Understanding Common Fruits Adding fresh fruits to a diet has a number of helpful benefits.  In addition to tasting great, fruits are also loaded with nutrients that the body needs.  All common fruits provide needed vitamins and minerals to help the body function and in the case of children, grow.  Some fruits, those high in fiber, are also great snacks in that they help make a person feel full so overeating does not become a problem.  Additionally, fruit is great for cooking as well, with many types being used as a natural sweetener over refined sugar.  Typically, people who are interested in losing weight or simply becoming healthier should consider adding a larger amount of common fruits to the diet.  With so many known benefits, fruit has long been considered one of the best food sources known to man.  In this article, we wanted to provide you with names of common fruits, as well as the benefits they provide.  You will notice that both avocado and tomato make this list because these foods are actually fruits, not vegetables, as many believe. • Apple – Vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium • Avocado – Vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium • Banana – Vitamins A, B6, and C, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Blackberries – Vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Cantaloupe – Vitamins A and C, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc • Grapes – Vitamins A, B6, and C, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Kiwi – Vitamins A, B2, B6, C, and E, calcium, copper, iron, niacin, selenium, and zinc • Lemon – Vitamins A and C, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Lime – Vitamins A and C, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Mango – Vitamins A, B2, B6, C, and E, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Orange – Vitamins A, B1, and C, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, panthothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Peach – Vitamins A and C, calcium, copper, folate, iron, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Strawberry – Vitamins A and C, calcium, copper, folate, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Tomato – Vitamins A, B6, and C, calcium, copper, folate, iron, manganese, magnesium, Niacin, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc • Watermelon – Vitamins A, B1, B6, and C, calcium, copper, folate, iron, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc Again, the above-mentioned information is based on common fruits and as you can see, they offer tremendous nutritional value.  Other interesting information pertaining to common fruit includes: • You will gain more benefit from eating common fruit on an empty stomach, allowing it to burn properly and not ferment in the body • Fruit high in vitamin C is actually beneficial to smokers since this vitamin helps by compensating for the damage done to vitamin C levels in the body caused by smoking • Apples are an outstanding source of fiber • For melons, avoid eating the seeds, which actually contain slight amounts of cyanide • Some apples contain higher levels of vitamin C than others do • When choosing peaches or nectarines, always get the freshest available in that they do not ripen once off the tree By adding up to three servings of fruit a day, you will find that you have more energy, are not as hungry, and of course, your body benefits overall.  Remember, common fruit can be eaten as a snack, used in cooking, added to salads, and baked with so the options of incorporating fruit into the diet are easy.  Of course, this list is a partial one in that other common fruits to consider include cherries, plums, grapefruit, and limes. When shopping for common fruits, keep in mind that different fruits are better in particular seasons.  For instance, the summer months are great for fresh strawberries and melons whereas in the winter, they simply do not have the same great, juicy flavor.  The same is true in that some common fruits are riper and better in the winter. Therefore, for the most flavors we recommend you choose fruits that are in season.  Then, for the freshest fruits, try to shop at your local farmer’s markets.  Most often, these fruits are organic, grown without the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.  As a result, you get a healthier and more delicious fruit or vegetable.