The healthiest fruits revealed, plus a few not worth the fuss, received from Saga Magazine, 2025 09 09

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Colin Howard

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Sep 9, 2025, 7:37:48 AM (10 days ago) Sep 9
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Greetings,

As at 11:52, I have yet to read, but wonder if I agree with Saga Magazine's
conclusions and might I add or remove from their listings? How about you?

As at 12:16, I have now read and post my comments at the end of this
article, please read and come back with your comments, what do you agree and
disagree with? How many fruits do you regularly eat and how? Canned?
Fresh? Frozen? Dried? Any you reckon ought to be included or excluded?

All fruit has benefits, but which really shine? Our ranking reveals the
everyday stars and the ones you can eat less of.

By Jayne Cherrington-Cook | Published - 8 Sep 2025

The saying claims that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but is it
really the best thing you can put in your fruit bowl? While fruit will
contribute towards your five a day, some types are better than others for
your health.

"All fruits offer valuable nutrition, including fibre, water, antioxidants
and vitamins, says nutritionist Amy Savage.

"While some are more nutrient-dense than others and the vitamin and fibre
content can vary between different fruits, every fruit brings something
beneficial to the diet."

Why fruit matters more as we age

Fruit is a healthy addition to any diet, but it really comes into its own as
we get older. Packed with fibre, vitamins and protective antioxidants, it
helps to steady blood pressure, keep digestion regular, support bones,
sharpen memory and even lift mood.

Research backs this up: eating flavonoid-rich fruits such as berries or
apples has been linked to a lower risk of frailty, while one review found
that older adults who ate more fruit and veg had better memory and attention
over time.

So how much do we actually need? "Guidelines recommend five portions of
fruit and vegetables daily," says Savage. "Within that, I suggest aiming for
twoto three servings of fruit per day."

The healthiest fruits, ranked

Every fruit has its merits, but some deliver a bigger nutritional boost than
others:

1. Berries

list of 1 items

Best for: Just about everything, from supporting your immune system to
keeping your brain sharp.

list end

Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries may be small, but
they all pack a serious nutritional punch. Bursting with antioxidants,
especially flavonoids, they help protect your cells from damage.

"Rich in antioxidants, raspberries and blackberries also provide excellent
fibre for digestive health," says Savage.

What's more, studies also show that berries can actually improve blood flow
to the brain, enhancing memory, attention and overall cognitive performance
in both younger and older adults.

While berries aren't always the cheapest option, Savage recommends frozen as
an affordable (and just as healthy) alternative: "Frozen berries are usually
cheaper than fresh, last longer and are packed with antioxidants.
Raspberries, in particular, stand out with 4g of fibre per half cup."

Ways to eat: Toss a handful onto porridge, stir through yoghurt or keep a
bag of frozen berries in the freezer to add to smoothies.

2.Apples & pears

list of 1 items

Best for: Fibre to keep your gut happy and your heart healthy.

list end

Apples and pears prove that everyday staples can still be nutritional stars.

"Both are high in fibre, which supports heart health by lowering cholesterol
and improving digestion," says Savage.

In fact, a small trial found that people who ate two raw apples a day for
eight weeks saw reductions in cholesterol, with the peel still on, providing
the greatest benefit.

They're also a smart choice if you're managing blood sugar. Both fruits have
a low glycaemic index and research shows that eating apples and pears
regularly is linked with an 18% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Ways to eat: Add slices to a salad for crunch or follow Savage's favourite
tip: pair apple or pear wedges with a spoonful of nut butter for a filling,
fibre-rich snack.

3. Oranges

list of 1 items

Best for: Vitamin C to boost your immune system and keep skin glowing.

list end

Zesty, juicy and easy to find all year round, oranges are one of the
simplest ways to get a big hit of vitamin C.

"Oranges deliver 90-100% of your daily vitamin C and they're often very
reasonably priced," says Savage. That means just one a day can help support
your body's defences, aid collagen production for healthy skin and even
improve how well your body absorbs iron from plant-based foods.

Ways to eat: Peel and eat as a snack, squeeze into a small glass for juice
at breakfast (150ml counts as one of your five-a-day) or segment into a
salad with fennel or beetroot for a refreshing twist.

Juice vs whole fruit

A glass of orange juice can be refreshing, but it's not quite the same as
eating the fruit. When oranges are juiced, the fibre is lost and the natural
sugars are released, so they hit your bloodstream faster. That means less
help for digestion and more chance of a sugar spike.

The NHS says to limit fruit juice or smoothies to 150ml a day, about a small
glass. And it only ever counts as one of your five-a-day, no matter how much
you drink.

The bottom line? Enjoy the odd glass, but for everyday health, stick with
the whole orange.

4. Kiwis

list of 1 items

Best for: Vitamin C, digestion and a better night's sleep.

list end

Tangy, bright and a little bit furry on the outside, kiwi fruit is a real
nutritional overachiever. A medium fruit (around 69g) provides about 64mg of
vitamin C - that's roughly 70-85% of your daily needs - and it's also a good
source of vitamin K, vitamin E, folate, potassium and copper.

"Kiwi fruit is high in vitamin C, with research supporting its role in
improving sleep and reducing constipation," says Savage.

The science backs this up: a landmark 2023 trial found that eating two
green kiwi fruits a day for four weeks significantly eased constipation,
while a separate study in Taiwan showed that the same amount eaten an hour
before bedtime helped adults who had sleep problems drift off 42% faster,
added about an extra hour of rest and improved overall sleep quality.

It's also worth eating the skin, fuzz and all. That's where you'll find
extra fibre, vitamin E and antioxidants, giving you up to 50% more fibre
than the flesh alone, along with bonus nutrients that support digestion and
immunity.

Ways to eat: Slice over breakfast cereal, scoop with a spoon straight from
the skin or add to a fruit salad for a refreshing zing.

Fruit and your mood

It's not just your body that benefits from fruit, your mind does too.
Research shows that people who ate more fruit and veg felt calmer, happier
and more energetic, with the lift lasting into the next day.

Proof that a piece of fruit can brighten more than just your plate!

5. Cherries

list of 1 items

Best for: Natural melatonin to support better sleep.

list end

Sweet, juicy and jewel-bright, cherries are one of the few fruits that
naturally contain melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake
cycle. That makes them a natural ally if you're prone to restless nights.

A study in the European Journal of Nutrition even found that drinking tart
cherry juice twice a day improved both sleep quality and duration in adults
with insomnia. And unlike with oranges, this is one case where juice isn't a
bad choice, as it retains its melatonin content and has been shown to
deliver real benefits, so long as you pick varieties without added sugar.

Ways to eat: Snack on fresh cherries when they're in season, stir a handful
into yoghurt or look for unsweetened frozen or dried cherries to add to
porridge or smoothies year-round.

6. Peaches

list of 1 items

Best for: Hydration, skin health and gentle digestion.

list end

Soft and juicy, peaches are one of summer's sweetest pleasures, but they're
more than just a treat. They're a good source of vitamin C (to support skin
and immunity), potassium (for healthy blood pressure) and fibre (to keep
digestion regular). Their high water content also makes them naturally
hydrating, especially on warmer days.

And here's the good news: peaches are one of the best tinned fruits you
can buy. Opt for peaches canned in juice rather than syrup and you'll still
get many of the same nutrients, plus the convenience of keeping them in the
cupboard year-round.

Ways to eat: Slice fresh peaches into yoghurt or cereal, grill halves for a
caramelised dessert or stir chopped tinned peaches into overnight oats for
an easy breakfast.

7. Grapes

list of 1 items

Best for: Heart health and hydration.

list end

Sweet and juicy, grapes are one of the simplest ways to get more
antioxidants into your diet. They're especially rich in polyphenols such as
resveratrol, which research links with better heart health and reduced
inflammation. Their high water content also makes them naturally hydrating.

The downside? Grapes are low in fibre and relatively high in natural sugars,
so it's easy to eat more than you realise, which can cause a quicker rise in
blood sugar than fibre-rich fruits like apples or pears.

Ways to eat: Enjoy a small bunch as a sweet snack, slice into salads for a
burst of freshness or freeze them for a cooling, bite-sized treat in summer,
they're also great popped into a glass of wine!

The colour purple. When it comes to grapes, the deeper the colour, the
stronger the antioxidant punch. Purple grapes are packed with compounds like
anthocyanins and resveratrol, more than 1,600 healthful plant chemicals in
total. Research shows they can:

list of 5 items

Support healthy blood vessels and lower blood pressure

Improve cholesterol balance

Sharpen memory and cognitive performance

Nurture a healthier gut microbiome

Help protect against age-related decline

list end

8. Bananas

list of 1 items

Best for: Potassium to support healthy blood pressure and muscle function.

list end

Bananas are the ultimate grab-and-go fruit: portable, filling and naturally
sweet.

"They are affordable and provide fibre and potassium," says Savage. That
potassium is key for keeping blood pressure steady and muscles working well,
which is why bananas are also one of the best snacks before or after
exercise, helping to replace electrolytes lost through sweat.

It's true that bananas are higher in natural sugars than some fruits, which
means they can give you a quick energy boost. To keep blood sugar steady,
pair them with a little protein or healthy fat. Try slicing one over yoghurt
or spreading peanut butter on banana rounds for a snack that's both
satisfying and balanced.

Ways to eat: Keep one in your bag for an easy snack, blend into a smoothie
or mash onto wholegrain toast with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

9. Pineapple

list of 1 items

Best for: A burst of vitamin C and digestive support.

list end

Sweet, tangy and instantly evocative of summer holidays, a pineapple brings
more than just tropical vibes. It's a decent source of vitamin C and
contains bromelain, an enzyme that may aid digestion and help calm
inflammation.

That said, compared with fibre-packed fruits like apples or berries,
pineapple isn't quite as nutrient-dense and it's naturally higher in sugars,
so it's best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than an everyday staple.

Ways to eat: Add fresh chunks to a fruit salad, grill slices on the barbecue
to serve with chicken or fish or whizz frozen pineapple into a smoothie for
a refreshing twist.

10. Melon

list of 1 items

Best for: Hydration and a light vitamin boost.

list end

From honeydew to cantaloupe, melons are cooling, juicy fruits that feel made
for picnics. Thanks to their high water content, they're wonderfully
hydrating and naturally low in calories. Cantaloupe is also a handy source
of vitamin A, which supports eye and skin health, while all melons provide a
refreshing way to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Compared with fibre-rich fruits like apples or pears though, melon won't
keep you full for long and it's not the most nutrient-dense option in the
fruit bowl.

Ways to eat: Cube and serve chilled as a simple snack, mix with feta and
mint in a summer salad or wrap slices in Parma ham for a classic appetiser.

Why adding fruit to your diet makes a difference

You don't need to chase exotic superfruits to stay healthy. Everyday choices
such as apples, bananas, oranges and berries can deliver big wins for your
heart, digestion, bones, brain and even your mood.

Making fruit part of your daily routine pays off in more ways than one. A
European survey of healthcare use found that while fruit and veg won't
necessarily keep you out of hospital altogether, people who ate them daily
had shorter stays, fewer readmissions and were more proactive about
preventive care, from GP visits to specialist check-ups.

It's a reminder that fruit doesn't just support your health directly but
encourages healthier habits overall.

Written by: Jayne Cherrington-Cook

Jayne cut her online journalism teeth 24 years ago in an era when a dialling
tone and slow page load were standard. During this time, she's written about
a variety of subjects and is just at home road-testing TVs as she is
interviewing TV stars.
A diverse career has seen Jayne launch websites for popular magazines,
collaborate with top brands, write regularly for major publications
including Woman&Home,
Yahoo! and The Daily Telegraph, create a podcast and also write a tech
column for Women's Own.

From Colin: I mostly agree with this article, but note a glaring omission,
namely grape fruit. Being a type 2 diabetic, when advised concerning my
medication, I was specifically asked did I like grape fruit? I replied yes,
extremely fond of grape fruit. I was told you don't any more, because you
are on Simvastatin, you ought not eat grape fruit in any form because the
Simvastatins react with the flavanoids in grapefruit and can lead to quite
serious problems, these were not elaborated. I note in this article a fair
number of fruits include reference to flavanoids, I've not been warned about
these, what I want to know, what is the difference?

I am pleased berries have a high regard, all burries seem to be ok, I eat a
great many buries, blueburies most days in my porridge or weetabix for
breakfast, also often strawburies or/and raspburies, with natural yoghert,
also what I term a "black, blue and red" fruit salad, including all the
burries and kiwi fruit but not grapes even though in the list red grapes are
suggested as being a good base, but I note mention is made of possible sugar
spikes hence I usually avoid grapes, though do have one or two if in a fruit
salad. Melon, I enjoy, especially with ginger, on my porridge besides fruit,
I have a small tea spoonful of cinamon.

Let's be hearing from you, more than just a brief comment, let's have your
own experiences.


Colin Howard, Southern England.

Avip

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Sep 12, 2025, 6:15:57 AM (7 days ago) Sep 12
to avip...@googlegroups.com
Hi AVIP
I always have a fruit bowl at hoe. I love my fruit.
Kate

> On 9 Sep 2025, at 12:37 pm, Colin Howard <colinho...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Greetings,
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