The festive season usually goes hand in hand with luxurious eateries, mouth-watering delectables and extravagant drinks.
While many of us often try and spoil ourselves after a draining year that has passed, indulging in too many of these fast foods may be unhealthy for your body.
This is why it is important that you ensure that you maintain a healthy balanced diet that would enable you and the rest of your family to receive all the nutrients and vitamins that your body needs to get through the hot South African summer season.
The best way to do so is eating enough fruits. Fruits contain lots of anti-oxidants and minerals that are essential to your immune system.
Here are a few fruits along with the benefits:
Apples
BBC Good Foods highlights that apples are packed with pectin, this is a soluble fibre that supports digestion and may have an immune modulatory effect.
The above-mentioned publication revealed that studies also suggest that including foods like apples in your regular diet may reduce the risk of certain cancers and from developing conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Rapsberries
These delicious delights are known as one of the fruits with the highest amounts of fibre.
According to health publication Eating Well, these fruits are known for containing a rich source of magnesium, which helps regulate numerous bodily functions such as protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood sugar control and blood pressure, per the National Institutes of Health.
Bananas
The high dietary fibre found in bananas helps keep the food in your stomach for longer. This not only contributes to eradicating hunger but also weight management and the risk of obesity, says the above-mentioned publication.
The high levels of potassium further reduce the risk of strokes, when paired with low sodium intake.
Watermelon
This is considered as the most hydrating fruit, as 92% of the fruit itself contains water. The popular summer fruit is well-known for relieving sore muscles after a workout and helps regulate blood pressure.
Kiwi
Kiwis are known as the perfect fruit to overcome depression and anxiety.
“The combination of folate, magnesium and B-vitamins also found in this fruit can help you chill out. And some research suggests eating kiwi as a pre-bedtime snack may lead to better sleep! Mix some into a slaw, or slice some for a cooling side dish,” states online lifestyle magazine, Good House Keeping.
Also see: Fruits to lower high blood pressure
