Join the Fruit for a Healthy You Movement

Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. Studies show Americans are living longer and enjoying more active lifestyles. Due to advances in food technology, we are only just beginning to discover the many health secrets Mother Nature has placed in simple everyday fruit.

In fact, in early 2005, the USDA revealed the updated version of the food pyramid that suggests five to nine daily servings of fruit and vegetables.

Why is simple, everyday fruit becoming so popular? The answer is great-tasting, antioxidant-rich food that can help maintain healthy joints, help support brain function and even assist in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. All of these health benefits and more are available in the multiple colors, sizes and shapes of fruit.

Apples to Oranges, grapes to strawberries, each offers unique health benefits that that will lead to an active and healthy lifestyle. The multitudes of health components found in fruit are truly a gift from Mother Nature. Here are a few everyday fruits for healthy living:

Cherries - The Supercharged Fruit

Are cherries truly fruit for a healthy you? Recent studies have revealed that cherries offer an assortment of health benefits including the ability to offer natural relief from joint pain caused from gout, arthritis and joint inflammation. Many are choosing to drink cherry juice concentrate, eat dried cherries or consume tart cherry fruit supplements to enjoy the natural benefits of this tiny red fruit.

Geoff Ficke is a living testimony of the soothing affects of tart cherries on the joint pain in his knees. "After 15 years playing sports my knees had enough. After a friend recommended Fruit Advantage, I am now able to play sports again. Within three weeks of taking the supplements I am back on the court, what a difference," says Ficke.

In addition, to Ficke, consumers across America are reporting relief after using Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry.

Blueberries - Nature's Top Antioxidant Fruit

Blueberries emerged as the top antioxidant capacity fruit in a laboratory testing procedure called ORAC - Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity developed by the USDA. ORAC has become the definitive measurement of antioxidant capacity.

James Joseph, Ph.D, chief of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston, is working with blueberries to examine their potential to help improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging. "The blueberry has emerged as a very powerful food in the aging battle," said Joseph. "Given the possibility that blueberries may reverse short-term memory loss and forestall other effects of aging, their potential may be very great."

Terry Johnson, a resident of Grand Rapids, Mich., munches on dried blueberries for the convenience and taste. "I work behind a computer for eight hours a day and I like to snack. I began eating dried blueberries instead of a candy bar from the vending machine. Now I feel good when I snack because I am eating fruit instead of candy."

Strawberries:

Studies have shown that strawberries can help promote a healthy digestive system and may help lower cholesterol. A handful of strawberries can go a long way to a helping you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The Michigan-based company Traverse Bay Farms offers free shipping on all 3-pound orders of dried fruit including organic dried blueberries.

If you are interested in learning more about the health benefits of fruit, visit the information-only Web site Orchard of Health for research articles and information about natural health benefits behind simple everyday fruit.

Copyright © 2006, ARA Content