There are many health benefits to eating a diet that includes healthy, fresh fruit. Research shows that eating fruit helps balance blood sugar levels and provides essential antioxidants to prevent disease.
Apples are an excellent dietary choice during winter, and are power packed with nutrients and vitamins essential to good health. By choosing fruit deliveries to your house or workplace you can ensure you're getting a high quality product that's in season.
Eating fruit is preferable to snacks such as chocolate or coffee that give you a temporary energy burst, followed by fatigue due to the drop in blood sugar. Fruit provides a stable source of energy throughout the day and balances out blood sugar levels.
The Glycemic Index (GI) provides a useful measurement by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood sugar levels. Low GI carbohydrates that produce minor changes in blood sugar and insulin levels are essential to long term health, lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Carbohydrates with a GI rating of 55 or less are considered a low GI food.
Research from The Australian Custard Apple Growers association website confirms that public familiarity with Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL) ratings help increase awareness of the foods that help with satiety and weight management. Custard apples are just one example of a low GI choice with a score of 54. Apples also provide long lasting energy with a low Glycemic index (GI) of 38.
A number of initiatives are currently underway in Australia to combat obesity including the government programme "Swap it don't stop it" to encourage increased physical activity and healthier dietary choices. Examples include "Swap fruit straps for fresh fruit" and "Swap a glass of fruit juice for a piece of fruit and water". During May and June, Nutrition Australia Qld (NAQ) are presenting two sets of seven workshops with concepts from the' "Measure Up" and "Swap it; Don't Stop it" campaigns being shared to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people in Brisbane's Southside.
Pomegranates are another fruit with many health benefits. A blog on pomegranate research from Buyfruit.com.au shows that pomegranates are three to seven times higher than green tea helping to fight free radicals that can lead to disease or premature ageing. Research shows that consumption of pomegranate can also help in the fight against heart disease.
Maintaining a high quality diet is vital during the winter months for boosting our immunity to fight off cold and flu bugs and for general health and wellbeing. A diet that includes fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables will also help boost our mental and emotional wellbeing.
There are many ways in which we can include apples and seasonal fruit into our diet during winter that are tasty and packed full of nutrients. Ideas include:
- Fruit smoothies
- Fruit crumbles
- Stewed fruit with cereal
- Winter Fruit Salad
- Fruit kebabs
- Fruit juices
- Apples with custard
- Apples and yoghurt dip as a snack
- Apple, ginger and lemon tea
- Pomegranate & pear juice
- Pomegranate & yogurt with nuts (breakfast option)
- Pomegranate ginger muffins
Regular fruit deliveries to your door can ensure you're not missing out on the health benefits that fruit has to offer.
Go to http://www.buyfruit.com.au/ for further info about fresh, quality, in-season fruit.