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Some people eat nothing but fruit. They are called fruitarians. While I do not advocate this diet for everyone, I do see the virtues in fruits!

I highly recommend you include fruits in your diet. They taste great, give you natural fiber and contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. This will tamp down some of the pain cytokines that your body can run amok with.

Here are some fruits of the season, and why I recommend them.

Apricots
Apricots’ yellow-orange color comes from beta carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, useful for good vision. Apricots have been studied for their beneficial role in fatty liver.

Pomegranates
These fruits contain compounds that naturally lower your blood pressure. If you drink more than, say, a shot glass of pomegranate juice each day, and you’re also taking blood pressure medications, your numbers may go too low! Pomegranate juice has another helpful effect on the body in that is a natural, mild blood thinner.

Figs
Figs are now being studied for their ability to help with diabetes as well as hypertension. They are high in potassium (and low in sodium), which means they can reduce blood pressure. Figs contain abscisic acid, which has been studied for its ability to help with carbohydrate metabolism and blood sugar.

Strawberries
Strawberries are red from their anthocyanins. These gorgeous fruits contain ferulic acid and have been shown to have a remarkably high scavenging activity toward chemically generated radicals, thus making them effective in inhibiting oxidation of human LDLs (the “bad” form of cholesterol).

Blackberries
These contain antibacterial compounds that are thought to help with gum disease. They also contain quercetin and ellagic acid, which taken together act as free-radical scavengers and protect your cells from DNA damage. This could be helpful if you have a history of cancer.

Grapefruit
This fruit can help with appetite suppression and may be useful as an adjunctive to your weight loss program and exercise regimen. It can spark more production of cholecystokinin, which is a “stop sign” for eating.

Grapefruit rind (and orange rind) contain a lot of naringen, a compound that causes a bitter taste in the fruit. This compound is the one that interacts with some antihistamines and statins (which is why those on some types of these drugs are not supposed to eat a lot of grapefruit). That said, naringen is also known for its cough-suppressant action and ability to help out with asthma.

Apples
These could help reduce stroke, compliments of the high amount of quercetin. This effect was confirmed by a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which evaluated 9,208 men and women and concluded, “The intake of apples is related to a decreased risk of thrombotic stroke.”

Raspberries
The fruit contains vitamin C, quercetin and ellagic acid antioxidants that fight cancer and inflammation.

The leaves of raspberries contain fragarine, which is a strong inhibitor of uterine contractions. In other words, a cup of raspberry leaf tea can help with cramps.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.
Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist. To contact her, visit SuzyCohen.com.