First, we need to know what kinds of fruits there are. From the perspective of traditional medicine, there are three types of fruit, namely ‘cold, insipid, warm’. Representatives of cold fruits are watermelon, pear, banana, mango, orange, citrus, etc. And the representatives of warm fruit is pine nut, chestnut, pomegranate, peach, grape, durian and so on. Insipid fruit mainly refers to hawthorn, pineapple, papaya, apple, coconut and so on. Therefore, different kinds of fruit are chosen for different seasons or different physical conditions of individuals. For example, people of damp heat constitution have a high metabolism in summer, often parched, easily fidget, easily constipation, so they choose cold fruit, which not only tastes sweet but also has the function of stopping the diarrhea and promoting bowel movements.
After knowing the types of fruit we also need to know how many kinds of compounds are there in fruit. The most abundant content in fruit is water, generally between 70% and 90%. The second is sugar in fruit, mainly glucose, sucrose and fructose. Ripe fruit contains more sugar, so it tastes sweeter. Actually all fruits have sugar, especially bananas, grapes, apples and so on. Fruit also contains organic acids, mainly malic acid, citric acid and tartaric acid. Generally fruit contains acid between 0.1% and 0.5%, so it tastes delicious with slight sweetness and sour. Meanwhile some organic acids in fruits can also stimulate the secretion of digestive juice, thus promoting digestion. Fruit also has good laxative for it contains a lot of fiber which can speed up how fast stool moves through the colon. Fruit often contains various aromatic substance and pigments, some still contain essential oils, making itself have a kind of special aroma which can stimulate people’s appetite. Fruit also contains a variety of vitamins, which is the main reason why fruit is good for human health. These vitamins include vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin E and so on. They play an important role in human health. Take vitamin C for example, Vitamin C can promote the biosynthesis of collagen, improve the metabolism of fat, promote the growth of teeth and bones, and enhance the anti-stress ability and immunity of the body to the external environment. The mineral content in fruit is also relatively rich, mainly including calcium, phosphorus, iron and other minerals, which are necessary for normal physiological activities. They can neutralize acid in food and maintain human body’s acid – base balance.
Since fruit has so many nutrients, is it better to eat a lot? The answer is no. According to the latest scientific research, eating fruits and vegetables every day can prevent cancer. but eating too much can have a negative effect. Because fruit contains more organic acids and tannins, and some contain highly active proteases. Eating more may cause damage to the stomach, causing stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, and indigestion. Everyone knows that pears are nutritious and delicious. It has the function of stopping the diarrhea and promoting bowel movements. It can also help your skin whiten. But it is rich in sugar and Sylvie, eating too much can do harm to your heart and kidneys. Diabetics who eat too much can also cause their blood sugar to rise.
Therefore, we should decide what fruit to eat, how much fruit to eat and when to eat according to our own condition. If you have coronary heart disease, heart attacks, nephritis or diabetes, eat less apples, pears and other fruits with high sugar content. If you have digestive system diseases, better eat more warm fruit but less cold fruit like oranges. Besides, fruit is best eaten before meals. Because the absorption rate of nutrients in fruit before a meal is much higher than the one after a meal. And eating fruit before meals can also help improve the appetite. But there are still some fruits not fit for eating on an empty stomach. This requires our attention before we eat them.
In summary, eating more fruit is good for us. As long as we eat the right fruit in a right way and in a right time, fruit can bring more delicacy and happiness to our life.
Reference List
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Jiang Xiaoping, Zhu Yinghong, Wang Yuhuan, (2007). Fruit and Life. [online] Available at: http://www.cqvip.com/read/read.aspx?id=25187668# [Accessed 5 June 2018]
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jingyan.baidu.com, (10 Sept. 2017). Classification and Characteristics of Fruit. [online] Available at: https://jingyan.baidu.com/article/37bce2be62aabc1002f3a2c4.html [Accessed 5 June 2018]
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Baidu Baike.com, (2013). Vitamin C. [online] Available at: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E7%BB%B4%E7%94%9F%E7%B4%A0c [Accessed 5 June 2018]
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Baidu Knows.com, (2017). What effect does vitamin C have? [online] Available at: https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/366683071.html [Accessed 5 June 2018]
