It's tough to be healthy, especially for those of us who have a serious sweet tooth. While it can be tempting to get our fix with gummy bears or other highly processed treats, a better solution to satisfy that sugar craving is through ripe, juicy fruits. From blackberries to bananas, nature offers a wide variety of sweet produce all throughout the year. But not all fruits are created equal, and some of them are way healthier than others.
It should come as no surprise that a diet high in produce is best for our bodies. In fact, consuming lots of fruits and veggies is one of many reasons why the Japanese have such long lifespans! But with how expensive fruit can be, many of us have to carefully select what we put in our shopping carts to stay within our budgets, so it pays to get the most bang (and vitamins) for your buck. As an added bonus, eating the right fruits won't just help you stay healthy and happy — they can also help you maintain your youthful appearance!
If you want to lead the healthiest life possible, take a look at these ultra-healthy fruits and see how many you can fit into your fridge. I thought number 2 came straight from another planet, but once I tried it, it became one of my favorite foods of all time! Did your favorite fruit make the cut?
Make sure you SHARE these nutrient-packed fruits with all your friends so they can make the best choices for their health!
10. Kiwi
These fuzzy green fruits are jam-packed with over 20 nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin B, folate, and five times the vitamin C of an orange in one serving!
9. Papaya
These sweet tropical fruits owe their orange flesh to the carotenes within them that can protect against various diseases. They're packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
8. Blueberries
The gorgeous dark color for which blueberries are named means that they're loaded with antioxidants. They also contain lots of vitamin C, vitamin B, and vitamin K.
7. Cantaloupe
This juicy melon contains nearly 70 percent of your daily vitamin A and C needs, and like other fruits on this list, it has lots of antioxidants which can help prevent cancer and other illnesses.
6. Cranberries
These tart and tiny fruits are ridiculously high in antioxidants and contain nearly a quarter of your daily vitamin C needs. If you're going to get your fix with juice, make sure you're getting the sugar-free kind rather than the ultra-sweet cocktail variety.
5. Mangoes
Mangoes are a delicious tropical fruit that contain lots of potassium, fiber, vitamin B, vitamin A, and a whopping 200 percent of your daily vitamin C needs. Enjoy them ripe and sweet or unripe with salt and lime.
4. Cherries
Not only are these tasty summer treats full of all kinds of vitamins and lots of fiber, but that dark red color hints at all the antioxidants they have, too!
3. Strawberries
Summer is the perfect time to stock up on and freeze these berries. They have lots of vitamin C and vitamin B, as well as (you guessed it) lots of antioxidants.
2. Soursop
You're unlikely to find this odd fruit in the United States, but if you ever get the chance to visit Central America or parts of Africa, try to get your hands on some. Its white pulp and juice contains lots of vitamin A and vitamin C, and people in some countries even use it as alternative medicine to help treat diseases such as cancer.
1. Pineapple
What a great excuse to have more piña coladas! Pineapple has almost 80 percent of your daily manganese needs, 20 percent of your daily copper needs, and over 100 percent of your daily vitamin C needs. It's also a good source of vitamin B, fiber, and folate!
Make sure you SHARE these healthy fruits with everyone you know!
