Fruits: Why they are good and how bananas fare over the rest?

 Fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. They are nutritious and healthy but are also relatively costly. People wonder which fruit is best for the body and which they should consume daily!

Fruits and availability

There are some common fruits that are available everywhere in the world such as apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, papayas but the varieties may vary. Some varieties are sweet and delicious while others may be less so. There are also specific seasonal fruits that come in the market only during the seasons. These are strawberries, pineapples, mangoes, and lychees. And some fruits are exotic meaning thereby that they are not produced locally but are imported from outside the country. These are expensive and include kiwi fruit, dragon fruit, rambutan, durian, mangosteen and the like. 

Kiwi fruit and its advantages 

Calories and fruits

Fruits (Source: Calories info) 

Each fruit has different caloric value per 100 gms and they have their own specific benefits and weak points. Apple has 52 calories per 100 gms, avacado  has a higher fat content and hence 160 cals per 100 g, banana provides 89 cals per 100 g, grapes 67 cals, kiwi 61, lychee 66, orange 47, passion fruit 97, pineapple 50, strawberries 33, and watermelon only 30. Dragon fruit has 263 cals per 100 g and rambutan has 75 cals. Custard apple gives 94 and durian 50 and ripe mango 60 while sapota gives 100 cals and papaya 43 cals. 

Specific advantages of fruits 

All fruits are sources of fructose and instant energy. They hydrate and also provide the body with essential nutrients,  vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. The pulpy fruits are caloric-dense and fruits such as watermelon are nice for hydration. Avocados have 15 g fat per 100 g of the fruit. These are mostly monosaturared fats but still they should be taken only in moderation. 

Bananas (Source: Live science) 

Most of the fruits need to be peeled in order to consume them. Those without a peel or where the peel is edible such as Apple should be washed well prior to consumption. Or one have it in  a juice form but that requires special tools. Also one can have them as milk shakes or in desserts and the like. Some are easier to have anywhere and on the go. These include bananas, sapota, oranges, and grapes. But some like watermelon and papayas need some processing on them such as deseeding before they are fit for consumption. 

I find bananas the best of all the fruits especially when you are traveling. They are relatively cheap, can be had on the go, provide instant energy, are filling, and provides vitamin A,  potassium, and other vital nutrients. Thus they are healthy and also easy to have with low cost. They can be taken as a snack and also as a light lunch.