears, plums, apples, papayas, and raspberries.
Conclusion
What is a fruit and why it’s important are some of the questions we should know the answer to. Fruits are a yummy way to add nutrition and health benefits to our diet. We have an abundant variety of fruits to choose from and each one of them has many health benefits for us.
I insist that fruits should be a compulsory part of our daily diet to ensure good health and fitness.
If you enjoyed this post, kindly help it spread. Cheers!
