7 Non-Citrus Fruits that Might Surprise You

While citrus fruits are packed with antioxidants and other healthy vitamins, it’s important to eat them in moderation.

Fruits like oranges are high in natural sugars, and many contain citric acid, which can erode the enamel of your teeth if you consume too much. Especially if you don’t just eat the fruit but also consume a lot of orange juice, although non-citrus fruit juices such as apple juice contain other acids that are just as bad for teeth.

To avoid damaging your dental health with citric acid, you’ll want to balance your diet with non-citrus fruits, ensuring that you get essential nutrients from a mix of citrus and non-citrus sources.

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7 Non-Citrus Fruits to Try:

1 . Banana

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world and are packed with great vitamins and nutrients to support a healthy diet. For example, they’re high in potassium, vital for your heart and maintaining your blood pressure. A banana also has a lot of pectins. This soluble fiber lowers cholesterol and helps to maintain regular bowel movements.

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2. Pear

 

Pears are high in essential carbohydrates, providing a lot of energy and other vital nutrients. They’re known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, boost your immune system and help prevent certain cancers, too, when part of a balanced diet. Again, they’re high in soluble fiber too.

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3. Papaya

Not only is papaya delicious, but it has powerful antioxidant effects thanks to the carotenoids it contains. Studies also show that the body absorbs more antioxidants from papaya than from fruit or vegetable. And it’s one of the best non-citrus fruits if you want a source of Vitamin C. The health benefits of this tropical fruit are fantastic.

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4. Guava

 

Guava is a great fruit to enjoy in the balance against some other fruits high in sugar. Guava is believed to be an excellent food for controlling insulin and improving blood sugar control. This makes it a popular fruit for anyone who has diabetes. It’s also another non-citrus fruit that’s high in Vitamin C.

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5. Avocado

Avocado is an excellent choice if you want a fruit high in soluble fiber. A serving of avocado is considered a third of a whole fruit, containing around 4.5 grams of fiber, 1.4g of which is soluble. Unfortunately, avocados also have lower amounts of phytate and oxalate. These antinutrients can reduce your body’s absorption of the critical minerals provided by avocado.

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6. Bell pepper

While bell peppers are a salad fruit more than a snacking food, they’re very high in Vitamin C, A, and potassium and make a great addition to your diet. They also contain Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps promote healthy muscles and nerves. And once again, they’re a great source of fiber too.

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7. Acai berry

The acai berry is incredibly high in antioxidants, much higher than other berries previously thought to be the best sources. On the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale, acai is almost four times better than blueberries for its antioxidant content. Unfortunately, it’s often eaten frozen or freeze-dried due to how quickly it can lose nutrients after harvest.

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Related Non-Citrus Fruits Articles:

• 5 Benefits of Bananas
• Pears for Sore Throats
• A List of the Most Sour Fruits

Best Non-Citrus Fruits for Vitamin C Content:

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, offers many health benefits, including improving your immune system, helping to prevent cardiovascular disease, and even just stopping skin wrinkles before they form.

Citrus fruits like mandarin orange, tangerine, or grapefruit are excellent sources of Vitamin C and fruit juice. But too much acidic fruit can be damaging to your dental health. So instead, look for non-citrus fruits as a balance. Consuming citric acid shouldn’t be avoided entirely, but everything in moderation.

Papaya, guava, and bell peppers are some of the best non-citrus fruits for Vitamin C. At the same time, green leafy vegetables are another alternative too.

Non-Citrus Sources of Antioxidants:

If you want to increase the antioxidants in your diet, citrus fruit such as oranges and mango have many benefits. Citrus flavonoids, known as flavanones, are primarily found in lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Non-citrus sources of antioxidants include many berry family fruits, with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries high on recommendation lists, although not even close to the acai berry. Berries also have another type of flavonoid, flavan-3-ols, which have many valuable nutrients.

Fresh fruit is always a great source of vitamins and antioxidants for your diet. However, it’s important not to eat only citrus fruit to avoid consuming too much citric acid but to mix it up with non-citrus fruits to get a good balance of dietary fiber and other vital nutrients.

What are your favorite citrus fruits and non-citrus fruits? And do leave a comment below.