All Types of Fruit for Good Health

Here is some further information on types of fruit and how different types of fruit contribute to healthy nutrition.

What's here?

First, here's a look at the different main groups of fruit. Fruits can be divided into acid fruits, semi-acid fruits and alkaline fruits. This is a distinction often drawn by those who are interested in food combining and deriving the best nutrition from their food.

All types of fruit which are edible will have some nutritional benefit.

There are, of course, lots of technical ways of classifying fruits to do with the botanical properties of each species. This is of limited interest from the perspective of nutrition.

The only thing worth noting here is that several of what we generally regard as vegetables are in fact fruits - tomatoes and cucumber being perhaps the commonest examples. How do we know they are fruits? Simply because they are the ripened ovaries of flowering plants - the most basic definition of what a fruit is.

For more info on all types of fruit please also see The Nutritional Value of Fruit and Fabulous Fresh Fruit Salad Recipes.

All types of fruit:

While all types of fruit which are edible may have some nutritional benefit, it is as well to be aware that the acids found in fruits can be to some extent harmful. Anyone who has tried to eat a lot of pineapple at one sitting will know the acidic effects that such fruit can have on the inside of the mouth.

The toothpaste companies are keen to remind us of "acid erosion" which can arise when tooth enamel is brought in contact with fruit and other acids. It is not just a marketing ploy. Real damage can occur from too much citric, or malic acid acting on the tooth's surface. Drinks such as apple juice and orange juice lower the pH of the mouth enough to cause actual damage in some individuals.

All types of fruit will contain some fruit sugars. This may be a factor for some people who are trying to control their calorie intake. Fruit sugars provide a natural and healthy form of energy. Fruit sugars can give you a quick lift and are far better for you than most consumer snack foods.

Ripe fruit

Some experts argue that fruit should always be perfectly ripe before we eat it. There is some sense in this as ripe fruit is usually far more tasty and appealing. It is clearly more digestible. Our garden birds display a distinct preference for fully ripe fruit, too.

Conversely, eating seriously under-ripe fruit can lead to stomach upsets.

However, some of the more acid fruits, such as cranberries appear to have a regulating effect upon our metabolisms. Since growing a lot of fruit in our cool English climate, I have started to develop a taste for the natural tang of relatively sharp summer fruits, eaten without added sugar. It's also worth noting the fantastic benefits of cider vinegar for health. Cider vinegar is made using relatively acidic apples.

The purpose of the classifications of fruit into acid and alkaline is simply to aid digestion. Different enzymes are used by our digestive systems to break down different foods. This is a big and complex subject. Perhaps the main point is that some of our best loved fruits do not combine too well with each other when eaten at the same time.

Here's a look at the classification of fruit from the perspective of nutrition and digestibility.

All types of fruit:

Acid fruits

Among the acid fruits, oranges are a fantastic source of vitamin C - generally better than lemons or limes. They are also a good source of calcium and the calcium they provide is often better absorbed than that from milk and other dairy foods.

Uglis were developed as a type of "tangelo" - itself a cross between grapefruit and tangerine and orange. Uglis were developed in Jamaica and are sometimes recommended above grapefruit because they do not contain furanocoumarins which can react with some medicines. They also contain a high percentage of vitamin C.

Citrus fruits are often recommended for "detoxifying" the system. They can certainly help put a spring in your step. It is best to avoid eating them with wheat or other grains as this can be a digestive challenge for most people.

Other acid fruits include pineapples and the sourer apples and plums. Sour fruits may give you stomach aches, especially if you eat them with other foods or in excess.

Acid fruits do not combine well with sweet fruits. If you notice problems digesting acid fruits try them on their own, at least half an hour before eating anything else.

All types of fruit:

Sub-acid fruits

Some of these fruits also provide some of our best dessert experiences but again beware of eating too much fruit on an already full stomach. Sub-acid fruits are also called low acid fruits.

Sub-acid fruits include apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, mangoes and strawberries.

Sub acid fruits usually combine well with acid fruits or with sweet fruits - but not both at the same time. This is because of the different enzymes produced by the body during digestion.

All types of fruit:

Sweet fruits

Sweet fruits combine well with sub-acid fruits but do not combine well with acid fruits. If you notice sluggishness or any discomfort after eating combinations of fruits, always try them on an empty stomach and/or keep to the food combining rules!

Melons are often classified separately from other fruits because they are best digested alone. Nevertheless, if you are only practising food combining as an aid to digestion, it has to be said that melons can be a fantastic addition in many fruit salads!

All types of fruit:

One other classification of fruit which is well worth a mention: berries.

Berries, it turns out are not really an exact classification - the botany gets complicated. Some such as raspberries are really clusters of fruit. Others such as cranberries are called false berries because they do not form from a flower.

But we all know the common meaning - small fruits without pits or stones. Here, small is beautiful!

Berries are really super foods. They are so full of vitamins and antioxidants they really deserve to be included in everyone's diets. Often the wild species out-do the cultivars - they are richer in antioxidants, vitamins and phytochemicals. (Phytochemicals are plant chemicals with therapeutic uses.)

Some berries have a crucial role in fighting disease. For example, research shows that blueberries are potent anti-cancer agents. Cranberries are now well known for their ability to reduce inflammation and help urinary tract infections.

Anthocyanins are found in many reddish coloured fruits and berries in particular. They have been shown to benefit people suffering from cancer, diabetes, ageing and bacterial infections and inflammation. Some neurological conditions can also be helped. Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid (or bioflavonoid). The distinctive red colour is common to many fruits and berries.

It is now thought that the cleansing and immune system properties helped by bioflavonoids may be caused by the body's purging of them rather than the bioflavonoids themselves. (See the Linus Pauling Institute for more on this.)

Whatever the details of the truth, it is clear that berries are rich superfoods which we ignore at out peril! They are also good for the environment of course, as birds and many mammals thrive on them too. Organic production methods are generally best, both from the perspective of human health and the wider environment.

All types of fruit:

Nevertheless we can draw some conclusions about some of the best fruits for particular dietary needs. As always on Greenfootsteps, I have to put in a good word for organic foods. Fruits grown without pesticides or fertilisers based on petrochemicals are generally better for us and the planet.

This site is all about green living and taking good care of your own health is a part of that. Organic food is generally healthier food and is far more sustainable than common food. We need to make organic food the norm, rather than something that we need to seek out.

Organic foods tend to be more expensive. Please see organic foods for more about them and ways to find organic foods which are not so costly.

All types of fruit:

Nearby fruit

Now, I am not for a moment advocating that we regularly eat fruits from half way around the globe - the carbon consequences are just too severe. But fortunately there are many fruits which are grown in numerous locations so that relatively local supplies can be found. This is not always the case for people in more northern latitudes. Tropical fruits may be in limited supply if you live more than 40 degrees north!

On the following pages are some of the very best fruit choices to suit most readers - that is to say, I have included fruit from around the world so that no matter where you are, you can choose high nutritional value fruits from fairly close to home. Please see The Nutritional Value of Fruit for nutritional value of some very common fruits and Fabulous Fresh Fruit Salad Recipes

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