Review ArticleAbstract
Fruits, nuts, dried fruits, and fruit juice are important components for a balanced diet; it is essential part of the staple diet. Due to their benefits for healthy body and preventive effect of numerous diseases. Fruits contain different phytochemicals, dietary fiber, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, and other components. Furthermore, nuts and dry fruits considered a precious source of energy, antioxidants components, higher vitamins content, source for numerous minerals. Daily fruits consume particularly, Date fruits, citrus fruit, pomegranate, and Cranberries, provide several advantages for the body and different metabolic processes in human body. It is play an important role in the management of diabetes mellitus, delaying infection with chronic diseases, enhancing performance of different systems and physiological processing, reducing harmful effects on human health, in addition, it is provide nutritional ingredients such as vitamins, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, minerals …etc. Higher content of fruits particularly antioxidants plays an important role in altering the metabolic processing and detoxification of different diseases particularly carcinogens and reducing the growth of tumor cells. In addition to the effects as potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which reduce risks of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease by counteracting oxidative and inflammation hazards. Furthermore, there are important roles for bioactive components contents of fruits in keeping heart-healthy, preventing cardio-metabolic and non-communicable diseases through different mechanisms.
Keywords: Fruits; Nuts; Vitamins; Carotenoids; Flavonoids
Introduction
A wide variety of fruits and other plant-based foods provide a
wide range of bioactive ingredients like phytochemicals, vitamins,
minerals, and fibers Samtiya, et al. [1]. Fruit considered an essential
component of the human diet since ancient times, in addition,
Date fruits in some regions like desert areas it has been a part of
the daily diet, whereas the community depended mainly on eating
dates as the main component of their daily meals Vayalil [2].
Furthermore, fruits are used within religious rituals in different
regions of the world, Furthermore, fruits are used within religious
rituals in different regions of the world. In addition, fruits are used
for medical purposes as a part of traditional medicine in different
ancient civilizations. For example, Date is one of the oldest fruits
that have been used for medicinal purposes due to their unique
properties either alone or in combination with other plants Vayalil
[2]. Fresh fruits represent valuable resources of numerous vitamins
like vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin E, .etc. In addition,
dry fruits and nuts are considered a good source of important
fiber, calories, amino acids, and other important components.
Fruits contain important antioxidants that play an important role
in altering the metabolic processing and detoxification of different
diseases particularly carcinogens and Furthermore, fruits are used
within religious rituals in different regions of the world.
It is well documented that, regular consumption of fruits,
nuts, and vegetables would alleviate the risk of cardiovascular
disease (CVD). Furthermore, there are numerous benefits of fruit
consumption in delaying and reducing different health difficulties
Hu [4]. Regular fruit consumption as a part of healthy food is
considered a proper strategy for controlling various diseases like diabetes and other chronic diseases Lockyer, et al. [5,6]. This work
discusses the importance of fruit-eating as the main component of
the daily diet, which is considered one of the main vital ways to
maintain and prevent different health complications.
Advantages of Regular Consume of Fruit
Fruits are crucial components for a balanced diet. It has
beneficial effects on human health and preventing of different
diseases. The health effects of fruits attribute to the combination
of phytochemicals, fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients, in addition
to the sole effects as potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory
agents, thereby reducing risks of the pathogenesis of CVD by
counteracting oxidative and inflammation hazards. Therefore,
fruits are considered very important to maintain public health
Wootton-Beard [7,8].
Fruits provide numerous advantages for the human body that
include:
1. Fruit eating represent a potential hope to limit harmful effects
on human health.
2. Fruits affect the performance of different systems in the body
and different metabolic and physiological processing.
3. Delaying infection with chronic diseases
4. Played a vital role in the management of diabetes mellitus
5. One of the essential components of the staple diet.
6. Provide nutritional ingredients such as vitamins, dietary fiber,
carbohydrates, minerals …etc.
Health Benefits of Some Fruits
a. Date Fruits
Date fruits (Phonix dactylifera) are highly nutritious and may have several potential health benefits. Due to phytochemical composition, nutritional values, and potential health benefits date fruit is considered a medicinal food for different diseases inflicting human beings, due to phenolic compounds that are considered the main components that work as antioxidants in date fruits Younas, et al. [9,10].
b. Pomegranate
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the valuable fruits that polyphenol-rich fruit with a high antioxidant capacity compared to other fruit such as cranberry, grapes, or even citrus species Fahmy, et al. [11]. In addition, pomegranate juice has numerous health effects such as antiatherogenic, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory effects Basu [8]. Therefore, daily consumption of pomegranate juice increased heart-healthy. Antioxidant components in Pomegranate juice reach three-fold than that in green tea or red wine, due to the higher ability as freeradical scavenging and reducing iron oxidative Stockton [12].
c. Cranberries
Regular consumption of Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is very important in the maintenance of health and in preventing CVD and infections in the urinary tract Ruel [13]. Fresh, dried fruits and juice of Cranberries contain various components particularly flavonoids like flavonols myricetin and quercetin, which are considered a significant source of antioxidants and antiinflammatory Skrovankova [14]. Therefore, these substances act as a potent antioxidant, which could prevent and reduce infecting of the urinary tract, through its inhibitory effect on the bacterial activity that causes infections in the urinary tract Nowack [15].
d. Citrus Fruit
Citrus fruits and juice contain various components that include calcium, potassium, phosphorous, vitamin C, Vitamins B, dietary fibers,…etc., which are beneficial for the human body, also, there are various active compounds extracted from citrus used as medicines for heart diseases, and in treatments of hypertension Abobatta [16]. Citrus products have different healthy properties such as anticancer, inflammation, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activity. Furthermore, the enzymes content in citrus juice represented a natural medical component for obesity treatments. In addition to a wide range of various proteins, that reduces fats in the human body Barreca, et al. [17].
Dried Fruits and Nuts
Dried fruits and nuts are an important part of the daily diet
for several people in different regions worldwide particularly in
arid and semi-arid regions like sub-Saharan since ancient times
Shumsky, et al. [18] and in the north of Europe. Dried fruits and
Nuts are considered important foods due to their higher nutritional
values, and provide healthy bioactive substances for the human
body. In addition, it provides a source of energy, higher contents
of antioxidants, and minerals. There are different dried fruits like
Date fruits (Phonix dactylifera), raisins (Vitis vinifera), goji fruits
(Lycium barbarum), and cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon and
oxycoccus) Jeszka-Skowron, et al. [19]. Currently, there is more
attention to the consumption of nuts and dried fruits as a part of the
daily diet due to health benefits and their desired flavor. In addition,
it provides the human body with requirements for nutrients,
bioactive compounds, and antioxidants Chang, et al. [20]. Nuts are
characterized by their high content of fats (especially unsaturated
fatty acids), polyphenols, and phytosterols, in addition to protein,
vegetable fiber, and many useful substances such as folic acid and
vitamin E, in addition to their content of sufficient amounts of
selenium, magnesium and many other minerals.
Therefore, including nuts such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts,
cashews, pistachios, peanuts, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, and pine
nuts in the daily diet provides sufficient amounts of energy for the
body. In addition to, numerous beneficial effects such as regulating the body’s immunity, raising body resistance for infection with
many diseases.
Advantage of Nuts and Dried Fruits
The bioactive components contents of dried fruits and Nuts
play a significant role in preventing cardio-metabolic and noncommunicable
diseases through different mechanisms Alasalvar, et
al. [21].
There are different health benefits of nuts and dried fruits for
the human body that include:
a) Source of energy
b) Antioxidants components
c) Higher vitamins content
d) Source for different minerals like K, Mn, Fe, Mg,.etc
Comparison of Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Content of Fruits
There are heart-healthy and colorful substances of phytochemicals in fruits particularly carotenoids, and polyphenols, which have been associated with reducing risks of cardiovascular disease. There are various phytochemicals in fruits, whereas the significant groups can be classified as shown in (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Main groups of phytohormones in fruits.
a) Carotenoids
There is a beneficial influence of the consumption of carotenoidrich
fruits (Yellow-fleshed fruits) like orange, grapefruit, Apricot,
Mango, persimmon, Avocado, Papaya …etc. in the diet on reducing
systemic inflammation disease. In addition, eating carotenoid-rich
fruits affect positively on inflammation status through increasing
plasma concentrations Jahns, et al. [22]. For instance, beta-carotene
is an energetic antioxidant and is considered a preventive factor
against some cancer diseases and aging Fiedor [23]. Furthermore,
carotenoids play important role in protecting optical density,
maintenance a clear vision, and keeping the eye healthy. Clinical
studies Mitra, et al. [24-26] are well establishing different benefits
of carotenoids particularly lutein and zeaxanthin compounds to
maintain and protect eyes as follow:
1. Protect the macula from blue light hazards.
2. Enhancing visual acuity.
3. Reducing the harmful effects of free radicals.
4. Minimizing age-related degeneration (AMD) of eye health.
5. Reducing cataracts disease.
b) Phenolics
Fruit is an important source of dietary phenolics. Cranberry, wild blueberry and blackberry fruits contain the highest percentage of total phenolic, while apple fruits contain 33% of phenolic compounds, followed by pomegranate, blueberries, plums, strawberries, and red grapes Manach, et al. [27]. Polyphenols contain numerous compounds like flavonoids, resveratrol, ellagitannins, isothiocyanates, and organosulfur.
c) Flavonoids
The beneficial impact of fruits in reducing cardiovascular diseases could be to their higher content of flavonoids, which play important role in improving cardiovascular health Viuda‐Martos [28,29].
Conclusion
Fruits represent a vital source of phytochemicals, dietary fiber, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, and other components. Therefore, daily consumption of fruits, nuts, dried fruits, and fruit juice provide important components for body health. There are different kinds of fruits such as Date fruits, oranges, grapefruits, pomegranate, Cranberries, nuts, and dried fruits that must be an essential part of the staple diet. There are important roles of daily eating fruits like management of diabetes mellitus, delaying infection with chronic diseases, altering different metabolic processes, improving the performance of various systems and physiological processing, decreasing hazard effects on the human body, in addition, it provides nutritional ingredients such as vitamins, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, minerals …etc. Fruits have beneficial effects as potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that alleviate risks of the pathogenesis of the cardiovascular disease, reducing infection of non-communicable diseases.
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