In addition to being delicious, fruit is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Fruit is often high in antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients. It's also a great natural energy source. However, there are a few rules you should follow when eating fruit to best benefit your health.
1. Avoid eating berries with dairy
Many people add high antioxidant fruit such as blueberries or raspberries to boost the antioxidant content of their dairy based smoothies. Antioxidants are great for your health by helping to protect the body from damaging free radicals. They have been associated with a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, slower aging, and better skin. However, recent studies suggest that proteins in milk interfere with antioxidant absorption. To get the most antioxidant benefits from berries it's best to try to eat them at least an hour before dairy consumption.
2. Avoid eating fruit for desert
The worst time to eat fruit is right after a meal. It is less likely to be digested properly, more likely to cause bloating and indigestion, and fewer of the nutrients are likely to be absorbed. Try eating fruit on an empty stomach to get the most benefits.
3. Chose fresh fruit over canned varieties when possible
Processed fruit is often less nutritious and may contain added sugar and preservatives that aren't good for you.
