The Five Fruits of Christmas

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With all the gravy, bread and sweets, the festive season has been given quite a bad rep when it comes to the health and fitness front.

We have all been through it; by the time the New Year rolls in, that extra bulge is noticeable. But festive eating is not all bad. In fact, some of the most popular Christmas foods are actually good for you.

All you have to do is put down the cake and take on the fruits! We look into the five foods that you will want to indulge in during your parties and dinners this festive season.

Figs
This succulent sweet fruit is naturally rich in benefiting phytonutrients, antioxidants and vitamins. What we love most is that every 100 grams of fruit is only 74 calories. Although the dried version boasts almost triple the calorie intake, it provides a more concentrated source of energy and minerals.

Cherries
Having you been waiting to sink your teeth into some cherry pie? This year, opt for a cup of the fresh version of the fruit instead.

The cherry has gained fame as nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory. According to studies, drinking tart cherry juice mixed with water three times a day can be beneficial to those who suffer from arthritis. It has also been proven to be a memory booster, cancer fighter and helps regulate the body’s sleep cycle.

Oranges
Put the wine down and have yourself a tall glass of orange juice. These citrus beauties are rich in Vitamin C, flavonoids, antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, potassium and dietary fibre.
Oranges are widely used to relieve constipation and regulates high blood pressure. A compound present in oranges, liminoid, has also shown to prevent cancers including oral, skin and lung.

Raisins
Want a healthy alternative to sweets and chocolate? Ask any health and fitness guru and they will tell you that your go-to snack should always be a handful of raisins. The dried grape can increase your supply of energy, aid digestion and reduce body acidity.

Cranberries
Although cranberries are mostly consumed during Thanksgiving and Christmas, our research proves to us that we need to fit these into our diet regularly. The fruit is a rich source of a flavonoid that can inhibit the development of both breast and colon cancer.

A bacteria fighter by nature, watch out for cranberry products that have too much added sugar; this drastically reduces its health benefits.