A Guide to Buying Orchard Fruits and Their Nutritional Value

Orchard fruit is the name given to a selection of fruits that range from apples to cherries. Orchard fruits have skins that can be peeled or eaten. When it comes to the skins of orchard fruits, keep in mind that the nutrients are concentrated directly below that peeling so you get the biggest benefit from eating them with the skin intact.

Cherries

Cherries are an orchard fruit that come in two distinct varieties. You can find sweet cherries and you can find sour cherries. The best news it that either type of cherry can be eaten raw, but some types are better consumed after being cooked. When it comes to shopping for cherries, look for a skin that is bright to the point of glossy, tight and free from dark or soft spots. Cherries sporting any kind of damage to the skin should be avoided. The benefits of eating cherries are substantial. Adding cherries to your diet can keep you from having to go the high colonic route since these orchard fruits are effective removers of toxins from the kidneys. Cherries are also recommended for those suffering from gout. Arthritis patients may also see a benefit from including cherries on the menu. As for those nutrients located just the skin of the cherry, you'll add iron, vitamin C, B1, potassium and beta carotene to your body.

Apples

This orchard fruit has given rise to the popular refrain that eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Ever wonder what it is about eating an apple that saves you money on your doctor's bill? Apples are efficient aids to the digestive process which is a stain upon the health of many people. Part of the digestive benefit of eating apples is that they help strain impurities from the liver. Apples also provide vitamin C and fiber to your diet. You'll find apple products in a number of energy products because apples contain fructose that helps in metabolizing sugar into energy.

Plums

My own favorite of the orchard fruits, plums feature varied tastes that range from incredibly sweet to puckery tart. When judging whether plums are buyable, look for a smooth, shiny peeling that is firm but giving. Ripe plums can be stored inside the refrigerator, contrary to popular belief. A steady diet of plums will keep you regular during the summer and allow you to enjoy standing in line at Disney World or spending time at the beach inside of cooped up inside a toilet waiting for nature to take its course. Plums may also have the benefit of nerve stimulation which can keep more active and concentrated.

Peaches

Peaches are one of the most popular of the orchard fruits because of their delicious sweetness. A peach plucked right off the tree and eaten after it has been warmed by the morning summer sun is one of those moments in life you won't forget. Peaches contain vitamin C that you will mostly lose if you bother peeling the skin off. Just give it a run under some water and you can avoid the unpleasantness of the fuzzy skin. Peaches also contain healthy amounts of beta carotene which can help reduce the risk of heart attack. The best method for choosing peaches is to go with ones that are just slightly underipe so that you can avoid bruising. Place these somewhat hard peaches inside a brown paper bag alongside a peach or two that has already ripened and let nature do its magic.

Apricots

Apricots are not the most popular orchard fruit but some people swear by them. The main reason for all this swearing is that you can an awful lot of vitamin A and beta carotene in a small package easily carried around. The best time to purchase apricots is at the peak of ripeness because those that are underripe are not only hard, but lacking in taste. An apricot that has not been allowed to ripen will usually not attain ideal sweetness.