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Tuesday May 14, 2024

World's healthiest fruit is not apple and it keeps your heart beating fit

Fruits are health victory but majority of Americans still don't consume them

By Web Desk
January 24, 2024
An image of fruits. — Lets Eat Healthy
An image of fruits. — Let's Eat Healthy

It's always a health victory when you choose a piece of fruit over a highly processed sweet delight as it is nature's treat, and has numerous health benefits that have been scientifically demonstrated.

This is in contrast to the chocolate bars and peanut butter cups that you see filling checkout lines, according to Henry Herald.

Sadly, the majority of Americans do not consume the recommended 1 to 2.5 cups of fruit every day. Just one in ten persons consumes adequate fruit and vegetables, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Any fruit can be a good addition to your diet, but according to experienced dietitians, there is one that is the healthiest. It is a good fruit to choose if you are unsure which to prioritise.

While all fruits have nutritional advantages, registered dietitians Elysia Cartlidge, RDN and Kristi Ruth, RDN, CNSC, LDN concur that blueberries are the healthiest fruit. “If their bold color doesn't say enough, blueberries rank high on the list of the healthiest fruits because they are packed with various nutrients—most notably anthocyanins and polyphenols which are potent phytochemicals,” Ruth says.

Cartlidge concurs, pointing out that studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory properties of blueberries' anthocyanins can improve mood, memory, and cognitive function. They are therefore a fantastic food for brain health.

Blueberries' antioxidants are beneficial to cardiovascular health as well. According to scientific studies, eating blueberries on a regular basis lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Registered dietitian and Rooted Wellness founder Sarah Rueven, MS, RDN, CDN, says that apples are among the healthiest fruits because, similar to blueberries, they’re full of fibre, vitamin C and polyphenols, a type of antioxidants. Rueven points to scientific research showing that regularly eating two apples a day can help lower LDL cholesterol (that’s the “bad” kind), making it a heart-healthy food.

“The fibre in apples can also slow gastric emptying, proving beneficial for weight loss and anti-obesity effects,” Rueven says, adding that another benefit of apples is that they’re portable and easy to eat on the go.