The top 25 healthy fruits: Blueberries, apples, cherries, bananas and 21 more healthy picks

Frozen fruit
If your favourite fresh fruit is only available for six weeks of the year, head to the frozen food aisle. Grocery store freezers house a variety of affordable frozen fruit, ranging from cubed mango to woodland blueberries to tropical fruit salad.

Not only is frozen fruit convenient, but it's also equally nutritious – if not more so – than its fresh counterpart. Fresh fruit starts to lose nutrients as soon as it's picked. The time between harvest and consumption can be long enough for significant nutrient losses to occur. Frozen fruit, however, is picked and frozen immediately, retaining much of the nutrient value. Plus, since frozen fruit is already washed, peeled and cut, it's a breeze to use. It can be thawed at room temperature or defrosted in the microwave. Once defrosted, eat it as you would fresh fruit, or use it atop cereal, mixed in yogurt or blended into smoothies.

Grape
• Nutritional value (1/2 cup/ 125 mL): 53 calories, less than 1 g fibre, source of manganese
• Disease-fighting factor: Grapes contain resveratrol, an antioxidant that may help prevent heart disease by reducing blood pressure levels and lowering the risk of blood clots. Resveratrol may also help stop the spread of breast, stomach and colon cancer cells.
• Did you know? You can freeze red and green grapes and use them as colourful ice cubes in your favourite drinks. They add a special touch to sparkling water or Champagne.

Grapefruit (pink)
• Nutritional value (1/2 grapefruit): 52 calories, 2 g fibre, source of vitamin A
• Disease-fighting factor: Pink grapefruit contains lycopene and flavonoids, which may help protect against some types of cancer. Grapefruit also boasts an ample supply of pectin, a soluble fibre that may help lower cholesterol levels.
• Did you know? Grapefruit can heighten the effect of certain drugs, including cholesterol-lowering statins. Check with your pharmacist to see if grapefruit may interfere with any of your medications. 

Kiwifruit
• Nutritional value (1 large): 56 calories, 3 g fibre, source of vitamins C and E, and of magnesium and potassium
• Disease-fighting factor: With more vitamin C than oranges, kiwis can help in the development and maintenance of bones, cartilage, teeth and gums. They can also help lower blood triglyceride levels (high triglycerides increase the risk of heart disease).
• Did you know? Most people remove the fuzzy skin, but kiwis can actually be eaten whole – skin and all.

Mango
• Nutritional value (1/2 medium): 54 calories, 1.5 g fibre, source of vitamins A and E
• Disease-fighting factor: Mangoes are high in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may help protect vision and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in adults).
• Did you know? Mangoes can be enjoyed ripe as a sweet, juicy dessert choice or unripe as a sour, crunchy addition to chutney and salads.

Orange
• Nutritional value (1 medium): 62 calories, 3 g fibre, source of vitamin C, folate and potassium
• Disease-fighting factor: Oranges are a good source of folate, an important vitamin for pregnant women that can help prevent neural tube defects in their infants. They also contain a phytochemical called hesperidin, which may lower triglyceride and blood cholesterol levels.
• Did you know? The edible white part of the orange rind has nearly the same amount of vitamin C as the flesh, so eat that part too!

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