3 Fruits to Eat for Any Diet

1. Apple

   Like they say, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". That saying came from a family saying in 1866, which goes like this, "Eat an apple on going to bed, and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread." And it couldn't be truer. 

   Apples are full of fibre, as much as 5 grams, which can combat various illness like intestinal disorders, Alzheimer's and hemorrhoids. It's also packed with vitamin A and C to boost your immune system.

   It's also a great food for diabetics because it slowly releases sugar into the bloodstream. The pectin from apples can also reduce cholesterol levels by decreasing the insulin secretion.

   Plus, it detoxifies the body and cleanses the entire digestive track, purifying the body from heavy metals like lead and mercury. It also prevents tooth decay by getting rid of bacteria when chewed. Doctors say that it strengthens the heart, prevents kidney stones, reduces skin diseases and even fight cancer!

   Alongside to its myriad of health benefits, apples are acidic and juicy, which helps you feel full long afterwards. According to a Brazilian study, eating an apple before a meal helped women lose 33% more weight than those who didn't.* That's because 25% of an apple's volume is pure air. In that sense, it's a true powerfood!

    

   

   2. Banana 

   I am a huge fan of bananas, because they are so filling that it could be a meal replacement in of itself. One time I ate 8 of these on a super-long bus ride, and felt great afterwards! 

   Contrary to popular belief, eating bananas does not make you fat. They provide a substantial boost of energy - 3 small bananas can give you enough energy to last through a 90 minute workout! 

   Bananas can combat various illnesses, like cardiovascular diseases through its potassium-packed body, anemia, and blood pressure. The potassium in bananas help to promote bone mass and counter the negative effects of high-salt diets which is damaging for bones. Banana's natural tryptophan helps to combat depression by converting itself into serotonin, the happy serum.

   Ladies, during your time of the month, eat a banana - its vitamin B6 helps to regular blood glucose level to help you get through the worst of it. Plus, bananas actually make you smarter - a research with schoolchildren showed that eating a banana a day boosts brain power and makes students more alert at school. 

   As for weight loss, bananas help you digest by restoring normal bowel action. So the next time you want to go potty, don't take a laxative, eat a banana!

   

 3. Blueberry 

These little dudes pack all the antioxidant kick you need to jumpstart your day. Its phytonutrients prevents early aging, heat disease, cancer and age-related blindness and memory loss. Plus, it prevents urinary tract infections with the natural epicatechins inside which keep bacteria from clinging onto the bladder walls. Its

Great as a snack on its own, in your oatmeal, or in a powershake, blueberries is your one-stop towards a healthier and slimmer body.

 

*Courtesy of http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/10-reasons-to-eat-an-apple-a-day

Powershake Your Way to Weight Loss

Recently for my wedding, I received two Juice Extractors. Not one - two. I figured this must have been a sign to lose some weight.

According to the instruction manual, you can put a whole apple in it and crank out the juice. Well, I didn't want to eat the core as well, but thankfully there is a core mesh filtering system that prevents the core from being juiced as well. 

And it's really easy to use - all you need are some veggies and fruits. 

On my first try, I juiced one orange and a cucumber. When the orange juice came out, I was surprised as how little much could be pumped out with one large orange! But the flavor was so fresh, and it was so frosty and creamy! SO much better than the orange juice you could get in grocery stores.

Then came the cucumber. Just a note, you should drop it in slowly, or else large chunks wouldn't get processed and go straight to the waste bin.

Drop it in slowly, and don't be afraid of the loud cranky waste filter - it's not going to hurt you. 

The juice came out a nice transparent green, and along with the orange it tasted quite healthy. The cucumber dulls down the orange a bit, but adds more water content to the shake.

I didn't need to add any more extras like milk or bananas because it was pretty filling. Just make sure you don't gulp it down all at once, because you will get the hiccups (like I did)!

Other combinations that I've tried and approved are:

1. Orange power - 3 carrots, one orange, one grapefruit
2. Fruits Frenzy - one apple, 1/2 cup blueberries, 
3. Tropical Trends - 1/2 cup of pineapple chunks, one mango, one orange

I got a ton of inspirations of juicing strategies from this awesome book!

After a week of juicing, I couldn't stop. Lost about 2 pounds during the weekdays and then gained it back on weekends when I didn't juice =)