Fruits are beneficial for health because they come from nature, are natural foods, and are rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. They can nourish the body, promote metabolism, and increase the body's resistance and immunity, having the effects of health preservation, nourishment, and preventing and treating diseases. In spring, the weather is dry, and it's a transitional period from winter cold to summer heat. Eating seasonal fruits is very beneficial to our bodies. However, what principles should be followed when eating fruits in spring? Here are 6 recommended fruits suitable for spring.
Two Principles for Eating Fruit in Spring
1. Pair Cold and Hot Fruits
Among the fruits we usually eat, neutral fruits account for the largest proportion, followed by warm and hot fruits, and then cool and cold fruits. Neutral fruits mainly include: pineapple, starfruit, papaya, lily seeds, peanuts, hazelnuts, black sesame, etc. Warm and hot fruits mainly include: cherries, peaches, chestnuts, jujubes, walnut kernels, tangerines, kumquats, etc. However, eating too many warm and hot fruits can easily lead to "heatiness" (上火). Cool and cold fruits mainly include: bananas, sugarcane, mangoes, loquats, apples, pears, strawberries, grapefruits, oranges, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the balance and harmony of yin and yang. Therefore, people with a "hot" constitution should eat more cool and cold foods, while those with a "cold" constitution should eat more warm and hot foods, and the same applies to eating fruits.
2. Eat Sour and Sweet Fruits Separately
In spring, sour and sweet fruits are more common. Sour fruits mainly include tangerines, grapefruits, loquats, hawthorns, pears, etc. They generally have the effects of astringing sweat, stimulating appetite, promoting fluid production, and aiding digestion. "Gan" (甘) means sweet. There are many such foods, commonly including sugarcane, pears, peanuts, watermelon, bananas, cherries, tangerines, black sesame, chestnuts, jujubes, lily seeds, longan pulp, goji berries, etc. They usually have the effects of nourishing, tonifying deficiency, and relieving pain. Some fruits are slightly sour and slightly sweet, such as apples, papaya, starfruit, pineapple, strawberries, lily seeds, pine nuts, hazelnuts, walnut kernels, raisins, etc., and are mostly classified as neutral.
6 Fruits Suitable for Spring
Apple
Apples contain ample moisture, and their flesh is crisp, sweet, and fragrant. They are a common and essential fruit in our daily lives. Apples contain trace elements like zinc and iron, as well as vitamins B1, B2, C, carotene, pectin, and cellulose. These are the best ingredients for skin beauty and have an excellent moisturizing effect on the skin. Apples are also rich in fruit acids, which can keep pores clear and effectively help with acne.
Kiwi
Kiwi is rich in vitamin C, five to six times that in an equivalent amount of citrus. The vitamin E it contains is a powerful antioxidant that can help eliminate spots and acne, and enhance the skin's anti-aging ability. The fruit contains sugars, proteins rich in amino acids, twelve types of proteases, vitamins B1, C, carotene, and various components such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, and pigments. These are all beneficial components for the human skin and can help relieve the dryness caused by winter.
Cherry
Cherries are vibrant, crystal-clear, and beautiful. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but their beauty value is also very high. The rich vitamin C in cherries can intelligently whiten the skin and effectively resist the formation of melanin. The fruit acids in cherries can also improve the skin's oil secretion, promote intestinal digestion, and are rich in sugars, proteins, vitamins, and various elements beneficial to the skin such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. Eating more cherries in winter can make the skin glow with a rosy complexion and replenish the moisture it needs.
Tomato
Tomatoes, also known as tomatoes, have flesh rich in vitamin C and vitamin A, which can intelligently whiten and moisturize the skin, replenish skin moisture, and help the skin enhance its water-locking function. The folic acid it contains is a substance essential to the human body. In particular, the lycopene it contains has excellent effects on our health, and tomatoes are also called "love apples." The rich acidic juice in tomatoes can help balance the skin's pH value and improve dark, rough skin.
Citrus
Citrus fruits are rich in fruit acids and vitamins, which can help improve the skin's oil secretion and promote the skin's absorption of moisture. The rich content of carotene (vitamin A precursor) is second only to apricots and higher than other fruits. In addition, the organic acids in oranges can enhance skin elasticity. Rubbing your face with orange peel daily can help smooth fine facial lines.
Lemon
Lemon is known as a warehouse of vitamin C, containing several times more vitamin C than other fruits. It can whiten and cleanse the skin and remove spots and blemishes. Lemon is a very sour fruit, and this sourness comes from citric acid, which can soften the skin's stratum corneum, remove dead skin, promote skin metabolism, and allow the skin to better absorb moisture and enhance its moisturizing function.