One of the healthiest meals to consume daily is a simple bowl of fruit salad. With the right quantity and type of fruits, a fruit salad can work wonders for your health. It will provide you with a power-packed dose of fibre, vitamins and antioxidants. At the same time, you will also get a wide range of health benefits, right from lower blood pressure levels to weight management.
Neha Grover, a Delhi based nutritionist says, “While you may choose the fruits of your liking for the salad, you could also consider adding apples as they are available all year round, and are rich in antioxidants, dietary fibres and flavonoids. Apple’s nutrient quotient helps reduce the risk of diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments. You could also add a touch of citrus fruits such as oranges. Oranges are packed with vitamin B1, vitamin C, calcium, copper and will help to lower blood pressure and lose weight.”
Hence, there is no right or wrong way of making a fruit salad, but rest assured that a daily dose of the same will provide you with several benefits, such as:
Improved digestion
A fruit salad, packing a high dose of fibre works brilliantly for digestion. Fruits such as kiwi contain a proteolytic enzyme called actinidin that helps break down proteins. The fibre, in fact, also improves constipation issues, because it acts as a natural laxative for the digestive system. Fruits such as oranges and bananas contain less fructose, making them easier to tolerate and less likely to cause gas and contain inulin, a substance that stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
Keeps You Hydrated All Day
Most fruits have high water content. They keep the body hydrated all day long. If you are someone who just doesn't drink a lot of water, adding fruits to your diet can help. Fruits can help you reach the everyday water requirement of your body. Especially now when summers are approaching, it is a good idea to add a lot of fruits to your diet.
Keeps Diseases At Bay
Do you know free radicals damage healthy cells in our body, make usage quickly, and also lead to deadly diseases like cancer? Fruits have antioxidants present in them which fight these free radicals. This further prevents you from health problems.
Weight loss
Fruits consist of water and fibre, ensuring low-calorie intake and high energy levels that will aid in weight loss. For those, who want to lose weight or want to avoid gaining those extra pounds, fruit salad can be an excellent alternative.
Gives You Healthy Skin and Hair
Brightly coloured fruits contain several carotenoids that can reduce your skin's sensitivity to the sun. The vitamin C present in fruits also helps to produce the enzyme collagen that strengthens the capillaries which supply the hair shaft. This gives you healthy skin and hair.
Fruit Salad Recipe
Grapes
Apples
Pomegranate
Jeera Powder
Chaat Masala
Chilli Powder
Pink Salt
Black Pepper Powder
Lime Juice
Honey
Coriander Leaves
Steps
-Peel pomegranate and take it out in a bowl.
-Slit grapes from the centre and keep them aside.
-In a bowl, add grapes, pomegranate, apples or any other fruits of your choice
-Top with pink salt, jeera powder, chaat masala, chilli powder, pink salt, black pepper powder, lime juice, and honey as per taste.
-Top with chopped coriander leaves.
-Toss and enjoy chilled.
Life will always be busy, but as you run, make sure to have a fruit salad in the mornings or afternoons. Stay healthy and fit!