WHY SHOULD WE EAT FRUITS

The oldest form of food known to man is fruit.  Man started life with fruits as Adam the first man ate an apple, the heavenly “forbidden fruit”.  The Qur'an mention fruits like grape, date, fig, olive and pomegranate as gift and heavenly fruits of God.

Fresh and dry fruits are not only the natural staple food of man but good medicine.  They contain substantial quantities of essential nutrients in a rational proportion.  They are excellent sources of minerals, vitamins and enzymes.  Fruits are easily digested and exercise a cleansing effect on the blood and the digestive tract.  People that are subsisting on fruits will always enjoy good health.  Some of the natural benefits of fruits are:

Hydrating Effect

The most pleasant way of hydrating the body is through taking fruits and fruit juice.  The water absorbed by sick persons in this manner has an added advantage of supplying sugar and minerals at the same time.

Diuretic Effect

From studies, clinical observations have shown that potassium, magnesium and sodium contents of fruits act as a diuretic and diuresis (increased secretion of urine).  They lower the urine density; therefore, accelerating the elimination of nitrogenous waste and chlorides.

Alkalizing Effect

The organic acids of the salts in fruits produce alkaline carbonates, when transformed within the organism, which alkalize the fluids.  All fruits promote intestinal elimination.  This keeps the body free from toxic wastes which creep into the blood from an overloaded, sluggish intestinal tract.  The carbohydrates contained in fruits are mainly in the form of sugar, dextrin and acids which are easily digestible and are completely absorbed hence, are very useful for sick and invalids for quick energy and heat.

Mineralising Effect

Dried fruits such as apricots, dates and other fruits rich in calcium and iron are essential for strong bones and good blood respectively.

Laxative Effect

The fibrous matter in fruits, cellulose, aids in the smooth passage of the food in the digestive tract and easy bowel action.  The sugars and organic acids contained in fruits also increase their laxative effect.  Regular intake of fruits prevents and cures constipation.

Tonic Action

Fruits as dependable sources of vitamins exert a tonic effect in the body.   Fruits are usually eaten fresh and raw, thus making the vitamins fully available to us.  Several fruits contain good amounts of carotene which the body converts to vitamin A.  The common papaya (paw paw) is a good source of vitamin C and carotene.

Fruits are at their best when eaten in their raw and ripe state.  In the process of cooking, they lose portions of the nutrients.  Fruits are most beneficial when eaten as a separate meal by themselves, preferably for breakfast in the morning.  A combination of fruits with vegetables is not considered good.  If it becomes necessary to take fruits with regular food, they should form a larger proportion of the meals.  Fruits, however, make better combination with milk than with meals.  It is also desirable to take one kind of fruit at a time.

In case of sickness, it will be advisable to take fruits in the form of juice.  However, juice should be taken immediately after extraction as it begins to decompose quickly and loses its properties.

FRUIT CURE

Fruits are highly beneficial in maintaining acid alkaline balance in the body.  They neutralize the toxic condition of the body resulting from excessive intake of acid-forming foods and restore its alkalinity.  They help clear the system of morbid waste and cater for the body requirement of natural sugar, vitamins and minerals.

Fasting is considered as nature’s oldest and most effective method of treating diseases.  The best and safest way of fasting is “juice fasting”.  The procedure is to take the juice of an orange or any other juicy fruits such as grapes, grapefruit, pineapple, diluted 50:50 with water, every two hours from 8a.m to 8p.m.  Nothing else, whatsoever may be taken, as otherwise the value of the juice fast will be entirely lost.  Canned or frozen juice should not be used.  The total daily liquid intake should be about six to eight glasses.

Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements contained in fresh fruit juices are extremely beneficial in normalizing all the body processes.  They supply needed element for the body’s own healing activity and cell regeneration and thereby speed up the recovery.  Each day, while fasting it should be ensured that the bowels are cleansed of the toxic matter thrown off by self-cleansing process set up by the body.  This can be done by a warm water enema (an injection of a liquid through the anus to stimulate evacuation – udong udip in Oron language).

Next to the short fruit fasting, the all-fruit diet is nature’s finest eliminating medium.  The value of fresh juicy fruits in overcoming of all diseased conditions, especially chronic diseases, by the cleansing of tissues, is incalculable.  The all-fruit diet is highly beneficial especially in cases of bronchitis, rheumatism, chronic catarrh and constipation as it fills the body with life-giving mineral salts.

In case of all-fruit diet, one should take three meals a day of fresh, ripe juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, peaches, watermelon or any other juicy fruit in season.  Bananas should, however, not be taken, nor should any other foodstuff be added to the fruit diet.  For drinks, plain water or unsweetened lemon water may be taken.