Health Foods

General Information About Fruits

There are some basic characteristics of fruits that make them appealing to most
people.  All fruits are healthy when eaten in moderation.  They are great sources of
dietary fiber, and most fruits are low in calories and fat.  Those that have a high fat
content, such as avocados, are actually good sources of healthy fats.  Fruits are great
snacks and they can also be used as an ingredient to sweeten foods.  They contain a
combination of sugars: fructose, glucose, and sucrose.  Fructose is the principal sugar
of many fruits and is considered to be the sweetest.  Sucrose is the main sugar in
several other fruits such as oranges, melons, and peaches.  Water makes up 80% to
95% of fruits.  The water content in fruits keeps their calorie content low and also
provides fruit juice.  Almost all fruits can be eaten raw, juiced for a beverage, used in
frozen desserts, preserved, or dried.  Fresh whole fruit is considered to be the most
nutritious.  

Produce that's grown locally on small scale farms and orchards is usually organic and
offers more nutrition and flavor than that which has been mass produced and shipped
nationwide.  Organic produce is available at farm stands, farmer's markets, some
supermarkets, and at local farms and orchards.   

Types of Fruits

Familiar fruits are organized into 5 categories of shared characteristics: pomes, drupes,
berries, citrus, and melons.  Although they all offer several nutrients, the fruits in each
category have at least one nutrient in common.  

Pomes - This fruit group includes apples and pears.  Pomes have a firm, moist flesh
surrounding a central seedy core.  Although they aren't an excellent source of vitamins,
they are some of the best sources of fiber.   

Drupes - This fruit group includes apricots,
peaches, nectarines, plums, and cherries.  Drupes have a single stone or pit and are
sweet, juicy, and comparatively fragile.  Drupes supply both beta carotene and vitamin
C, along with some potassium and fiber.   

Berries - The Berries fruit group includes
dates, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes,
and several other fruits.   Berries all have seeds embedded within succulent layers of
flesh.  Many berries, such as eggplants and tomatoes, are used as vegetables.  They're
all good sources of antioxidants and fiber.  

Citrus - This fruit group includes oranges,
tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, and limes.   Citrus fruits are all multi-sectioned,
warm-weather fruits that are especially valued for their high vitamin C content and
flavonoids.  Grapefruits and oranges also contain a good amount of fiber.