Juices and smoothies are the ideal fast food for today’s fast paced lifestyle. They contain all the benefits of the whole fruit in a concentrated form. For example, a pack of carrots can be a significant source of calcium and protein, but it’s simply hard for you to eat ten carrots in a single meal. Juicing condenses that one pack of carrot into a glass of juice. These nutrients are easily assimilated because our body does not have to separate out of the fiber.
In addition to providing us with plenty of fluid, consuming fruit juices can reduce our risk of Alzheimer’s disease in the later life. A recent study in The American Journal of Medicine showed that those who drink 3 glasses of fruit juice per day cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by about 76%. Especially beneficial is apple juice, as apples help increase our levels of chemical known as acetylcholine in our brain, which controls how quickly our brain works.
Fruit juices can be used to make delicious smoothies, which are particularly beneficial to our liver. Research has shown that consuming milk, yogurt and fruits significantly cuts the risk of developing liver cancer. If you consume enough of these products, you can reduce the risk by as much as 80%. Try mixing apple juice, yogurt and some fresh berries in a blender to make a healthy smoothie!
Phytonutrients
As with vegetables, all fruits contain an abundance of phytonutrients. If the fruit is orange, red or yellow, these phytonutrients are in the form of carotenoids, as is the case with carrots.
| Phytonutrients | Fruits |
|---|---|
| Alpha / Beta-carotene | Oranges, berries, grapes, bananas, mangoes, watermelons, papayas, blackcurrants, star fruits |
| Beta cryptoxasnthin | Mangoes, peaches, papayas, oranges |
| Lutein | Oranges, bananas, grapes, berries |
| Lycopene | Watermelons, tomatoes |
| Phytoene | Mangoes, papayas |
| Phtofluene | Peaches, apricots |
| Ellagic acid | Apples, strawberries, grapes |
The super foods here are tomatoes, mangoes, papayas, berries, oranges, bananas, apples and pear.
In our search for more exotic fruits, we tend to forget that our common apples and pears also have tremendous nutritional benefits. Both contains pectin which protects our bodies against pollution as it eliminates metals. The malic and tartaric acids within these fruits help relieve indigestion and break down any fats consumed. Interestingly, eating 2 apples per day can reduce cholesterol by 10%. Apples and pears also can cleanse our digestive system, reduce inflammation, boost immune system and provide many vitamins and minerals.
Berries can protect us from diseases and infections. It also help clease the blood and helps circulation. In addition, cranberries can prevent urinary tract infection and blackcurrent helps prevent respiratory infections.
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