16 Amazing Health Benefits of Tropical Fruits

Most people eat tropical fruits because they taste great and add a unique flavor boost to our diet. But, there are many health benefits of adding more tropical fruits to your diet.

While there are many available tropical fruits, here are some of the many health advantages of eating more of the readily-available ones like avocados, bananas, kiwis, mangoes, papayas and pineapple.

AVOCADOS

Antioxidant Protection Against Aging and Disease

A good source of the nutrient glutathione, which is a natural compound that is found in all of your cells, avocados offer protection against aging and disease. Glutathione is a potent antioxidant that helps destroy harmful free radicals before they can do damage to your cells, tissues and organs.

Autism Support

Research published in Medical Science Monitor found that glutathione, like that found in avocados, effectively treated the effects of autism-related conditions.

Help for Brain Disease

Research published n the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine, glutathione, was also found to help protect the brain cells involved in Parkinson’s disease. Because avocados are a good source of glutathione, regular consumption may help in the treatment of brain diseases like Parkinson’s. 

Eye Health

Because avocados are also a good source of nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin, avocados may help protect your eyes against age-related conditions like glaucoma or macular degeneration.

BANANAS

Post-Workout Recovery

Bananas are an excellent source of the mineral potassium, meaning that they aid electrolyte balance after working out.

Energy Boost

Bananas are high in the B-Complex vitamins, boost the energy centers of our cells, known as mitochondria, to fuel every cellular function in the body.

KIWIS

Support Healthy Memory

Kiwi fruit contains an uncommon nutrient known as fisetin, which is a plant compound primarily found in strawberries, but is also found in kiwi. This compound shows promise in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research published in the Journals of Gerontology.

MANGOES

Cancer-Protection

Because mangoes contain plentiful amounts of carotenoids, including beta carotene which is a well-established anti-cancer nutrient, they may offer protection against cancer.

Reduces Intestinal Inflammation in Colitis

Mangoes contain substances known as gallic acid and gallotanins that alleviate intestinal inflammation and, according to research published in Molecular Carcinogenesis, may help those suffering with ulcerative colitis.

Regulate High Blood Pressure

According to research published in EurekAlert!, the science newsletter of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, people who eat mangoes experience a reduction in high blood pressure in as little as 2 hours thanks to the fruit’s naturally-occurring heart- and blood-vessel-healing compounds known as mangiferin, quercetin, gallotannins and gallic acid.

Protect the Eyes against Age-Related Diseases

Rich in the nutrient known as zeaxanthin which helps prevent against degeneration of the eyes, fresh, frozen or dried mangos are an excellent choice to protect your eyes from glaucoma.

PAPAYA

Supports Healthy Breathing

Because papayas are rich in vitamin C (just one ripe papaya contains a whopping 224 percent of your daily recommended intake), which is a potent natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory nutrient that can become depleted during asthma and asthma attacks, eating vitamin C-rich papayas on a regular basis may help those suffering from the breathing disorder.

Helps with Injury Healing

Thanks to papaya’s papain content, papayas can help reduce inflammation and speed injury healing. Papain is a type of enzyme, which is a specialized type of protein that has been extensively researched for its potent anti-inflammatory effects. Healing injuries never tasted so good.

Improve Digestion

Also, thanks to its papain content, papaya can aid digestion. The enzyme helps to digest protein foods, thereby giving the gastrointestinal tract a boost. Be sure to eat the papaya raw to reap the effects of papain since it is destroyed when cooked, even on fairly low temperatures.

PINEAPPLE

Lymphatic System Cleanser

According to tradition, pineapple can help cleanse toxic metabolic debris from the lymphatic system. The lymph system is a network of fluid-filled nodes, glands and tubes that bathe our cells and carry the body’s metabolic “sewage” away from the tissues and then neutralize it. It also includes the spleen, thymus and tonsils to remove harmful toxins before they contribute to pain or illness.

Boosts Cellular Energy

Pineapple is an excellent source of the mineral manganese which is needed for the cell’s energy centers, known as mitochondria, to eliminate harmful free radicals. Combined with its vitamin B1 content—thiamine—which is integral to cellular energy, makes pineapple a superb cellular energy booster.