You might not think a whole lot about winter fruits. After all, many of us associate the season with frigid temperatures and warming, hearty soups and hot teas. But there are a lot of fruits in season during the winter in the U.S., including apples, pears, bananas, and grapefruit.
Why is this important? Well, eating fruits in season can be great for your health. Here are a few of the more popular winter fruits, as well as information on eating fruits in season. But first, let’s look at…
Fruits in Season During Winter
There are a lot of health benefits to fruits in season during winter. Here are just a few of those winter fruits, and the reasons why you should make them part of your dietary routine.
Just remember that fruits are best consumed in moderation. Don’t go overboard. Fruits typically contain high amounts of sugar, and eating too much sugar is never a good thing.
Apples and Pears
Apples are one of the fruits in season during winter that can really help you stay healthy. Apples have been shown, for instance, to promote heart health. They may also help keep your blood sugar at safe levels.1
Pears are also a good choice when it comes to winter fruits. They’ve actually been linked to weight loss, according to one study. For best results, enjoy unripe pears — they’re rich in spermidine, a longevity-promoting compound.2
Bananas
Did you know that bananas are a winter fruit? One of the reasons why they’re so good for you is that they’re high in antioxidants. These are compounds that can protect you from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can cause cell damage that can jeopardize your good health.3
But eating the right type of banana is important. Green bananas don’t contain nearly as much sugar as ripe ones. They’re filled mostly with resistant starch and not sugar. Go green when it comes to eating this fruit.
Cranberries
Most of us associate cranberries with Thanksgiving, but the cranberry is actually one of the more nutritious winter fruits. Cranberries contain compounds that help prevent bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract.4 As a result, they could help reduce the chances of suffering an infection in this area of the body.5
There is also evidence that cranberries could help maintain our body’s supply of good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, also known as the “gut.”6 A proper balance between good and bad microbes in the gut can help reduce the chances of developing digestion issues.
Need some inspiration? Check out Dr. G’s Cranberry-Orange Muffin Recipe.
Pomegranates
Another of the fruits in season during winter that deliver health benefits is the pomegranate. Research indicates that pomegranates could play a role in helping to lower blood pressure.7
Pumpkin
Some people believe pumpkin is a vegetable rather than a fruit. But pumpkin is a fruit produced by the pumpkin vine. It is loaded with beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. This vitamin has been shown to help strengthen the body’s immune system.8
Grapefruit and other citrus
Grapefruits, lemons, limes, and oranges are in-season in winter, And they’re loaded with vitamin C. Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It also helps strengthen the immune system.9 That’s even more important during winter, when people are at risk for several contagious illnesses.
Get Your Fill of Fruits in Season
Regardless of what time of the year it may be – winter, spring, summer, or fall – eating fruits in season is always important. Keep in mind, though, that in-season fruits are still loaded with sugar, so enjoy only in moderation.
Learn More:
Which Fruits are In-Season in the Fall?
Which Fruits are In-Season in Spring?
Why Fructose Is Poison (and why a lot of fruit isn’t healthy)
Sources
1.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC442131/
2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12620529
3.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814602001863
4.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20398248
5.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11431298
6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4942875/
7.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.4977
8.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26121194
9.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24766384
