12 Feb

Health Benefits of Mangoes and Mango Juice

Everyone knows that fruit is an important component of a healthy diet. Mangoes and natural mango juice, in particular, are an understated fruit and juice because many people seem to still be simply practicing the “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” philosophy. Mangoes and mango juice are rich in various vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. It’s important to avoid certain mango juice products that can be high in sugar and are not natural and consequently, aren’t all that healthy. Eating mangoes or drinking mango juice somewhat often can offer several advantages, beginning with essential vitamin and mineral consumption.

Mango and mango juice

Vitamins Found in Mangoes and Mango Juice

Mangoes and mango juice are bursting with Vitamin A and C, iron and potassium. Vitamin A is noted by medical professionals for its immense contribution to good vision. Vitamin C supports a healthy immune system. Both Vitamin A and C are classified as antioxidants among professionals, which have the potential to contribute to cancer prevention. Potassium also supports high energy and, according to doctors, can even help aid hypertension. Potassium also contributes to healthy heart function and the prevention of future heart issues. Iron is essential in maintaining a high energy level and a lack of iron can result in several dangerous health conditions (such as anemia). Mangoes and mango juice are overflowing with many vitamins and therefore have the ability to prevent you from obtaining a cold or infection and the potential to ward off certain types of cancers.

Even More Health Benefits Connected to Mangoes and Mango Juice

A recent study conducted by the Medical Daily Reporter showed that mangoes have “digestive enzymes” that can assist in proper digestion and soothe an upset stomach and therefore associated stomach aches and pains. Mangoes are also full of fiber. Adequate amounts of fiber ingested guides the body down the path of healthy digestion and normal bowel movements(relief from stubborn constipation or diarrhea). This website shows that mangoes have the power to help with memory and to refresh and rejuvenate skin. This means that mangoes and mango juice can deeply cleanse your pores and possibly lead to radiant, acne free skin.

Mangoes also provide sufficient amounts of folic acid, an imperative item in maintaining a healthy pregnancy free of complications. Mangoes are also noted for promoting healthy blood flow. Mangoes and mango juice even have the ability to decrease heavy, uncomfortable blood flow for women during menstruation. Another great advantage of mangoes is their low caloric content. You can get feel fully content after eating a healthy meal or snack, including mangoes, while still sticking to a low calorie diet.

Health benefits of mango juice

Eating a Mango or Drinking Mango Juice After Exercising

It’s common knowledge that during a work-out, calories are burnt, energy is utilized and therefore nutrients are lost. Research has shown that mangoes are the perfect food for replenishing the body after a work out and regaining lost vitamins and nutrients. Some claim that mangoes and mango juice can eliminate body odor after a strenuous, sweaty workout.

Clearly, the advantages that go along with consuming mangoes or natural mango juice are undeniable. Mangoes and mango juice are tasty, sweet and quite healthy. They both provide remarkably nutritious benefits externally and internally. Maintaining or switching to a healthy lifestyle is totally feasible if you start with a simple step like eating a mango or drinking a glass of mango juice. Ultimately, with the copious amounts of health advantages attached, there’s no reason not to at least try making mangoes or natural mango juice an active part of your diet.

07 Feb

Health Benefits of Mulberry Juice

The health benefits of mulberries are numerous; mulberries have been used since ancient times as a way of curing a number of ailments, though the nutritional and health benefits of mulberries – and subsequently, mulberry juice – were widely unknown until much more recently. In the past, mulberries were used to help treat people that suffered from the cold and other health problems, including digestion issues. Today, mulberries are used to create juices that are healthful and beneficial to everyone that drinks them for more than simply curing the common cold and digestive problems.

 

Mulberry Juice Treats Anemia

Anemia is used to describe a low level of iron in a person’s body. Those with anemia often find that they are dizzy and experience heart palpitations and that they exhibit an unattractive pallor. Mulberry juice can help fight the symptoms of anemia because it is rich with nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. The juice in mulberries promotes the production of the correct body fluids, which includes iron. Consuming mulberries and/or mulberry juice regularly will help your body produce the correct amount of iron, which will reduce your anemic symptoms.
Mulberries have the highest choline content

Insomnia

Mulberry juice is one of the leading ways to cure insomnia. The fact that it helps the body produce all of the correct chemicals and body fluids means that your body needn’t work overtime to produce these fluids and sleep comes easier. Your body needs adequate levels of a number of chemicals in order to allow you to sleep well. If you suffer from insomnia and want to try mulberry juice as a cure for your inability to sleep you should; eating mulberries or drinking mulberry juice on a regular basis will have you noticing an improvement in your sleep patterns before too long.

Stomach Issues and the Benefits of Mulberry Juice

Because it is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, mulberry juice is helpful in treating and correcting a number of issues that people experience with their stomachs and digestive tracts. First and foremost, mulberry juice prevents constipation, which plagues so many people. It also enhances the appetite, which encourages people to eat a healthier and better diet, not allowing them to skip a meal which is horrible for the health. Mulberry juice is also a good way to improve digestion, which means far less issues with your stomach. In some cases, it has been known to cure hepatitis and gastritis, both of which are diseases that are difficult for sufferers.

Anti-Aging Abilities

Anthocyanins and resveratrol are active constituents that are found in mulberries. The constituent resveratrol is widely known as “the fountain of youth” because it has numerous anti-aging benefits. In addition, it also contains anti-cancer agents and body cleansing agents. Mulberry juice is thought by experts to have the ability to prolong the onset of wrinkles in the skin and the appearance of grey hair. The other active constituent found in mulberry juice, anthocyanins, contains a vast array of antioxidants that have health benefits of their own. For example, some of the antioxidants found in mulberry juice have the ability to cure a number of ailments, which is the reason why in ancient times they were used to treat colds and digestive issues. The antioxidants found in mulberries have an absorbency rate that takes much longer than the rate of juice from other fruits, which is why it is so effective with its anti-aging abilities. Mulberry juice works to fight aging whether the signs of aging have already started or not.If you already have wrinkles and are noticing grey hairs starting to show you can start drinking mulberry juice immediately to slow the process. If you are still young and think you have years before the signs of aging start to affect you, start drinking mulberry juice now. That way you will have even more years to enjoy your youthful appearance before age begins to show.

07 Feb

Which Fruit Has The Highest Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) – The Most Antioxidants?

Antioxidants

Mentioning antioxidants goes hand in hand with another frequently used term – free radicals. We have an interesting and in depth article on both free radicals and antioxidants if you follow these links so I won’t go much into details here. But I do urge you to read both articles to better understand what are antioxidants, what are free radicals, how do they interact and what consequences do they have on our bodies and our health.

But to sum it up in short – an antioxidant is a molecule that counteracts the process of oxidation in animal tissue. Free radical is a highly unstable molecule that is formed as a by-product of our body’s natural metabolism or as a result of environmental influences. Free radicals are thought to be the cause of degradation within our bodies. Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals and stop cellular damage before it starts.

Mangosteen - rich in antioxidants

Top Fruits For Antioxidant Content

The amounts of antioxidants are given for 100g of each fruit. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) values are given as micromol Trolox equivalents (TE). To find out more about this – go here.

Also – different sources cite quite different ORAC values for each fruit. For instance – quite often blueberries can be found higher on the list and mangosteen much lower on the list. This data was collected from a few different sources (mainly from oracvalues.com and nutrition-and-you.com) and is unfortunately not considered to be 100% correct as (we assume) goes for any data that you can find about ORAC levels. We imagine that this has also a lot to do with the origin and state of the fruits tested and the testing methods themselves.

Anyway – this list is still a good approximate of the ORAC values of each fruit and can tell you which fruits are antioxidant rich and which are not so rich.

1 Mangosteen 20.000,00 µ mol TE
2 Elderberry 14.697,00 µ mol TE
3 Pomegranate 10.500,00 µ mol TE
4 Cranberry 9.584,00 µ mol TE
5 Blackcurrant 7.950,00 µ mol TE
6 Plum 7.581,00 µ mol TE
7 Apple 5.900,00 µ mol TE
8 Blueberry 5.562,00 µ mol TE
9 Blackberry 5.347,00 µ mol TE
10 Raspberry 5.065,00 µ mol TE
11 Strawberry 4.188,00 µ mol TE
12 Cherry (sweet) 3.747,00 µ mol TE
13 Redcurrant 3.387,00 µ mol TE
14 Gooseberry 3.332,00 µ mol TE
15 Fig 3.200,00 µ mol TE
16 Guava 2.550,00 µ mol TE
17 Grape 2.389,00 µ mol TE
18 Tangerine 1.620,00 µ mol TE
19 Lemon 1.346,00 µ mol TE
20 Peach 1.300,00 µ mol TE
21 Apricot 1.115,00 µ mol TE
22 Kiwi 862,00 µ mol TE
23 Banana 795,00 µ mol TE
24 Orange 726,00 µ mol TE
25 Pear 704,00 µ mol TE
26 Carrot 697,00 µ mol TE
27 Pumpkin 483,00 µ mol TE
28 Grapefruit 460,00 µ mol TE
29 Tomato 387,00 µ mol TE
30 Pineapple 385,00 µ mol TE
31 Melon (Cantaloupe) 319,00 µ mol TE
32 Papaya 300,00 µ mol TE
33 Mango 300,00 µ mol TE
34 Watermelon 142,00 µ mol TE
35 Cucumber 140,00 µ mol TE
36 Lime 82,00 µ mol TE

 

04 Feb

Health Benefits Of Papaya Juice

Papaya is the most famous fruit of the tropics. It’s also a highly beneficial fruit. Juice made from the papaya is loaded with disease-fighting enzymes and nutrients that have people buzzing. It’s believed that papaya juice offers many health benefits, from aiding heart health to offering a rare enzyme that prevents and fights cancer.

In its most simple terms, juice made from papaya is packed with proteolytic enzymes. These helpful chemicals aid the stomach in digesting protein. A small glass of papaya juice before eating a burger or a bucket of chicken will help the stomach process that dinner. The enzyme papain, which is extracted from papaya, is used in meat tenderizers.

 

A Fountain of Youth

Papaya juice

Papaya juice also restores normal bacteria in the stomach which helps digestion. It prevents bloating and indigestion.

Food researchers believe that papaya juice has rejuvenation properties. Call it Ponce de Leon’s fountain of youth in a glass.

The belief is that papaya juice helps the body with digestion. Proper digestion helps release all the good vitamins and nutrients that the body needs. When the body has use of all these vitamins, enzymes and nutrients, people feel and look better. That in itself is a strong reason to add papaya juice to a daily diet regimen.

Papaya Lycopene Fights Cancer

This juice is loaded with antioxidants that get rid of free radicals and prevent cancer. The fiber in a glass of papaya juice will bind toxins that cause cancer. Papaya juice has the rare antioxidant lycopene which has a quality to fight and prevent cancer.

Good For Heart Health

Inside, the papaya is colored yellow or orange. This deep and rich color is an indication of high amounts of beta carotene. A four ounce glass of papaya juice is packed with 82 mg of vitamin C.

Papaya juice is packed with fiber, magnesium, potassium and pantothenic acid, which help improve cardiovascular health.

The oxidation of cholesterol is stopped by these elements, preventing cholesterol from sticking to artery walls and causing high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. The enzyme carpain is found in papaya, and that’s good for the heart.

Papaya Enzymes Relieve Inflammation

The enzymes chymopapain and papain act as anti-inflammatory agents and lessen inflammation in the body. Both internal and external inflammation are reduced by drinking papaya juice. This is good news for people who suffer from inflammatory diseases like osteoarthritis, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Papaya juice can ease inflamed joints and provide relief from pain.

Improves the Immune System

These same enzymes weaken invading viruses and bacteria in the body, making them more susceptible to attack and elimination by the body’s defensive systems.

Vitamins A and C are found in great amounts in papaya juice and act as aids to the body’s immune system. This helps to prevent flu and colds.

Helps Vision

These vitamins A and C, along with vitamin E, create an antioxidant that may prevent vision loss. As people age, macular degeneration sets in as a degenerative disease. Three servings of papaya juice daily can help maintain good vision.

Other health benefits of papaya juice include relief from edema and urinary tract problems. The nutrients in papaya improve milk flow for lactating mothers. Skin problems, such as corns, warts, acne and pimples, are helped. Male fertility is enhanced with the aginine found in papaya juice.

Here’s a great way to drink a glass of healthy papaya juice. Take one cup of chopped papaya, one-half cup of cold water and four ice cubes, and throw it all in a blender. Mix the blend until it’s thick and smooth. Pour it into a glass, and add a teaspoon of honey. Add a pinch of cinnamon for good effect. Mix well and drink.

03 Feb

What Are Antioxidants?

Most people have heard of antioxidants and their relationship to free radicals but what exactly is it all about? Where do antioxidants come from? How do they benefit us? And can there be such a thing as too many antioxidants?

What are antioxidants?

An antioxidant, as its name implies, is a molecule that counteracts the process of oxidation in animal tissue. Antioxidants can either be nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, or enzymes, proteins occurring naturally in the body to aid with chemical processes.

How are they formed?

Some antioxidants occur naturally within the body, whilst others need to be ingested. Those that occur naturally include lipoic acid, and CoQ10. However, levels of these declines as we age, so supplements are often needed.

The most common antioxidants are Vitamins A, C and E. As our bodies cannot manufacture these vitamins themselves, they have to be acquired through diet and/or supplements.

How and why do they affect our bodies?

Our bodies are remarkable in that millions of processes are occurring at any one time. In order for these processes to happen, the body needs oxygen as a power source. Unfortunately, these processes cause a powerful and destructive side effect in the form of oxidants, which are better known as free radicals. Antioxidants protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that are formed as a by-product of our body’s natural metabolism. They are also a result of environmental factors such as sun exposure, smoking, pollution, and radiation. The same process of oxidation that causes rust, breaking down and weakening metal, occurs in our bodies, producing free radicals.

Antioxidant - Vitamin C

How do antioxidants fight free radicals?

Free radicals are thought to be the cause of degradation within our bodies, leading to premature ageing, heart disease, and cancer. Because free radicals are so unstable, they attack molecules in our body, causing a chain reaction which makes that molecule become a free radical also, leading to the eventual death of a cell.

Antioxidants work by attaching themselves to free radicals without becoming a free radical themselves, and so breaking the chain reaction. Antioxidants instead neutralize the free radical by either donating or receiving an electron. Once complete, the process stop cellular damage before it starts.

However, as soon as an antioxidant neutralizes a free radical, it becomes inactive itself. Because of this, it’s important to maintain a good supply of antioxidants.

Different antioxidants

There are several types of antioxidants, all of which hold a unique function:

• Vitamin A and beta-carotene – these water soluble vitamins are thought to be the best neutralizer of an uncharged form of oxygen that is very toxic to cells.

• Vitamin C is another water soluble vitamin that works alongside vitamin E to hunt and neutralize free radicals within the more watery environments in the body, and especially within cells themselves.

• Vitamin E – unlike vitamins A and C, vitamin E is fat soluble, which means it can only dissolve in fat. Because of this, Vitamin E protects cell membranes from damage by free radicals. It is also of particular benefit to cholesterol levels by protecting oxidation from occurring within LDLs, or ‘bad’ cholesterol.

• Selenium, manganese and zinc. These minerals are trace elements our bodies need to survive, and are our primary line of defense when it comes to destroying free radicals.

• CoEnzyme Q10, uric acid, and phytochemicals. These are extra nutrients that have antioxidant properties, protecting the body from free radicals.

So what are the most common sources of antioxidants?

OrangesAntioxidants are found in abundance in fruit and vegetables, as well as grains and beans. Fruit and vegetables in particular, are so recognized in the fight against free radicals, that health and food departments globally now recommend that people eat five portions of fruit and vegetables everyday as part of the fight against cancer.

 

As mentioned before, our bodies cannot manufacture most forms of antioxidants, and even those we can make ourselves are reduced as we age. Therefore, it’s important to know how to increase our intake of these compounds and thus reduce the risk of free radical damage as much as possible.

Vitamin A is found in carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, kale, peaches and apricots.

Vitamin C is particularly abundant in citrus fruits including oranges, lemons, lime and grapefruit. It is also found in high quantities in green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin E can be found mostly in whole grain, nuts and seeds.

Selenium is found in large quantities in fish, grains, eggs and red meat.

Phytochemicals are found in purple grapes and red wine, and are also in large amounts in tea.

Carrots

Is it possible to have too many antioxidants?

As with most things, it is possible to have too much antioxidants – too much of a good thing. Studies have shown that problems can arise if one nutrient is excessively high, for example, excess levels of beta-carotene can turn the skin orange.

30 Jan

What Are Free Radicals?

Free radicals are of great concern to anyone who wants to stay healthy. You’ve probably heard of how dangerous these substances are and how important the antioxidants that fight them are, but few truly understand the difference. Fortunately, this quick guide will teach you all you need to know.

Understanding free radicals involves learning a little bit about their chemical background. Your body is made up of many connected parts. The organs and tissues that form these parts are all made of cells. In simple terms, each cell is an independent unit that processes its own waste and ingests nutrients, in addition to performing various other functions.

Pollution, especially air pollution is a big source of free radicals

Pollution, especially air pollution is a big source of free radicals

The Chemistry That Drives Our Cells

How do cells work? The answer varies depending on the particular cell. Some generate the energy used to move muscles and others send nervous impulses, but all are powered by chemical reactions. These reactions, or interactions between the electrons that surround every atom in the universe, also occur within our bodies. Without the many different molecules, or groups of atoms, that chemical reactions produce, we could not survive.

Chemical Reactions: All About Charge

Chemical reactions usually result in bonds between specialized molecules, creating compounds like vitamins, minerals and other substances used to build cells. Reactions occur because some molecules have positive and negative electrical charges as a result of the way their electrons are arranged. In most cases, chemical reactions keep occurring until these charges have been balanced or canceled out completely.

Smoking equals more free radicals in our body

Smoking equals more free radicals in our body

Free Radicals: Unbalanced Products

Sometimes, however, reactions produce free radicals. In chemical terms, radicals are sort of unbalanced factors. These molecules retain charges for any number of reasons, depending on the reactions that formed them.

Because charges are what attract atoms to each other, free radicals that have unbalanced charges are very reactive. Free radicals are far more likely to cause chemical changes than other balanced molecules, and these changes can be harmful or helpful.

While some free radicals are necessary to biological functions or occur as intermediate stages of more complex reactions, others sit around with no use, waiting until they contact anything they can react with. As your body is a whole mass of atoms and chemical compounds, free radicals usually don’t have to travel that far to find something they can mess up.

Free Radicals All Around

A very common radical reaction you’re probably familiar with is rusting. Rust is built up as a result of charged oxygen atoms from water reacting with metals, producing corrosive byproducts which are often brown in color. While these reactions are quite a regular occurrence in metal in cars or appliances, they are also responsible for the browning you see in cut apples left exposed to the air.

Rust reactions occur because the oxygen in moisture has a charge. While water is a complete molecule, its unbalanced, or polarized, form means that it tends to react, coming apart easily to leave charged oxygen behind. This oxygen joins with the metal molecules in your body just as easily as it does those in a piece of iron. While your body might not become a rusted hulk like an old ship, it does undergo internal changes.

Sun ligh is also a source of free radicals

Sun ligh is also a source of free radicals

A Good Environment for Radicals

Our bodies are mostly water, so there’s plenty of material to generate free radicals, and many are useful. Some substances, like Vitamin E, are radicals that help us by reacting with strays, locking up harmful compounds before they can do damage. There are just as many, however, that can react with molecules in our DNA or cell walls, leading to cancers or other mutations. The byproducts of water molecule breakdown, for instance, can cause harm in high quantities, and even normal biological compounds in our bodies can act as harmful free radicals in certain situations.

Antioxidants: The Helpful Radicals

When radicals tend to sit around for relatively long periods of time, they’re called persistent radicals, or those that remain unchanged by chemical bonding. These include vitamin E and vitamin C, and because they tend to sit in the body and react with more dangerous short-lived radicals like oxygen, they are known as antioxidants. Antioxidants are indeed radicals, but they perform the vital function of preventing other unhealthy free radicals from interacting with the parts of our bodies that they shouldn’t combine with.

How Are Free Radicals Produced?

To sum things up – free radicals are produced during the various normal metabolic activities carried out by our bodies. There is nothing much we can do here. But free radicals also exist in our environment. These are the free radicals that we can sometimes avoid. How?

Sources Of Free Radicals In Our Environment

These are the main sources of free radicals around us or to put it better the main sources of free radicals that we can control. If we can avoid these sources we can avoid these free radicals affecting our bodies:

  • Pollution, especially polluted air,
  • A huge part of air pollution is automobile exhaust,
  • Smoking and cigarette smoke,
  • Sun light (UV rays)
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Emotional stress
  • Exposure to heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, lead…
  • Radiation

Since this is a fruit juice website it doesn’t hurt to again point out that natural juices are a great source of free radicals fighting antioxidants.

 

29 Jan

Which Fruit Has The Most Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)?

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)

Pyridoxine is the most common of the seven forms of vitamin B6. In supplement form, the vitamin is water-soluble and can be found in many foods we eat. It is a member of the key family of vitamins, B-complex. The many benefits of these key vitamins affect crucial body systems.

The Role Of Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) In Our Body

Together with B12, B6 creates red blood cells and other cells necessary in the immune system.

While vitamin B6 deficiency is rare, when it does occur symptoms include muscle weakness, nervousness and irritability. Severe deficiencies can result in short term memory loss and inability to concentrate on simple tasks.

B complex vitamins all work to help our bodies metabolize fat and protein. B6 is also highly involved in aiding nervous system function and contribute greatly to healthy hair, skin and eyes.

Since water-soluble vitamins aren’t stored in the body, daily intake is important to keep enough B6 in the system for good health. Of particular interest is a recent study that suggests people with heart disease do not get enough B6 in their diet. While the direct correlation is still unknown, doctors suggest making sure to get enough B6 for heart health. A large study has shown that 500mg of B6 with 1000mg of B12 taken daily significantly reduces the risk of age related macular degeneration, a condition that leads to blindness.

B6 also helps the body produce serotonin, an important key in depression prevention. Another amazing function of B6 is the ability to reduce inflammation. This ability benefits many sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis and carpel tunnel syndrome.

There can be too much of a good thing. At very high dosages of B6, side effects can include skin rash, nausea, abdominal pain, imbalance and numbness of legs and toes. The good news is that by ceasing excessive use, typically all side effects will fade within 6 months time.

Banana

Top Fruits For Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) Content

The amounts of Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) are given for 100g of each fruit.

1 Banana 0,37 mg
2 Jackfruit 0,33 mg
3 Durian 0,32 mg
4 Blackberry 0,30 mg
5 Carrot 0,14 mg
6 Mango 0,13 mg
7 Fig 0,11 mg
8 Pineapple 0,11 mg
9 Guava 0,11 mg
10 Kiwi 0,10 mg
11 Lychee 0,10 mg
12 Passion Fruit 0,10 mg
13 Cranberry 0,10 mg
14 Grape 0,09 mg
15 Lemon 0,08 mg
16 Tomato 0,08 mg
17 Tangerine 0,08 mg
18 Pomegranate 0,08 mg
19 Melon (Cantaloupe) 0,07 mg
20 Redcurrant 0,07 mg
21 Blackcurrant 0,07 mg
22 Pumpkin 0,06 mg
23 Orange 0,06 mg
24 Raspberry 0,06 mg
25 Apricot 0,05 mg
26 Grapefruit 0,05 mg
27 Blueberry 0,05 mg
28 Mulberry 0,05 mg
29 Cherry (sweet) 0,05 mg
30 Watermelon 0,05 mg
31 Apple 0,04 mg
32 Mangosteen 0,04 mg
33 Cucumber 0,04 mg
34 Plum 0,03 mg
35 Pear 0,03 mg
36 Peach 0,03 mg
37 Papaya 0,02 mg

26 Jan

Which Fruit Has The Most Vitamin K?

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a group of vitamins that are stored in the body’s fat and liver. Discovered in 1929 by a Danish scientist, two natural forms of vitamin K exist, vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Our bodies use vitamin K in blood coagulation and bone metabolism. A vitamin K deficiency is rare, although some medications, such as antibiotics, can suppress vitamin K temporarily. Newborn babies receive vitamin K injections as a preventative action against bleeding. Besides getting vitamin K in food, the human gut also makes vitamin K, which is why vitamin K deficiencies are rare.

Vitamin K’s Role in Human Health

Vitamin K’s role in human health is to prevent excessive bleeding. Vitamin K also uses calcium to build strong bones, reducing the risk of bone fractures. People with high levels of vitamin K have thicker, stronger bones than those with lower levels of the vitamin. People with excessive bleeding, easy bruising or showing signs of bone weakening should eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin K, such as grapes, avocados, kiwis, blueberries and dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale.

Eating fruits and vegetables with lots of vitamin K will allow blood to clot, help prevent postmenopausal bone density loss and bone fractures and protect the body’s arteries from calcification. Some research has revealed that vitamin K may also protect against prostate and liver cancers. People taking certain medications, including antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering drugs, seizure drugs and weight loss drugs should consult with medical professionals before taking vitamin K supplements or eating vitamin K-rich foods. Possible interactions between vitamin K and the above medications can occur.

Taking too much vitamin K is usually not a problem as there is no known toxicity with vitamin K. Large doses of the vitamin, however, may cause tingling in the hands or feet as well as numbness.

Health benefits of kiwi fruit

Top Fruits For Vitamin K Content

The amounts of Vitamin K are given for 100g of each fruit.

1 Kiwi 40,30 mcg
2 Blackberry 19,80 mcg
3 Blueberry 19,30 mcg
4 Cucumber 16,40 mcg
5 Pomegranate 16,40 mcg
6 Grape 14,60 mcg
7 Redcurrant 11,00 mcg
8 Carrot 9,40 mcg
9 Tomato 7,90 mcg
10 Mulberry 7,80 mcg
11 Raspberry 7,80 mcg
12 Plum 6,40 mcg
13 Cranberry 5,10 mcg
14 Fig 4,70 mcg
15 Pear 4,50 mcg
16 Mango 4,20 mcg
17 Apricot 3,30 mcg
18 Papaya 2,60 mcg
19 Peach 2,60 mcg
20 Guava 2,60 mcg
21 Melon (Cantaloupe) 2,50 mcg
22 Strawberry 2,20 mcg
23 Apple 2,20 mcg
24 Cherry (sweet) 2,10 mcg
25 Pumpkin 1,10 mcg
26 Pineapple 0,70 mcg
27 Lime 0,60 mcg
28 Banana 0,50 mcg
29 Lychee 0,40 mcg
30 Passion Fruit 0,40 mcg
31 Watermelon 0,10 mcg
32 Jackfruit 0,00 mcg
33 Orange 0,00 mcg
34 Lemon 0,00 mcg
35 Elderberry 0,00 mcg
36 Grapefruit 0,00 mcg
37 Gooseberry 0,00 mcg
38 Tangerine 0,00 mcg
39 Blackcurrant 0,00 mcg
40 Mangosteen 0,00 mcg
41 Durian 0,00 mcg

22 Jan

Which Fruit Has The Most Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)?

The importance of having a balanced diet continues to make headlines in medical journals. A diet that provides all of the nutritional daily needs should include fruits, vegetables and low-fat proteins that supply a full spectrum of vitamins including the vital riboflavin vitamin B2. This important nutritional element helps prevent disorders related to the skin and eyes and reduces the risk of hair loss, lesions and inflammation. Riboflavin is a key factor in regulating metabolism and can affect a person’s energy level and their ability to concentrate. Including vitamin B2 in the diet by consuming natural foods is an important part of ensuring a healthy daily nutrition routine.

Benefits of Riboflavin Vitamin B2

One of the main benefits of riboflavin, or vitamin B2, includes the ability of this element to convert carbohydrates to sugars which provide energy for our daily activities. When the vitamin is absorbed, it helps form healthy red blood cells that continually nourish the body. The immune system is also enhanced by protecting against free-radical damage. Both children and adults need to maintain the minimum daily requirement of vitamin B2 to ensure overall good health.

Other benefits found from riboflavin include improved skin and hair texture. Eating foods rich in riboflavin helps prevent cataracts and acts as an anti-aging medium.

Health Risks from Deficiencies from Riboflavin Vitamin B2

Having an insufficient supply of riboflavin can lead to disorders that range from mild to severe. People under stress are often affected by the lack of vitamin B2 and may have difficulty sleeping or experience a lack of energy. During pregnancy, sufficient amounts of vitamin B2 helps prevent damage to the unborn fetus. Skin lesions are another symptom from riboflavin deficiencies as is hair loss. Migraine headache sufferers may have a riboflavin deficiency that is correctable by changing dietary habits.

Durian health benefits

Top Fruits For Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Content

The amounts of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) are given for 100g of each fruit.

1 Durian 0,20 mg
2 Cranberry 0,20 mg
3 Pumpkin 0,10 mg
4 Lychee 0,10 mg
5 Redcurrant 0,10 mg
6 Grape 0,10 mg
7 Mulberry 0,10 mg
8 Elderberry 0,10 mg
9 Passion Fruit 0,10 mg
10 Mango 0,10 mg
11 Blackcurrant 0,10 mg
12 Mangosteen 0,10 mg
13 Pomegranate 0,10 mg
14 Fig 0,10 mg
15 Banana 0,07 mg
16 Jackfruit 0,06 mg
17 Tangerine 0,04 mg
18 Grapefruit 0,03 mg
19 Cucumber 0,03 mg
20 Melon (Cantaloupe) 0,03 mg
21 Kiwi 0,03 mg
22 Lemon 0,02 mg
23 Pineapple 0,02 mg
24 Blueberry 0,00
25 Plum 0,00
26 Watermelon 0,00
27 Cherry (sweet) 0,00
28 Papaya 0,00
29 Peach 0,00
30 Strawberry 0,00
31 Orange 0,00
32 Apple 0,00
33 Pear 0,00
34 Lime 0,00
35 Gooseberry 0,00
36 Raspberry 0,00
37 Guava 0,00
38 Blackberry 0,00
39 Carrot 0,00
40 Tomato 0,00
41 Apricot 0,00

22 Jan

Which Fruit Has The Most Phytonutrients?

Phytonutrients play a part in everything from good eyesight to preventing cancer. They are an important part of good health. You can protect and improve your well-being by understanding what phytonutrients are and what they do to help us.

What are Phytonutrients?

Phytonutrients are organic components found in plants. Some good sources are fruits, vegetables, nuts and teas. There are a lot of different classes of phytonutrients including lignans, saponins and phenols. The ones most people are familiar with are carotenoids and flavonoids. Each class of phytonutrients offers different health benefits and has different plant sources they can be found in, so it is possible to eat a wide variety of them.

The Effects of Phytonutrients in Our Bodies

There is evidence that phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables can protect us from some forms of cancer and macular degeneration. They may work as antioxidants and destroy free radicals. Phytonutrients enhance cell communication and immune responses. They may also destroy cancer cells and repair DNA damage caused by exposure to smoke and other toxins. It is possible they can activate some of our enzyme systems and detoxify carcinogens as well.

Studies have shown that consuming fruits, teas, grains and vegetables with high levels of phytonutrients decreases the risk of strokes and prostate cancer. With heart disease, not only is the risk significantly lower from eating phytotnutrient-rich foods, so is the mortality rate associated with it. Other benefits include lowering cholesterol levels, protecting lung tissue and blocking tumor growth. Research suggests that even making small but consistent increases in the amount of phytonutrients we eat can make a difference in health. Overuse may trigger an allergic reaction in some people or have a mild effect such as a change in skin tone from beta carotene, but overall they are considered safe.

Carrots

Top Fruits For Phytonutrients Content

The amounts of Phytonutrients are given for 100g of each fruit.

1 Carrot 11.968,00 mcg
2 Pumpkin 7.260,00 mcg
3 Guava 5.578,00 mcg
4 Watermelon 4.921,00 mcg
5 Tomato 3.246,00 mcg
6 Grapefruit 2.178,00 mcg
7 Melon (Cantaloupe) 2.047,00 mcg
8 Apricot 1.306,00 mcg
9 Papaya 1.112,00 mcg
10 Tangerine 801,00 mcg
11 Passion Fruit 784,00 mcg
12 Mango 473,00 mcg
13 Orange 327,00 mcg
14 Peach 320,00 mcg
15 Plum 298,00 mcg
16 Blackberry 246,00 mcg
17 Jackfruit 223,00 mcg
18 Kiwi 209,00 mcg
19 Raspberry 164,00 mcg
20 Mulberry 157,00 mcg
21 Cranberry 127,00 mcg
22 Cherry (sweet) 123,00 mcg
23 Blueberry 112,00 mcg
24 Grape 112,00 mcg
25 Cucumber 94,00 mcg
26 Fig 94,00 mcg
27 Banana 73,00 mcg
28 Apple 67,00 mcg
29 Pear 59,00 mcg
30 Pineapple 35,00 mcg
31 Lemon 35,00 mcg
32 Strawberry 33,00 mcg
33 Durian 29,00 mcg
34 Mangosteen 26,00 mcg
35 Lychee 0,00
36 Pomegranate 0,00
37 Redcurrant 0,00
38 Elderberry 0,00
39 Lime 0,00
40 Gooseberry 0,00
41 Blackcurrant 0,00