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Look: Health: Fit for Life: Healthy Boost From Fruit Bowl

Posted on: Wednesday, 4 May 2005, 21:00 CDT

WE all know the maxim 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' but tucking into a wider range of fruits can have even more lasting health benefits.

And the good news is, no matter which fruit takes your fancy, you can guarantee it will do you some good.

All fruits give you a boost of fibre, vitamins and antioxidants to prevent disease.

They are also nature's pharmacy - by careful selection your fruit bowl can also become a valuable source of home remedies for a range of ailments, including Cystitis: Cranberries can assist because the phytochemicals they contain help prevent E coli bacteria adhering to the bladder.

A large glass of cranberry juice each day may help treat urinary tract infections. Premenstrual syndrome: Carbohydrate-rich bananas stave off irritability and fatigue by preventing dips in blood sugar.

The fruit also provides magnesium and vitamin B6 which are key in helping the body to cope with stress. Colds and infections: Mangoes, guavas, blackcurrants and kiwis can all provide you will a boost.

Blackcurrants and guavas contain around four times more vitamin C than oranges so they are a good choice to help keep your immune system fighting fit.

Mangoes are the best fruit source of beta carotene which also helps to strengthen immune response.

Kiwi fruit are another fruit option when you are feeling run down. Poor memory: Research suggests that eating just half a cupful of blueberries on a regular basis could delay deterioration of co- ordination and short-term memory with age.

Anaemia: An excellent source of iron, four dried figs supply nearly a quarter of the recommended daily allowance of this anaemia protective mineral.

Figs should be eaten with another vitamin C source to improve the amount of iron which you absorb. Eye strain: Bilberries contain antioxidants which strengthen the blood vessels supplying the retina in the eye.

Bilberry extracts have been used to treat visual fatigue caused by prolonged reading and working in dim light. Thread veins and bruises: Berries, cherries, citrus fruits and apples all help to strengthen tiny capillaries and prevent the leakage of blood

Food of the Week

Oats have a low GI which means they help to keep blood sugar levels steady. They can also help ease anxiety, lift mild depression and relieve mental fatigue

Healthy Hint

STUDIES have shown that people who eat a lot of carrots can lower their risk of cancer by up to 40

Source: Liverpool Echo

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