The onset of the winter season not only brings the season of Christmas and holidays but also nutritious and tasty fruits. Eating seasonal produce helps you ward off seasonal illnesses, enhances immunity, and provides the nutrients that are needed to improve your overall health.
Naturally, you will be spoiled for choices when it comes to eating winter fruits, because fruits tend to act as ideal substitutes for desserts and sweets due to their natural sweetening properties. Thus, to make the selection process easier for you, we have rounded up five of the best healthy winter fruits that you should consume, along with their respective benefits.
Top Five Winter Fruits and Their Respective Benefits
1.Pomegranate
Referred to as the red-colored sweet and sour fruit; pomegranates are filled with small seeds that contain a high amount of antioxidants. Additionally, pomegranates also contain flavonoids which are directly linked with cancer prevention, heart health, and detoxification of human cells. Not to mention, you also get a healthy dose of Vitamin K, C, potassium, and folate.
How to eat?
Since pomegranates have a hard exterior shell, you have to crack it open to reveal the juicy seeds on the inside. You can either consume the seeds as they are or simply sprinkle them on top of your yogurt, oatmeal, or guacamole for some burst of sweetness.
2.Persimmon
One of the best fruits to have in the winter season is persimmon, mainly because it’s an abundant source of vitamin A. Containing around 138 micrograms of vitamin A in a single serving, this Asian fruit can help make your immune system better and thereby protect the body from any infectious disease. Additionally, vitamin A also improves your eyesight and thereby prevents night blindness. Apart from vitamin A, you can also obtain vitamin C, manganese, and 6 grams of fiber.
How to eat?
It is recommended that you eat them either fresh or frozen. Always look for Fuyu persimmons because they taste like a combination of dates, plums, and honey when eating ripe (avoid the astringent variety).
3.Pear
A single pear contains around 5.58 grams of fiber, making it a fantastic source of nutrients. It should be known that fiber is essential for the human immune system since it encourages good bacteria to flourish within the human body. Thus, the more fiber you intake, the more growth of immune cells will take place. Additionally, pears also help in supporting healthy body weight since fiber promotes satiety, which thereby prevents overeating.
How to eat?
Pears can be eaten either raw or in combination with nut butter. You can also cook pears by baking them and then drizzling them with dark chocolate, and then sprinkle some cinnamon powder.
4.Grapefruit
Grapefruit can be a brilliant source of vitamin C. A single raw grapefruit weighing 100 grams contains around 31.2 milligrams of vitamin C content. Grapefruits also contain a special compound known as lycopene, which has antioxidant properties and plays a massive role in reducing the risk of certain types of cancer (mostly prostrate cancer).
How to eat?
Grapefruit can either be consumed raw by sprinkling brown sugar or by adding segments of it to water and tea.
5.Cranberries
Cranberries are the ideal holiday dinner staple and they are nutritious as well. By consuming cranberries, you will be able to lower your cholesterol levels and thereby reduce the risk of developing coronary artery diseases. Also, they are a good source of vitamin C, providing 14 micrograms in a single cup.
How to eat?
The ideal way to consume cranberries is to create a cranberry sauce by boiling the berries in fresh orange juice with spices and maple syrup. You can pair the sauce with oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, ice cream, or wild rice.
Conclusion
There are multiple ways you can add the above-mentioned healthy fruits for the winter season to your everyday diet – from simple smoothies to fruit salads to desserts – all according to your taste bud’s preferences.
However, do remember to consider your daily healthy diet so that you’re able to provide your immune system with the nutrients it requires during winter. Additionally, indulging in physical activities such as jogging, walking, or running, can help in better absorption of the nutrients provided by these luscious winter fruits.
