Fruit is a nutritious and flavorful food. Many wonderful varieties of fruit are delicious as is and can be a creative addition to cooking. Two to four servings are recommended per day to create a balanced and healthful diet. The fruit group offers sweet flavor and health benefits.
Some varieties are good sources of fiber, potassium, and folate.
Nutrients such as quercetin in apples, berries, and cherries, and monoterpenes in citrus fruits are particularly heart-healthy. Oxidation of LDL plays a role in the development of heart disease. Enjoy fruits for fiber value by eating the whole fruit including edible fruit skins and seeds. Drink fresh fruit juice as a beverage of choice instead of non-nutritive fluids. Plan to eat fruit with each meal to reach the recommended three servings a day.