Have Fruit for Breakfast

Incorporate fruit into every breakfast. It's a great way to include those vital servings of fruit and veggies.

Fruit and vegetables are full of nutrients to build health in every way. They are nature's healers. "Fruits and vegetables are full of nutraceuticals, the natural chemicals in plants with pharmacologic action," says Linda Page in Healthy Healing ©2000, page 121.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are also high in water content. I always tell my boys, "Eat water foods." I mean if we're made up of 70% water, I think it's important to replace that and water foods offer a healthful means to do just that.

Whether you love breakfast, or drag yourself out of bed just in time to hop in the car (or to the bus stop) in time for work, you can have fruit for breakfast.

It's just as quick to grab an orange or apple and banana as it is a doughnut or leftover piece of pizza and it's much better for you.

However, if you just 10 to 30 minutes earlier to eat breakfast at home, you can turn an ordinary breakfast at the table into a satisfying moment of self pampering. Instead of an ordinary bowl of oatmeal or yogurt, imagine adding chopped ripe mango, fresh blueberries, dried cranberries or raisins, nuts, flax seeds. . . whatever appeals to you on that particular morning. In this case it's good to spoil yourself. You deserve it, after all, you're up, you're taking responsibilities. So go ahead take care of you. What a treat!

Fruit's bright color satisfies the eyes as well as the palate. The different colors indicate different vitamins too, so include multiple kinds of fruit.

This time of year the local farmer's market is full of berries, peaches and other vibrant fruits. Take advantage of them. . . Have fruit for breakfast.

Phytonutrients Could Save Your Life

"Phytonutrients play perhaps the most important part in preventing cancer and heart disease." ~Don Colbert, M.D.

"Phytonutrients are . . . highly protective against heart disease and cancer." ~Andrew Weil, M.D. 

What are these miraculous nutrients? 

They are plant compounds that come from fruits and vegetables. Phytonutrients are what give fruits and vegetables their color, flavor and scent. And they are naturally disease resistant so they help your body fight disease.  

So how do we get more phytonutrients into our bodies? We eat more fruits and vegetables.

You thought I was going to suggest some expensive supplement or juice, didn't you? 

There may be some of those products that add phytonutrients to your diet, but they are not as effective as adding more fruits and vegetables. You see God made the things we need. Given enough of the food God made, and told us to eat, we will have what we need. 

Obviously in today's world of technology, our food, water and air have been polluted, which is what makes it difficult to eat right. I don't claim that any of us can avoid all things that cause cancer or heart disease, but we can help the situation by being mindful of what we choose at the store. Organic produce is always better since you avoid the pollution of chemicals used as pesticides. Choose brightly colored produce. Eat whole, raw, or slightly cooked fruit and veggies as often as possible. And eat LOTS of different varieties, in all the colors God has created. 

Enjoy your phytonutrients!