Here are the six best winter fruits and what they can do for your health.....
health
Do you feel winter means less fresh fruits? Since the winter months bring with it cold weather, you may think that many fruits will be out of season. But you will be surprised to know that there are plenty of fruits in the winter season to help fulfil your antioxidant and fibre needs in your diet. Winter fruits are as numerous and possibly more nutritious than their summer counterparts. Here are the six best winter fruits and what they can do for your health...
When we talk about winter fruits, orange is the first name that comes in our mind. It is the cutest thing in winter. Eating oranges offer a lot of health benefits. Oranges are the best source of vitamin C. Not only do they boost immunity, but also fill the gap of nutrition that our body needs like potassium, minerals, folate and fibre. Other benefits include controlling blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, controlling blood sugar level, etc. Orange also helps in fighting cancer besides maintaining good eye health. You can also include orange juice in your winter diet. Orange juice is incredibly low in calories and has zero fat, which makes it an excellent option if you are looking towards shedding belly fat and extra kilos.
Sour and tangy with a touch of sweetness, grapefruit is an impeccable winter fruit with a host of health benefits. Grapefruits are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. They also have some fiber and folate. Pink and red grapefruit contain the phytonutrient lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects against cancer and other diseases.
Plain grapefruit makes a great addition to your usual breakfast, but you can also cook with it. For something simple, toss together a grapefruit and orange salsa. It’s great on tortilla chips, over some fish tacos, or paired with a broiled chicken breast. A serving of half a grapefruit is just 52 calories and provides plenty of nutrients. Though you can readily find juice, go for the whole fruit to get the benefits of the fibre.
This ruby red fruit is delicious and healthy. Pomegranate is another sweet and tangy fruit that is only produced in winters. Its seeds are edible and give the perfect crunch to every bite. Extracting the seeds from a pomegranate can be tricky, but the heart-healthy, sweet-sour pods are well worth the effort. This popular super fruit is known primarily for its high antioxidant levels. And its seeds are a good source of Omega 6 fatty acids. Pomegranates are known to be one of the healthiest fruits in the world. They are a storehouse of vital nutrients required by the body. The nutrients include fibre, protein, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate and Potassium.
Studies show that drinking pomegranate juice can reduce build-up of fatty deposits in arteries, which is a culprit behind many heart conditions. Since pomegranate juice contains more antioxidants than many other fruit juices, it’s thought that the dark red drink may help lower your cholesterol. What more, pomegranates aren’t just for eating or drinking. The tart fruit is also packed with anti-aging compounds that make it the perfect ingredient for a DIY exfoliating skin scrub.
These delicious sugary-sweet winter fruits are packed with a lot of different vitamins and minerals plus a whopping 6 grams of fibre. Persimmons are a good source of antioxidants such as Vitamin C, which is important for a healthy immune system, reduce inflammation, and to protect the body’s connective tissues, including bones, blood vessels, and skin. Persimmons contain healthy amounts of minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper and calcium. The average persimmon provides about 78 mg of potassium, an important electrolyte that helps maintain the body’s fluid balance and electrical activity of the heart and muscles. One persimmon fruit has only 32 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 0 mg. of sodium. This is particularly good news for anyone looking to slash a few pounds.
Have not all of us enjoyed a plateful of guavas sprinkled with chaat masala atop? Nothing else can match up to the luscious jams, jellies and murabbas laced with an intoxicating strong-sweet fragrance. Besides its unique flavour and fragrance, guava has been hailed as one of the super fruits due to the numerous health benefits it offers. Guavas are packed with proteins and good quality fibres. It is extremely rich in anti-oxidants, vitamin C, potassium, and fibre which helps in improving heart health. Guava leaf extracts help in minimizing the pain of menstrual cramps. It improves the blood circulation of the brain.
Guava is also helpful in treating stomach problems like diarrhoea, constipation. It regulates the bowel movement. In winters, our skin gets drier. Eating guava in winter will provide nourishment to the skin and will slow down the ageing process. Since guava is a low-calorie fruit, it helps in weight loss.
This winter, you might want to include sapota (chikoo) in your diet. The heady sweet aroma of sapota is unmistakable, with its fleshy brown skin and grainy sweetness in the inside. There are so many health benefits of this tasty fruit. Chikoo not just strengthens the intestines, but also boosts immunity and prevents various bacterial infections due to the presence of vitamin C . Studies have revealed that chikoo contains plenty of calcium along with other minerals like phosphorous and iron, which are essential for keeping our bones healthy and strong. Chikoo may help you get rid of belly fat and extra weight. It keeps your digestive system in check, and prevents irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Also, the dietary fibres present in it can make you feel full for longer time. Moreover, chikoo helps in boosting the body’s metabolism.
