Less Microwaving - Push for Fresh Fruits for Better Health

Let's be honest no one thinks that popping a frozen dinner into the microwave is the best way to go about improving his or her health. The larger problem is that microwaving is just too easy a notion mothers in the 1950s would've been all too happy to test out. Invented the mid-60s to make things just that easy they've become a crutch for a society that is today too busy and too tempted to make healthy eating choices. It doesn't hurt that many microwavable food items, like Pop Tarts, are designed to make us crave them.

Vitamins and nutrients

Fruits have long been known to provide vitamins and nutrients that processed foods just don't offer, and they do it with a portability that many microwavable food items are only now beginning to rival. According to the United States government, a diet rich in fruit may reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke, as well as various types of cancers. High-fruit diets provide fiber, which can help with obesity and type 2 diabetes, while the potassium content in some fruits may help lower blood pressure. The risk of developing bone loss and kidney stones is also shown to decrease with a high potassium diet.

Unlike microwavable fare, fruits are generally low in not only calories, but also sodium and fat as well. If you have cholesterol be concerns, you should be aware that no fruits contain it. While many processed foods have nutrients added, fruits naturally contain vitamin C and other often under-consumed nutrients like potassium and folic acid.

Make the effort

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to eating a diet rich in fruits is cost and availability. In cold weather states, fruits have in the past been difficult to come by, and at an increased cost. Fortunately, stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes are increasing their reach, providing shoppers with greater opportunity to buy. Improving technologies in plant biology are also helping keep fruit on the shelves longer.

In the end, however, fruits biggest selling point is their taste. From apples and oranges to peaches and bananas, the vast array of fruits available are sure to leave most any person with some that please their palate. Even if you don't wish to just grab an apple and bite in, fresh fruits can often be made into sauces and jellies with relative ease. And even if you're putting them in a pie, they provide the same nutrients, albeit with additional calories.

While it may make sense to have a granola bar packed along with you on a hike, processed foods are a disastrous temptation when kept in the household. Make an effort to keep fresh fruits and vegetables on hand at all times to help model behavior for children, and to keep them healthy. Without adult support, children often gravitate toward sweeter, more fattening foods, which can manifest itself in health problems sooner than later. For a healthy diet, fresh fruits are the way to go.

Matt Anton is a partner in the online marketing venture BacklinksVault, and has extensive experience with nutrition and fitness, including health and diet concerns.