How Much Fruit Should One Have In A Day?

Fruits - the rich, colourful and hearty food group that can do wonders for you and your body. It is one of the most beneficial food groups which you must add to your plate. Fruits are low in calories and also provide those essential nutrients, antioxidants, and phytonutrients to our body which keep us in good shape. The WHO (World Health Organisation) recommends having 4-5 servings of fruits every day to maintain optimal health. Consuming fruits on a daily basis not only helps you in keeping diseases and illnesses at bay, it also provides you with radiant skin and hair. Since they are naturally rich in nutrients such as dietary fibre, potassium, and magnesium, they go a long way in helping you achieve maximum wellness.

Incorporating rich seasonal fruits in your diet is the most delicious and easiest way to stay fit. An average Indian male/ female is found to be deficient in many of the nutrients that fruits can provide. This situation is further exacerbated by urban lifestyles and modern diets that are focussed on processed foods and unhealthy snacking.

Here are some surprising facts that will make you want to fill up your plate with several colourful and delicious fruits right away!

Advantages of adding fruits to your diet:

1.Curb those hunger pangs

Yes! You heard that right, once you start to incorporate fruits into your diet, you will feel full and satisfied for a longer period of time. This will help you avoid excessive calorie consumption from unhealthy foods. You can maintain your weight much better by having those necessary 4-5 servings of fruits every day!
 

2. Fill in on the fibre

Fruits are very rich in fibre and have immense nutritional value in them. Fibre helps to regulate your body's digestive processes and is responsible for keeping stomach disorders like constipation and gastritis as well as bloating at bay.

Also read: Citrus Fruits: Know The Health Benefits

3. Avoid diseases

Having a diet rich in fruits along with other major food groups will regulate your blood sugar levels, thereby preventing lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and blood pressure.
 

4. Get gorgeous skin

Fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, oranges, and plums are known to pump up your system with antioxidants. These antioxidants result in lustrous skin and keep those dark spots, blemishes, cellular damage and inflammation away. So start your day with a fruit for younger, glowing skin.
 

For shiny, glossy hair, fill your plate with yellow-orange colored fruits such as papaya, oranges, apricots, and peaches, rich in Vitamin A. They directly influence the hair growth by nourishing the scalp with optimum nutrition and preventing them from drying out. This will help in giving you the lustrous hair you had always desired.

Also read: These 7 Fruits Can Change Your Life

(Nmami Agarwal is a celebrity nutritionist)

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