Top 20 Healthiest Fruits You Can Eat

Last Updated on January 26, 2023 by Lori Geurin

Find out the 20 healthiest fruits to eat. Plus, a fruit salad recipe, the best fruits for healthy skin, and fun ways to eat fruit. Let’s go!

Eating fruit is not only fun but oh so healthy too. Just think of all of the songs about fruit. (I Like To Eat Apples And Bananas and Wiggles Fruit Salad Yummy Yummy are 2 that come to mind.) Below you’ll learn if all fruit is good for you and get the lowdown on 20 of the healthiest fruits. Plus, a delicious recipe for fruit salad and the best fruits to make your skin glow from within.

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Top 20 Healthiest Fruits You Can Eat

1. Blueberries

Wild blueberries have more antioxidants than just about any food on earth. Research has found that eating blueberries may even reduce age-related memory loss. Blueberries are also easy to grow.

You can pop them in your mouth, freshly washed. Or eat them in a salad, fruit smoothie, or sprinkle them in your oatmeal.

2. Bananas

The classic fruit. Not only delicious but highly nutritious too. Bananas are possibly best known for being high in potassium. Green bananas are made up of resistant starch, which may help control blood sugar.

Bananas are perfect eaten on their own or with peanut butter or other nut butters. They make your smoothies thick and rich and are delightful with oats.

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3. Papaya

Papaya is high in vitamin C, potassium, and the anticancer antioxidant Lycopene. Eating papaya has been shown to help with digestion.

Not only can you eat the papaya flesh, but you can also eat the seeds too. The seeds are full of antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats.

Papaya is amazing in salads, smoothies, papaya salsa, or grilled.

4. Raspberries

Raspberries are high in vitamin C, fiber, and polyphenols. They’ve been shown to help with weight loss.

They’re delicious in smoothies or to top off your salads or oatmeal.

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5. Watermelon

One of the most popular fruits, watermelon is 92% water. Because it’s so hydrating it helps you feel full longer which can prevent overeating.

It’s also high in vitamins C, A, and several antioxidants. The lycopene in watermelon has impressive anti-cancer benefits.

It’s delicious on it’s own or in salads and smoothies.

6. Lemons

Lemons have a fresh, clean scent and are high in vitamin C. They’re surprisingly healthy for your heart and can prevent weight gain.

Lemons are a beautiful accent to a variety of dishes. And drinking lemon water is refreshing and healthy. (Just make sure to brush your teeth afterwards to prevent the citric acid from damaging the tooth enamel.)

Related: 9 Surprising Benefits Of Lemon Water

7. Avocados

Avocados are rich in healthy fats, magnesium, and fiber. Eating avocados may help decrease inflammation and protect your heart.

There are so many ways to enjoy avocados – on toast, in eggs, smoothies, soups, and hummus. And simply with salt and pepper.

8. Cranberries

Many people only eat cranberries at Thanksgiving, but these small, tart berries deserve to be enjoyed more than once a year. Cranberries are packed with vitamin C, K1, and antioxidants.

They’re perhaps best known for preventing urinary tract infections. But they also contain proanthocyanidins that can protect your teeth from harmful bacteria.

You can enjoy cranberries in homemade cranberry sauce or relish, in smoothies, and more.

9. Apples

You know what they say about an apple a day? Apparently, it’s true because apples have some impressive health benefits. They’re high in vitamins, antioxidants and fiber.

Studies have shown that eating apples may reduce your risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Apples can be enjoyed in so many ways. Enjoy apples in salads, smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, baked, or dipped in almond butter.

“If you’re not eating fruit you’re missing out on so many valuable nutrients.”

10. Grapefruit

There’s an antioxidant in grapefruit, naringenin, that may decrease your cholesterol, insulin resistance, and prevent kidney stones. Also, grapefruit may protect you from getting colon cancer.

If you take medication make sure to talk to your doctor before eating grapefruit because it can interact with a variety of drugs.

When it comes to eating grapefruit many people just slice it in half and sprinkle it with sugar. But there are healthier ways to enjoy it, like this grapefruit cherry smoothie bowl.

11. Cherries

Cherries not only taste amazing but they’re a nutritional powerhouse. They’re full of antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium. Plus, the melatonin in tart cherry juice may help you sleep better. And who doesn’t want a more peaceful sleep?

You can enjoy cherries freshly picked, in cherry chutney, in smoothies, or in salads. I love eating these Cherry Pie Larabars for quick and fruity snacks. They only have 3 whole food ingredients – dates, almonds, and unsweetened cherries.

Related: How To Sleep Better With Chronic Back Pain

12. Oranges

Oranges are full of vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. They’re also packed with flavonoids that offer anti-inflammatory properties. They help prevent kidney stones and may lower cholesterol.

Oranges are delicious in a variety of dishes, in smoothies, salads, and this orange and jicama salsa.

13. Blackberries

Like the other berries on this list, blackberries are super healthy boasting incredible nutrition, fiber, and antioxidants. The antioxidants may prevent chronic disease and decrease inflammation in the body.

Blackberries can be enjoyed with raw honey, or as a topping for yogurt or oatmeal.

14. Strawberries

Strawberries contain high amounts of vitamin C and fiber. Studies suggest that eating strawberries may prevent cancer and other diseases.

They’re delicious served fresh, with raw honey, in salads, yogurt, porridge, and smoothies.

15. Grapes

Eating purple and red grapes is a healthy choice. They’re packed with the antioxidants resveratrol and anthocyanin which lower inflammation.

You can eat grapes in salads and they’re especially delicious in chicken salad.

16. Dates

Dates are excellent sources of calcium, magnesium, fiber, and antioxidants. Studies suggest that eating dates may improve brain health and help prevent Alzheimer’s.

Dates are delicious eaten plain but can be used as a natural sweetener for a variety of dishes or dressings.

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17. Mango

A scrumptious tropical fruit, mangos are bursting with vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.

Frozen mango is yummy in smoothies. It’s also delicious in mango salsa.

18. Pomegranates

Pomegranates are full of potassium and fiber, not to mention their high level of antioxidants. The plant compounds found in these unique fruits may help protect you against cancer.

You can enjoy them in a variety of dishes or salads.

19. Olives

Olives are rich in vitamin E and oleic acid. They may boost heart and liver health and help prevent cancer.

There are a variety of olives to choose from and they can be enjoyed as a topping on nearly anything you like. You might consider trying them in salads, hummus, or dips.

20. Kiwis

Kiwis offer a burst of flavor. You can eat the inner green flesh and seeds and the furry outer peel. But many people prefer to get rid of the peel. Kiwis are incredibly nutritious and offer up high amounts of vitamin C, K, and potassium.

They’ve been shown to help with blood pressure, asthma, and digestion.

Feel free to enjoy kiwis in cold fruit soups, fruit salads, or in smoothies.

“Eating real food makes you glow from within.”

Is Eating Fruit Bad For You?

There’s a lot of confusion about fruit.

Some of us have heard that we should only eat low-sugar fruit, that fruit is one of the "bad snacks", or that fruit makes you gain weight. But that's simply not true. Fruit is a whole food and one of the most nutritious foods you can eat.

Podcast About Fruit

Anthony William created a thought-provoking podcast on the topic of Fruit Fear. I listened to it yesterday. Despite what you may have heard, fruit is healthy for most everyone. It’s real food and is packed with nutrition. If you’re not eating fruit you’re missing out on so many valuable nutrients.

Plus, eating fruit can protect you from a heart attack, stroke, heart disease, and even cancer. A study done over a 24-year period showed that people who increased their intake of fruits and vegetables were more likely to have lost weight compared to people who didn’t.

You can listen to the podcast here.

So the next time you’re having a snack attack, don’t believe those negative messages you may have heard about fruit. It really is good for you.

Related: Tips To Lose Weight Faster: 18 Proven Strategies

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Healthy Fruits For Glowing Skin

You might be wondering which fruits are especially beneficial for your skin. As you probably know, what you eat shows up in your appearance. Eating real foods cleanses the body from toxins, strengthens your hair and nails, and makes your skin glow from within.

All fruits have nutritional value, but some are especially helpful for your skin. These include:

• cucumber
• watermelon
• apricot
• lemon
• mango
• pineapples

You can find out how to enjoy fruit for breakfast in 15 Healthy Breakfast Foods To Start Your Morning Right

Nutrition-Proven Health Benefits

Fruit contains natural sugars, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. All of which have a proven positive impact on your health.

Fruit can be an excellent source of nutrition to stay healthy and strong. And adding fruit to your diet is not only easy but also practical since fruit comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors.

Different fruits have different nutritional profiles, but some stand out uniquely. For example, citrus fruits are a great source of vitamin C and folic acid, which is important for heart health. Berries are rich in antioxidants that can help protect against the effects of aging. And apples have been shown to promote weight loss by boosting your metabolism and reducing hunger.

So if you’re looking for a way to improve your health, adding fruit to your diet is an excellent option. Not only will it provide all the nutrition you need, but it can also help prevent certain conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Honey Lime Fruit Salad Recipe

Do you enjoy eating healthy fruit salad? My favorite combination is similar to this Honey Lime Fruit Salad Recipe but I normally throw in whatever fruit I have on hand that sounds good at the time. There’s something about this honey and lime combination that really brings out the lovely fruit flavors.

I enjoy adding strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, and grapes. But I also favor apples, bananas, and many other fruits too.

Pictured above is a simple fruit salad I ate for lunch this week that had a nectarine, a banana, and a couple of kiwis. I mixed in some raw honey and it was absolutely perfect! Do you have a favorite fruit salad recipe?

Creative Ways To Eat Fruit

If you’re looking for more healthy fruit ideas, here are just a few different ways to eat fruit that you may not have thought of before.

• Cold fruit soup is divine.
• Healthy fruit rollups are fun for the whole family.
• Maybe try some of these healthy 5-ingredient granola bars with dried fruit?
• Fruit puree can be enjoyed on its own or as a substitute for oils in baking recipes.
• Cups of fresh fruit make healthy snacks.
• Overnight oats topped with fruit are healthy and delicious!
• Sprinkling antioxidant-rich berries over your salad add flavor and nutrition.
• Peanut butter and banana sandwich always hits the spot.
• Enjoy some “nice cream“, made with bananas and your favorite toppings.
• Frozen grapes, yo.
• Delight in a healthy fruit crisp like this apple crisp.
• Fruits smoothies are the bomb diggity.
• And, how about this melon salad with chili and mint?

Check out these 30 Fun, Interesting And Quirky Things To Tell People About Yourself

Summary – 20 Healthiest Fruit

As you can see, fruit is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Not only does it taste delicious, but it can be fun to eat too! Not to mention, the visual appeal of all the bright colors and the unique nutritional benefits each fruit offers.

If you’re looking for a great way to stay healthy, prevent disease, or help restore your body from a chronic illness eating fruit is a great place to start. So the next time you’re craving something sweet, reach for a lovely piece of fruit and enjoy all of the benefits it provides.

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What are your favorite fruits? What’s your favorite way to eat fruit?