Pineapple

Pineapple is a tropical fruit,it is  an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese. It’s a very good source of vitamin B₁, vitamin B₆, copper, magnesium, and dietary fiber. Bromelain is is a proteolytic enzyme (enzymes that digest protein) found in pineapple, and to a greater extent in pineapple stems.

Find below the health benefits in detail:

1. Digestive Benefits

Bromelain is a complex mixture of substances that can be extracted from the stem and core fruit of the pineapple. Among dozens of components known to exist in this crude extract, the best studied components are a group of protein-digesting enzymes (called cysteine proteinases). Originally, researchers believed that these enzymes provided the key health benefits found in bromelain, a popular dietary supplement containing these pineapple extracts. Bromelain aids and promotes digestion due to its protein digesting capabilities, and may relieve symptoms of stomach upset or heartburn.

2. Antioxidant Protection and Immune Support

Vitamin C is the body's primary water-soluble antioxidant, defending all aqueous areas of the body against free radicals that attack and damage normal cells. Free radicals have been shown to promote the artery plaque build-up of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, cause the airway spasm that leads to asthma attacks, damage the cells of the colon so they become colon cancer cells, and contribute to the joint pain and disability seen in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, vitamin C is vital for the proper function of the immune system, making it a nutrient to turn to for the prevention of recurrent ear infections, colds, and flu. Mucha Habermann’s disease (Pityriasis lichenoides chronica) is a rare disease of the immune system of unknown origin, characterized by recurrent red, round and elevated lesions on the skin. In a 3-month study involving 8 patients with Pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC), they were treated with bromelain. It was concluded that bromelain is an effective therapeutic option for PLC after all patients showed complete recovery.

3. Energy Production and Antioxidant Defenses

Pineapple is an excellent source the trace mineral manganese, which is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses. For example, the key oxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase, which disarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria (the energy production factories within our cells), requires manganese. Just one cup of fresh pineapple supplies 128.0% of the DV for this very important trace mineral. In addition to manganese, pineapple is a good source of thiamin, a B vitamin that acts as a cofactor in enzymatic reactions central to energy production

4. Thrombosis

Studies have shown bromelain to display fibrinolytic and antithrombotic activity, and two clinical trials on heart patients have shown a practically complete elimination of thrombosis.

5. Sinusitis

In Germany, where bromelain is approved by the German Commission E for the treatment of sinusitis, a clinical trial demonstrated that children diagnosed with acute sinusitis recovered significantly faster when treated with pineapple bromelain compared to other treatments.

6. Anti Inflammatory

There is some clinical evidence that suggests the effectiveness of bromelain as an anti-inflammatory, and may reduce swelling, bruising, healing time, and pain following surgery and physical injuries. In a 3-month study involving subjects with mild acute knee pain, it was concluded that bromelain might be effective in ameliorating pain.

In a clinical trial involving patients with periarthritis of the shoulder, and also patients suffering from painful osteoarthritis of the knee, pain reduction with the treatment of proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain was comparable to those treated with NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

Adverse Reactions from Pineapples

Bromelain, which breaks down proteins, may cause irritant dermatitis. Pineapples may also cause allergic dermatitis. (Irritant dermatitis may occur in anyone who touches a pineapple; allergic dermatitis occurs only in an individual who is sensitive to a particular substance).

Orange

One orange contains all the daily requirements of Vitamin C. It is rich in fiber, folate, calcium and vitamin B6. So, we could say that oranges are packed with nutrients. The combination of the high amount of anti-oxidant (vitamin C) and flavonoids in oranges make it one of the best fruits in helping to promote optimal health. In oranges there is a powerful antioxidant called Beta-carotene which protects skin cells from getting damaged.

Health Benefits of Oranges are:

1. Lowering cholesterol

One of the most important flavonoids in oranges is hesperidin. Hesperidin and the pectin in oranges have been shown to lower ldl cholesterol. Lab tests indicate that human liver cells produce less apo B when exposed to limonin. Apo B is a structural protein that is part of the LDL cholesterol molecule and is needed for LDL production, transport and binding, so higher levels of apo B translate to higher levels of LDL cholesterol. . The concentration of hesperidin is considerably higher in the inner peel, rather than in orange flesh. Pectin appears to slow the body’s absorption of fats and lower cholesterol levels. Antioxidants also contribute to the reduction of cholesterol.

2. Prevent cancer

An orange a day helps to keep ulcers away. Eating an orange or drinking a glass of orange juice each day may help prevent gastric ulcers.  The high vitamin C content acts as an anti-oxidant that protects cells from damages by free radicals. A compound found in oranges and other citrus fruits, called D-limonene has been found to be effective in the prevention of some cancers such as, skin cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, mouth cancer and colon cancer. Citrus appears to offer the most significant protection against esophageal, oro-phayngeal/laryngeal (mouth, larynx and pharynx), and stomach cancers.

3. Cardiovascular benefits

The high content of Vitamin C, flavonoids and phytonutrients in citrus fruits reduce the risk of heart disease. Oranges contains dietary fiber, folate, and herperidin, which directly promote the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. Eating an orange a day helps to keep your cardiovascular system healthy. citrus fruits also offers protection against cardiovascular disease due to citrus fruitsâ€"folate, which is necessary for lowering levels of the cardiovascular risk factor, homocysteine; their potassium, which helps lower blood pressure, protecting against stroke and cardiac arrhythmias; and the vitamin C, carotenoids and flavonoids found in citrus fruits, all of which have been identified as having protective cardiovascular effects.

4. Prevent Kidney Stones

Want to reduce your risk of calcium oxalate kidney stones? Drink orange juice. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that when women drank 1/2 to 1 litre of orange, grapefruit or apple juice daily, their urinary pH value and citric acid excretion increased, significantly dropping their risk of forming calcium oxalate stones. Regular consumption of orange juice can significantly reduce the risk of developing kidney stones. In a preliminary study involving nine healthy and four participants with kidney stones, it is suggested that orange juice consumption may be more effective than other citrus juice in the prevention of kidney stones. Further studies are needed to evaluate these results.

5. Protect Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

Daily a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice can significantly lower your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Participants with the highest daily intake of the carotenoids, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin, had a much lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared to individuals consuming the least of these beneficial phytonutrients. Those whose intake of zeaxanthin was highest were 52% less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, while those with the highest intake of cryptoxanthin had a 49% reduction in risk. Pretty dramatic benefits for doing something as simple as enjoying a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice each day!

6. Brain Development & Skin Health

One orange provides about 10% of the necessary daily folate intake. Folic acid is helpful in skin health and brain development. Antioxidants in oranges protect the skin from cell damage and free radicals, having anti-aging actions.

7. Improve immune system

The strong content of vitamin C in orange stimulates the production of white cells in our body, thus improving the immune system. Free radical damage to other cellular structures and other molecules can result in painful inflammation, as the body tries to clear out the damaged parts. Vitamin C, which prevents the free radical damage that triggers the inflammatory cascade, is thus also associated with reduced severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin C, which is also vital for the proper function of a healthy immune system, is good for preventing colds and may be helpful in preventing recurrent ear infections.

8. Promotes weight loss

Oranges are extremely low in calories. A medium orange contains just 65 calories, making it a good addition to a healthy diet for weight loss. They also have a high fiber content, which can make you feel full longer, so you eat less.

9. Protect Birth Defect

Orange contains folate, an essential nutrient for healthy sperm and protects sperm from genetic damage that may cause a birth defect.

10. Maintain bone and teeth health

Oranges are also rich in calcium, which helps protect and maintain bone as well teeth health.

11. Viral infections

Mostly due to the abundance of the flavonoid polyphenols, oranges protects against viral infections. So, try to eat as much oranges in the flu season

12. Relieve constipation

The fiber in oranges may be helpful for reducing the uncomfortable constipation or diarrhea in those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

13. Lower High Blood Pressure

Studies have shown that a flavonoid called hesperidin and magnesium in oranges can lower high blood pressure.

Carrot

Carrots are perhaps best known for their rich supply of the antioxidant nutrient that was actually named for them: beta-carotene. However, these delicious root vegetables are the source not only of beta-carotene, but also of a wide variety of antioxidants and other health-supporting nutrients. The areas of antioxidant benefits, cardiovascular benefits, and anti-cancer benefits are the best-researched areas of health research with respect to dietary intake of carrots. Much of the research on carrots has traditionally focused on carotenoids and their important antioxidant benefits. In carrots, the most important polyacetylenes include falcarinol and falcarindiol. All varieties of carrots contain valuable amounts of antioxidant nutrients. Carrots are also good sources of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin K, biotin, fiber, potassium and thiamine.

1. Improve Vision

Most studies about carotenoids and eye health have focused on carotenoid levels in the bloodstream and the activities of the carotenoids themselves, rather than the food origins of carotenoids (like carrots). Intake of geranyl acetate - one of the photonutrients that is present in carrot seeds (and sometimes extracted from purified carrot seed oil) has also been repeatedly associated with reduced risk of cataracts in animal studies. The retina of the eye needs vitamin A to function, lack of vitamin A causes night blindness. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a substance which converted into vitamin A in the liver. In the retina, vitamin A is transformed into rhodopsin, a purple pigment that necessary for night vision. In addition, beta-carotene help protect against macular degeneration and the development of senile cataracts. 

2. Prevent Cancer.

The anti-cancer benefits of carrot have been best researched in the area of colon cancer. The ability of carrot extracts to inhibit the grown of colon cancer cells, and the polyacetylenes found in carrot (especially falcarinol) have been specifically linked to this inhibitory effect. Carrots are simply too rich in digestive tract-supporting fiber, antioxidant nutrients, and unique phytonutrients like falcarinol to be neutral when it comes to support of the lower digestive tract and colon cancer protection. Falcarinol is a natural pesticide found in carrots that protects roots from fungal diseases. In daily diet, carrots are almost the only source of these compounds. Many studies have shown that eating carrots may help lower the risk of breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer.

3. Prevent heart disease

Antioxidant nutrients in carrots are believed to explain many of the cardioprotective benefits provided by these root vegetables. The many different kinds of carrot antioxidants are most likely to work together and provide us with cardiovascular benefits that we could not obtain from any of these antioxidants alone if they were split apart and consumed individually, in isolation from each other. The synergistic effect of carrot antioxidants is a great example of a whole food and its uniqueness as a source of nourishment. The diverse mixture of carrot antioxidants, there is yet another category of carrot phytonutrient that is believed to help explain carrot protection against cardiovascular disease .So in addition to the unique mix of antioxidants in carrot; polyacetylenes may play a key role in the cardiovascular protection provided by this amazing food. Studies show that a diet high in carotenoids is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Also, it is believed that regular consumption of carrots reduces cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber in carrots can help lower blood cholesterol levels by binding with and removing bile acids, cholesterol triggers would be pulled out from the bloodstream to make more bile acids.

4. Reduce the risk of stroke
According to research from Harvard University; people who ate more than six carrots a week are much less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or more. A carrot a day reduces stroke risk by 68 percent. Many studies have strengthened the “carrot effect” on brain. Studies conducted on stroke patients revealed that those with highest levels of Beta carotene have the best survival rate.

5. Diabetes:

Carrot is good for blood sugar regulation because of the presence of carotenoids in carrot. Carotenoids inversely affect insulin resistance and thus lower blood sugar.

6. Dental Health
Carrots can even help clean your teeth, and is the best way to keep your mouth clean after meals. They act as natural abrasives, help in eliminate the sticky dirt from the teeth and stimulate gums. They also trigger a lot of saliva, which helps to scrub away stains on your teeth. Minerals in carrots help to kill germs in the mouth and prevent tooth damage.

7. Nourish Skin
Carrot has a strong cleansing properties that are effective in detoxifying the liver, so that the overall effective for acne that is caused by toxins from the blood. Carrot is also useful for treating uneven skin tones because of pigmentation. The vitamin A and other nutrients contain in carrot efficiently nourish the skin; prevent dry skin and other skin blemishes.

8. Anti-aging
Carrots contain a lot of beta-carotene, which serves as an antioxidant that helps the body to fight the cell damage done to the body with dirt in the bloodstream and even oxygen. It also help slows down the aging of cells and various negative effect associated with aging.

Apple

The proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away” helps us to understand how important the apple is in our daily life. Compared to many other fruits and vegetables, apples contain relatively low amounts of vitamin C, but are a rich source of other antioxidant compounds. They may also help with heart disease, weight loss, and controlling cholesterol. Apple is a rich source of flavonoid and polyphenols both are powerful antioxidant.

We can just look out the detailed health benefits of Apple one by one.

1. Regulates Blood Sugar:

Apples are a good source of soluble fiber, especially pectin, which helps control insulin levels by slowing the release of sugar into your bloodstream. Pectin also helps reduce cholesterol levels by lowering insulin secretion. Getting sugar out of our bloodstream often requires the help of insulin, a hormone produced by the beta cells of our pancreas. By telling the beta cells of our pancreas to produce more insulin, the poly phenols found in apple can help us clear more sugar from our blood and keep our blood sugar level in better balance.

2. Lower the Blood Cholesterol level:

The fiber contained in apples reduces cholesterol by preventing re-absorption, and (like most fruits and vegetables) they are bulky for their caloric content. The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol are both decreased through regular intake of apples. The strong antioxidant composition of apples provides us with protection from possible oxidation of fats (called lipid per oxidation), including fats found in the bloodstream (like triglycerides) or fats found in the membranes of cells linking our blood vessels. Decreased lipid per oxidation is a key factor in lowering risk of many chronic heart problems. Recent research has shown that the quercetin content of apples also provides our cardiovascular system with anti-inflammatory benefits.

3. Asthma:

One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples. Multiple studies have shown apple intake to be associated with decreased risk of asthma. However, in some cases, the study findings have been even stronger. In one study, apples showed better risk reduction for asthma than total fruit-plus-vegetable intake combined! Like the anti-cancer benefits of apples, apples' anti-asthma benefits are definitely associated with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients found in this fruit. However, there is very likely to be something else going on as well since apples appear to be a truly standout fruit in this regard.

4. Anti-cancer Benefits:

Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer. The fiber content, while less than in most other fruits, helps regulate bowel movements and may thus reduce the risk of colon cancer.

5. Alzheimer's disease:

Preliminary health benefits of apples have also been established for several age-related health problems, including macular degeneration of the eye and neurodegenerative problems, including Alzheimer's disease. A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.