Apple
This humble fruit is so much more than just a seasonal filler for pie—although, we’ve got to admit, that’s a pretty great way to use them, too. Apples are not only a portable, no-mess snack, but also powerful fat fighters. Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN says they’re a great snack for people with diabetes and insulin resistance because they’re high in fiber to slow sugar spiking.
Strawberries
Strawberries are basically nature’s candy. Pop a cup of these into your mouth to increase your vitamin C intake and, in turn, help boost your immune system and reduce stress. When it comes to how to prepare them, be sure you’re eating them whole—slicing up strawberries exposes them to light and oxygen, which can break down their precious vitamin C!
Grapefruit
Despite a higher sugar content, grapefruit is brimming with good-for-you vitamins and antioxidants. So just keep your serving to half a fruit. According to a study in the journal Metabolism, eating half a grapefruit before meals helped reduce belly fat and lower cholesterol levels. Participants of the six-week study who ate grapefruit with every meal saw their waists shrink by up to an inch! Researchers attribute the effects to a combination of phytochemicals and vitamin C in the grapefruit. Consider having half of a grapefruit before your morning oatmeal, and slicing a few segments to a starter salad.
Blueberries
Blueberries are best known in health circles for anthocyanins, the phytonutrients that give them their blue-red tint and their dense antioxidant punch. That punch translates into serious brain food, as blueberries have been found in studies to protect our noggins against both oxidative stress and the effects of age-related mental decay manifested in Alzheimer’s and dementia. High in fiber, these berries are are good to just pop in your mouth! Not only will you fight aging, blueberries may also help perk things up in the bedroom.
Orange
According to a study in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, consuming vitamin C before a workout can reduce muscle soreness and prevent the formation of free radicals. A single orange supplies 116 percent of your DV for vitamin C.
Peach
If you want to lose weight, just pick up a peach! According to Texas A&M University researchers, the stone fruit contains phenolic compounds that modulate different expressions of genes to ward off obesity, high cholesterol, inflammation, and diabetes—now that’s something to feel peachy about!