Summer Fruits

Sweltering days are on and one of the ways to endure the soaring mercury levels is seasonal fruits. After months and months of the same old apples, bananas and pears, you find yourself drooling at the thought of sinking your teeth in to some succulent sweet watermelon or how about some heavenly honeydew melon, passionate pineapple, beautiful berries and magnificent mangoes? Hungry?

Summer is one of the best times to saturate your system with super-nutrients, and stuff yourself to the gills with healthy summer fruits. Fruits in general are good for health in many ways; good for the immune system, digestion, healthier skin hair and eyes, heart health and better circulation, good for the nervous and respiratory systems. The benefits just go on and on. So it is vital for good health to include these foods in your daily diet regime.

There is so much more to choose from at this time of year, so if you have a sweet tooth, then take advantage of the fabulous fruit that is ‘in' season. Fill up your trolley with an array of fruits and try to make sure that you include as many different fruits in your weekly and daily diet as you can to obtain maximum health benefits. Here is our guide to help you choose the summer fruits that you should have:

• Mango
  

  Succulent mangoes are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber. In fact, just half a mango has over 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A (as beta-carotene). They contain more than a day's requirement of Vitamin C and have nearly half a day requirement of Vitamin E. They also contain Potassium, Iron and Nicotinic Acid. They are great for Skin problems, convalescence and cancer protection.

• Watermelon
  

  Watermelons are cooling & delicious for hotter days. Watermelon seeds are a good treatment for urinary infections (kidney & bladder problems). The seeds can be simmered in water for 30 minutes to make a tea. They are a great gentle laxative. They are best eaten raw and on their own as they ferment rapidly in the stomach.

• Papaya
  

  Papayas are irresistibly mouthwatering summer fruits. Papaya is another rich source of beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber, and also contains potassium and folate.

• Apples
  

  Red, yellow or green, sweet or tart, crisp or mealy, no matter how you slice them, summer fresh apples are a good source of fiber. The pectin in apples is a soluble fiber, which can help in the management of high cholesterol. And the skins of apples contain antioxidant flavonoids and polyphenols, phytochemicals that can reduce free radical damage and help prevent oxidative diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

• Apricots
  

  The rich color of tender apricots gives away their rich content of beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A). Beta-carotene and vitamin C both in apricots are antioxidant vitamins. Sun-sweetened apricots are also a good source of fiber and potassium.

• Figs
  

  Summer is the season for fresh figs. Fresh or dried, sweet figs are one of the highest fruit sources of fiber, and they also contain significant amounts of minerals potassium (great for replenishing losses in sweat), calcium, and iron.

• Cherries
  

  Sweet varieties are good raw and can be added to salads and fruit salads. They contain vitamin C and are a good diuretic. They are good for pain in the joints. They are excellent for Cancer protection as they contain ellagic acid which inhabits carcinogenic cells.

• Plums and Peaches
  

  Plums and peaches are ripe and ready these balmy months. Luscious peaches have beta-carotene and vitamin C as well as fiber. Purple and red plums have fiber and vitamin C, and the skins contain anthocyanidins, potent antioxidant phytochemicals.

• Raspberries
  

  Raspberries can be found all over the world and the plants from which they spring go by many different names. Like most berries, they are very high in antioxidants, the chemicals that keep your body from falling apart at the molecular level. And they taste good too.

With so many delicious fruits to choose from, there's no reason not to get the minimum five servings a day. Fruits provide many nutrients, vitamins, and even some minerals that are essential for a healthy body. Explore the wide variety of natural flavors at every meal and as refreshing snacks.