Emma Miller
Instead of sitting down to toast or an egg white omelet in the morning, do something amazing for your health. Fruit is really the perfect food. They are the easiest for our bodies to digest. All fruits are good for you, but we have to eat them when they are ripe to digest them properly and use them for energy.
Think of all the colors, shapes, and textures of fruit as different antioxidants and phytonutrients that the body needs. And then include a variety of fruits in your diet to take advantage of all the benefits they have to offer – from fighting colds and preventing inflammation to glowing skin and hair.
Instead of sitting down to toast or an egg white omelet in the morning, do something amazing for your health and enjoy one of these gorgeous fruit platters.
Anti-inflammatory platter: cherries, pineapple, blueberries
Pineapple is rich in vitamin C and contains an enzyme called bromelain, which reduces intestinal inflammation, boosts immune function and stimulates protein digestion.
Try combining it with blueberries, which are rich in antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E. Anthocyanin is the main antioxidant in blueberries and cherries, and it is what gives these fruits their gorgeous dark blue and red color.
Eat tart cherries instead of sweet ones, as they contain more phenolic compounds that have a stronger anti-inflammatory effect.
Immunostimulating plate: grapefruit, kiwi, strawberries
Feeling a little down? Kiwi, grapefruit, and strawberries can give your immune system the boost it needs to keep you healthy.
Kiwis are rich in vitamin C, which helps support the immune system and prevents free radical damage that can lead to inflammation in the body.
Grapefruit and strawberries are also some of our top vitamin C foods (containing more C than oranges!), which can help boost immunity and fight disease. Rich in vitamins A and C, strawberry seeds also contain minerals that support immune function.
A useful tip – don’t wait until it’s too late. This would be a great fruit dish to take before a long flight to keep your immune system strong and ready to go.
Antioxidant plate: figs, red grapes, pomegranates
These three fruits are rich in antioxidants and disease-fighting compounds that protect our bodies from free radical damage and help us look and feel young.
Resveratrol in red grapes and red wine has powerful antioxidant and anti-aging properties that help fight disease and signs of aging. Grapes are also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, which support our eyesight and can minimize the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays.
Pomegranates contain higher levels of antioxidants than most fruits and can help reverse free radical damage to the skin. Figs are not only delicious – they are also rich in minerals, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper, and are an excellent source of vitamins A, E, and K.
Add some of these antioxidant fruits to your plate to help you fight disease, age gracefully, and stay strong.
Detoxifying plate: goji berries, watermelon, lemon
We can’t eliminate toxins without the help of foods that hydrate and flush toxins from the body.
So, let’s start with watermelon, which is 92% water and also contains an important detoxifying agent called glutathione. It’s also a source of lycopene and vitamins A and C, which further aid in detoxification and free radical fighting.
Very alkaline in digestion, lemon is also a strong detoxifier and has antibacterial and antiviral properties. And let’s not forget goji berries. These little guys are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins (A, B, C, and E), iron, and choline, which are necessary for the liver for detoxification processes.
Cosmetic plate: blackberries, papaya, melon
Here’s what you should eat the morning before your next big event! Papaya is full of antioxidants and nutrients that promote collagen production. It also contains the enzyme papain, which helps resist skin damage. Blackberries are a wonderful low-sugar fruit that is rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C.
You can’t miss the melon. It contains beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body and helps our skin glow, and makes our hair strong and shiny.
Energy plate: banana, avocado, apple
The next time you’re looking for fuel or want to recharge before or after a workout, pack this energy plate. These nutrient-rich fruits (yes, avocados are a fruit) will replenish your energy stores and keep you going for hours.
Bananas give us quick energy and are a great choice before a workout. The healthy fats contained in avocados slow down digestion and are best included in your diet.
