The Fruit You Should Eat To Add More Vitamins To Your Diet
When it comes to eating a balanced diet, it's no surprise that fruit is important to your overall health and well-being. While the daily recommended serving of fruit varies based on gender, age, and a variety of other factors, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that adult women 19 and up generally consume two cups per day, while adult men between the ages of 19 and 59 years old should eat over two cups daily.
Getting your daily recommended serving of fruit has a number of health benefits, including providing your body with essential nutrients and preventing chronic diseases, including heart attack and stroke. Fruits are packed with micronutrients, the vitamins and minerals your body needs in small amounts in order to function properly. In order to get your daily dose of micronutrients, it's important to eat vitamin-rich fruits, and there's one in particular that packs a nutrient-dense punch.
Try this vitamin-rich superfruit
Mamey fruit, which is a tropical fruit native to Mexico and Central America, has a creamy, soft texture and flavor profile similar to that of sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and apricots, according to Healthline. It's also incredibly nutritious. One cup of raw mamey fruit contains a significant amount of fiber (9.5 grams) and is packed with vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
An antioxidant, vitamin E plays a key role in your blood, brain, and skin health (via the Mayo Clinic), and it's recommended for adults to consume 15 milligrams of vitamin E daily, according to Harvard. While there are a number of high-fiber foods — such as avocado, asparagus, and almonds — that are also rich in vitamin E, half of a mamey fruit contains 5.9 milligrams of vitamin E, per Healthline.
With an avocado-like texture, mamey fruit can be enjoyed in its natural state as a tasty and nutritious snack or blended into a delicious smoothie (via My Dominican Kitchen). The tropical fruit can be purchased online or found at specialty grocery stores.