Vitamins and Minerals – Juice Health Benefits & Recipes

02 Mar

Health Benefits of Passion Fruit Juice

Passion fruit juice is a bright, refreshing way to get fiber as well as vitamins and minerals and other valuable nutrients. You can purchase prepared passion fruit juice at your local supermarket, or make your own from the raw fruit. Either way, you will have a healthy treat to enjoy with breakfast, or any time you are in the mood for a sweet pick-me-up. Passion fruit juice makes a welcome change from the same old orange juice you have been drinking for years, and it has some additional health benefits that most citrus juices don’t possess.

Vitamins and Minerals Are The Source Of Health Benefits of Passion Fruit Juice

Passion fruit juice is chock-full of vitamins and minerals. The vitamin that passion fruit juice is most known for is vitamin A. One 3-ounce serving of passion fruit juice contains almost 20 percent of your daily recommended allowance of vitamin A. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is instrumental in helping maintain keen eyesight, as well as healthy skin, tissues, cones and teeth.

Passion fruit juice is also a good source of vitamin C. While it doesn’t contain quite as much vitamin C as orange juice, one small 3-ounce serving contains 50 percent of the daily recommended allowance of the vitamin. Vitamin C helps maintain a healthy immune system, as well as helps to heal wounds, repair tissues, blood vessels, and cells, and repair teeth and cartilage.

This juice is a good source of potassium, particularly if you squeeze your own juice from raw passion fruit. Potassium is a key mineral for heart health, nerve health, maintaining healthy kidneys, as well as helps the muscles to contract properly. Potassium is also an electrolyte, meaning that it helps to conduct electricity in the body.

Aside from these nutrients, passion fruit juice is a source of iron, magnesium, phosphorous and copper. Iron is essential for maintaining healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the heart and around the body. Magnesium is an important mineral for the creation and use of proteins and energy. Phosphorous helps to form bones and teeth. Finally, copper plays a role in red blood cell formation, as well as helps to maintain the nerves, blood vessels, bones, and immune system.

Antioxidants

The vitamin A and C in passion fruit juice act as antioxidants. This juice also contains other, additional, antioxidants as well. Together, this collection of antioxidants helps to clear the body of free radicals that can cause damage to skin and tissue cells as well as cause cancer.

Fiber

Passion fruit juice is a good source of fiber, particularly if it is prepared from fresh fruit rather than bought processed from a store. Fiber helps add bulk to the stool, which helps you to pass waste more easily. Fiber also helps to remove cholesterol from your system as well as helps to prevent certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer. Leave the pulp in the juice to take advantage of the high amounts of fiber in the pulp.

Alkaloids

This juice is a good source of alkaloids, such as harman. This alkaloid has anti-spasmotic properties, as well as helps to calm the nerves and lower blood pressure. These alkaloids are the main reason why passion fruit juice is thought to be healthy for those with high blood pressure, and clinical studies back the usefulness of this juice for lowering blood pressure. The sedative properties of the alkaloids are also believed to help you fall asleep naturally, reducing the effects of anxiety and insomnia.

Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids

The phenolic acids ad flavonoids in passion fruit juice may help protect the heart, as well as kill germs.

Anti-Inflammatory Substances

Passion fruit juice has anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce the symptoms of asthma. In addition, substances in passion fruit juice may block histamine, which is the main cause of allergies. Passion fruit juice may help relieve the symptoms of allergies by preventing nasal swelling as well.

These were the main health benefits of passion fruit juice. If you want them (yes you do! :) ) include passion fruit juice in your diet once in a while. Preferably homemade.

27 Jan

Which Fruit Has The Most Folate (Vitamin B)?

What Is Folate?

Folate is a B vitamin that easily dissolves in water. It occurs mostly in foods such as leafy greens and grains, and it can also be converted into a supplement known as folic acid. The name folate derives from the Latin word “folium”, which means leaf. Adults and children require folate in their bodies to improve cellular health. This specific B vitamin also reportedly benefits cardiovascular health and mental well-being, to name a few.

Folate In Our Body

Growth and cell division are among the most vital functions necessary for healthy children and adults, with special attention paid to pregnant and nursing women. Folate lays the foundation to produce the building blocks of cells known as DNA and RNA. The vitamin helps to generate new, healthy cells within the body and make healthy red blood cells that block the onset of anemia, which is a condition that causes blood loss and fatigue. In addition to building DNA and RNA, folate also helps defend against any abnormalities that may cause cancer. It also works with homocysteine levels in the body by metabolizing the amino acid and therefore preventing cardiovascular problems such as hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, heart attacks and blood clots.

Folate gets absorbed into the body through the consumption of foods like spinach, broccoli and romaine lettuce. Grains like rice and cereals also carry significant amounts of folate, as well as citrus fruits like oranges.

Folic acid supplements are often reserved for pregnant women or those with folate deficiencies. Experts recommend a daily intake of 400 micrograms for adults; 150 to 300 micrograms for children up to age 13; 600 micrograms for pregnant women and 500 micrograms for breastfeeding women.

Side effects have also been reported, particularly in patients who take other medications or supplements. For example, folate may cause a blood pressure or blood sugar drop. Therefore, adjustments may be made to the patient’s medication schedule. Symptoms such as bloating, cramps and nausea may also occur from taking too much folate.

Which Fruit Has The Most Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)?

The importance of having a balanced diet continues to make headlines in medical journals. A diet that provides all of the nutritional daily needs should include fruits, vegetables and low-fat proteins that supply a full spectrum of vitamins including the vital riboflavin vitamin B2. This important nutritional element helps prevent disorders related to the skin and eyes and reduces the risk of hair loss, lesions and inflammation. Riboflavin is a key factor in regulating metabolism and can affect a person’s energy level and their ability to concentrate. Including vitamin B2 in the diet by consuming natural foods is an important part of ensuring a healthy daily nutrition routine.

Benefits of Riboflavin Vitamin B2

One of the main benefits of riboflavin, or vitamin B2, includes the ability of this element to convert carbohydrates to sugars which provide energy for our daily activities. When the vitamin is absorbed, it helps form healthy red blood cells that continually nourish the body. The immune system is also enhanced by protecting against free-radical damage. Both children and adults need to maintain the minimum daily requirement of vitamin B2 to ensure overall good health.

Other benefits found from riboflavin include improved skin and hair texture. Eating foods rich in riboflavin helps prevent cataracts and acts as an anti-aging medium.

Health Risks from Deficiencies from Riboflavin Vitamin B2

Having an insufficient supply of riboflavin can lead to disorders that range from mild to severe. People under stress are often affected by the lack of vitamin B2 and may have difficulty sleeping or experience a lack of energy. During pregnancy, sufficient amounts of vitamin B2 helps prevent damage to the unborn fetus. Skin lesions are another symptom from riboflavin deficiencies as is hair loss. Migraine headache sufferers may have a riboflavin deficiency that is correctable by changing dietary habits.

Top Fruits For Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Content

The amounts of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) are given for 100g of each fruit.

1 Durian 0,20 mg
2 Cranberry 0,20 mg
3 Pumpkin 0,10 mg
4 Lychee 0,10 mg
5 Redcurrant 0,10 mg
6 Grape 0,10 mg
7 Mulberry 0,10 mg
8 Elderberry 0,10 mg
9 Passion Fruit 0,10 mg
10 Mango 0,10 mg
11 Blackcurrant 0,10 mg
12 Mangosteen 0,10 mg
13 Pomegranate 0,10 mg
14 Fig 0,10 mg
15 Banana 0,07 mg
16 Jackfruit 0,06 mg
17 Tangerine 0,04 mg
18 Grapefruit 0,03 mg
19 Cucumber 0,03 mg
20 Melon (Cantaloupe) 0,03 mg
21 Kiwi 0,03 mg
22 Lemon 0,02 mg
23 Pineapple 0,02 mg
24 Blueberry 0,00
25 Plum 0,00
26 Watermelon 0,00
27 Cherry (sweet) 0,00
28 Papaya 0,00
29 Peach 0,00
30 Strawberry 0,00
31 Orange 0,00
32 Apple 0,00
33 Pear 0,00
34 Lime 0,00
35 Gooseberry 0,00
36 Raspberry 0,00
37 Guava 0,00
38 Blackberry 0,00
39 Carrot 0,00
40 Tomato 0,00
41 Apricot 0,00

21 Jan

Which Fruit Has The Most Phosphorus?

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is both a chemical element and a mineral nutrient that is vital to human, animal and plant life. Phosphates are salts that contain phosphorus and other minerals. Phosphorus derivatives and compounds are used commercially as components of fertilizer and also as food additives and leavening agents. Most of the foods we eat contain phosphorus.

Phosphorus In Our Body

Phosphorus is second only to calcium as the most plentiful mineral in the human body. Eighty-five percent of phosphorus is found in bones and teeth, but it is present in every cell of the body. It is even found in bodily fluids, cell membranes and DNA. The presence of phosphorus is necessary for the utilization of other nutrients such as: calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium and potassium.

Phosphorus is essential to many bodily functions. Its main purpose is to combine with calcium and assist the formation of healthy bones. Phosphorus also enables the body to convert carbohydrates into energy, helps synthesize proteins and aids in both the growth and repair of cells and tissues. It helps maintain a regular heartbeat and also assists in muscle contraction, kidney function and nerve conduction.

The recommended intake of phosphorus for a healthy adult is 700mg per day. Since most foods contain this mineral, deficiency is uncommon. However, certain medications, calcium carbonate supplements and antacids can cause low phosphorus levels. Deficiency may result in weight loss, poor bone growth, bone pain, poor nerve and brain function, skin sensitivity and brittle hair and nails.

The kidneys rid the body of excess phosphorus, so toxic levels are not common in those with healthy kidneys. An excess of carbonated drinks in the diet can lead to higher than normal levels; this may increase the risk of heart disease and cause brittle bones and diarrhea.

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