Fruits Benefits for Health

Like vegetables, fruits are an excellent source of minerals, vitamins and enzymes. They are easily digested and exercise a cleansing effect on the blood and digestive tract. They contain high alkaline properties, a high percentage of water and a low percentage of proteins and fats.

Their organic acid and high sugar content have immediate refreshing effects. Apart from
seasonable fresh fruits, dry fruits, such as raisins, prunesand figs are also beneficial.
Fruits are at their best when eaten in the raw and ripe states. In cooking, the loose portions of
the nutrient salts and carbohydrates. They are most beneficial when taken as a separate meal
by themselves, preferably for breakfast in the morning. If it becomes necessary to take fruits with
regular food, they should form a larger proportion of the meals. Fruits, however, make better
combination with milk than with meals. It is also desirable to take one kind of fruit at a time. For
the maintenance of good health, atleast one pound of uncooked fruits should form part of the
daily diet. In case of sickness, it will be advisable to take fruits in the form of juices.

The three basic health-building foods mentioned above should be supplemented with certain
special foods such as milk, vegetable oils and honey. Milk is an excellent food. It is considered
as ” Nature’s most nearly perfect food.” The best way to take milk is in its soured form – that is,
yogurt and cottage cheese. Soured milk is superior to sweet milk as it is in a predigested form
and more easily assimilated. Milk helps maintain a healthy intestinal flora and prevents intestinal
putrefaction and constipation.

High quality unrefined oils should be added to the diet. They are rich in unsaturated fatty acids,
vitamin C and F and lecithin. The average daily amount should not exceed two tablespoons.

Honey too is an ideal food. It helps increase calcium retention in the system, prevents nutritional
anaemia besides being beneficial in kidney and liver disorders, colds, poor circulation and
complexion problems. It is one of the nature’s finest energy-giving food.

A diet of the three basic food groups, supplemented with the special foods, mentioned above,
will ensure a complete and adequate supply of all the vital nutrients needed for health, vitality
and prevention of diseases. It is not necessary to include animal protein like egg, fish or meat in
this basic diet, as animal protein, especially meat, always has a detrimental effect on the healing
process. A high animal protein is harmful to health and may cause many of our common
ailments.