Highly Nutritious Fruits & Vegetables
August 02, 2011
Question:
Which fruit or vegetable is the most nourishing?
From,
Joanne
Answer:
Hi Joanne. Thanks for your question! I am guessing that you are asking which fruits and vegetables are the most nutrient dense.
Your best bet, nutritionally speaking, is to consume a whole “rainbow” of fruits and vegetables, because all the antioxidants and phytonutrients in produce work synergistically in our bodies to provide us with the greatest health benefits.
That being said, there are certainly some fruits and vegetables that provide a lot more “bang for your buck” than, say, iceberg lettuce. Green leafy vegetables, such as kale, come to mind when looking at the veggie family. “Green leafys” not only provide phytonutrients such as beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, important for vision and healthy skin, but also are a good source of several vitamins and minerals including Vitamin K, and A, calcium and iron.
In the fruit family, berries are nutritional all-stars in terms of providing cancer-fighting protection and promoting cardiovascular health though phytonutrients such as ellagic acid (blackberries, raspberries and strawberries) and anthocyanin (blueberries, raspberries). In addition, berries are excellent sources of Vitamin C and fiber, plus they taste great!
In good health,
EA Stewart, MBA, RD
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