Benefit: lowering cholesterol

Mango

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Mango is rich in fiber and polyphenols antioxidants, especially mangiferin. High contents of vitamin C and A boost immunity and folate ensures healthy prenatal development. Vitamin C content also improves collagen production, making it beneficial for hair and skin health. Mango can help lower cholesterol and thanks to magnesium, potassium and mangiferin keeps heart health in check. Apart from fiber, mango contains enzymes that help break down complex food molecules and help their absorption, making it great for digestive health and relieving constipation. It supports eye health thanks to antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin A.

Hazelnut

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Hazelnut is full of antioxidants, especially present in its skin. These, together with healthy fats, more specifically omega-3, support heart health and lower cholesterol levels. Thanks to extremely high vitamin E and manganese content, hazelnut can have anti-cancer properties and like other nuts reduces blood sugar levels. Thanks to vitamin E, it is beneficial for skin and hair health and it is also a good source of fiber, magnesium and folate. Combination of compounds in hazelnut helps decrease the risk of diabetes as well as maintain brain and cognitive functions and prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

Green beans

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Green beans are an excellent source of vitamin K, manganese, folate and fiber. They are rich in chlorophyll, stopping some carcinogenic effects and slowing down growth of cancer tumors. Thanks to folate and iron content, it is good to eat them during pregnancy to ensure healthy prenatal development, as well as for energy boost. Green beans are beneficial for bone and heart health and good for lowering cholesterol. Another compound they are rich in is silicon, supporting skin and nail growth. Due to high carotenoid content, they keep eye health in check and prevent macular degeneration. As a downside, raw green beans contain protein lectin, which might cause digestive issues.

Grapefruit

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Grapefruit is one of the fruits highest in water content. It is great for hydration, weight loss and obesity prevention. Antioxidant levels in grapefruit are very high, especially beta carotene and lycopene, resulting in its red color. These give grapefruit its anti-cancer properties and prevent heart disease. Grapefruit can lower cholesterol and has high vitamin A and C content, good for boosting immunity. Low glycemic index makes it diabetes friendly food. Grapefruit should be avoided when taking certain medications, since it contains compounds that affect their metabolism, resulting in higher levels of these drugs in the body.

Cucumber

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Cucumber has very high water content, decent amount of fiber and is low in calories, making it good for hydration, regular stool and weight loss. It can reduce inflammation due to high antioxidant levels and especially a polyphenol group lignans, which may help treat some cancers. Containing fair amounts of potassium, it lowers blood pressure. Nutrients found in its seeds can reduce cholesterol, helping protect heart health and so-called cucurbitacins found in cucumber are considered to prevent atherosclerosis. Cucumber can offer benefits for skin health and protect it from ageing and wrinkles and reduce swelling, sunburns and pain.

Grape

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Grape is full of antioxidants, particularly polyphenols, mostly present in its skin and seeds. Red grapes contain higher amounts, especially anthocyanins giving them their red color. Another polyphenol antioxidant found in grapes is resveratrol, protecting heart from disease, lowering blood sugar and having some anti-cancer properties, like reducing inflammation and preventing growth of cancer cells. Other benefit of resveratrol is potential activation of genes responsible for slower aging and longevity. Brain and cognitive performance can be also improved by increasing intake of this compound. Grape is a great choice for reducing cholesterol levels, as well as blood pressure. Many compounds from grape help maintain eye health, like resveratrol, lutein and zeaxanthin while others can also prevent growth of different bacteria and spread of viral infections.

Pear

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Often overshadowed by apple, pear is rich in antioxidants polyphenols and has very high fiber content, making it good for digestion and gut health. Pear can contain different antioxidants based on its color. Anthocyanins give it its red hue, while lutein and zeaxanthin appear in green pears. Another antioxidant present in the peel is quercetin, improving heart health, lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and risk of stroke. Pear is best eaten with the skin that holds most of its antioxidants and fiber. It is good for fighting inflammation and fiber in pear slows down digestion, helping regulate blood sugar levels and absorption of carbs.

Pomegranate

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Pomegranate is extremely rich in antioxidants, fiber and high in vitamin C and E content. It stands out with its punicalagins and punicic acid content, strong antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects and improving heart health. It can be used to make blood thinner and lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. That keeps blood vessels healthy and prevents atherosclerosis. Pomegranate extract can also help fight prostate cancer. Thanks to high antioxidant and vitamin C content, it helps boost immunity. Some compounds in pomegranate reduce plaque formation on teeth and have anti-bacterial effect on infections, especially in mouth and gums. Pomegranate may also improve memory after surgery. Due to high nitrate content, it is also used among athletes to boost physical performance and blood flow. Thanks to strong anti-inflammatory effects on the body, it can help treat arthritis and joint pain.

Brazil nut

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Brazil nut is the richest known source of selenium, containing up to almost 100 times more selenium than most other nuts. Selenium makes it an excellent choice for proper thyroid function, immune system and cell growth. However, while low levels of selenium are linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, consuming too many brazil nuts on daily basis (more than 5), can lead to selenium toxicity and overdose. Brazil nut is also rich in antioxidants like polyphenols gallic and ellagic acid and vitamin E, fighting inflammation. Finally, it is loaded with healthy polyunsaturated fats, reducing bad cholesterol and keeping heart healthy.

Pecan

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Pecan has distinctive buttery texture and slightly sweet, but bitter taste, making it used mostly in desserts and salads. Together with macadamia nut, it is highest in fat content among all nuts and is particularly rich in copper and manganese. Monounsaturated fats together with phenolic antioxidants promote heart health and lower cholesterol levels. Like other nuts, pecan is packed with fiber and if consumed in moderation, promotes fullness and benefits weight management. Fiber content keeps digestive system healthy and prevents constipation. Pecan is rich in antioxidant ellagic acid that can protect from certain cancer forms. Magnesium levels provide anti-inflammatory benefits and lower blood pressure. Pecan can also slow down skin ageing, thanks to ellagic acid, vitamin A and E. Combination of different nutrients, mainly zinc, makes pecan great immunity booster. Among other nutrients, it also contains iron and significant amounts of flavonoids. Low sugar levels make it an excellent choice for diabetes prevention and management and slowing down blood sugar spikes.

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