Think good fruit only comes out in summer? Think again! Winter isn’t all about oranges and lemons- there are plenty of delicious winter fruits that add some variety to your diet plan, as well as giving you all the vitamins and antioxidants you need to stay strong and healthy. Here are 10 of the best fruits to fill up on this winter…

Blood oranges

With a deliciously tangy taste, blood oranges bring a more exotic citrus flavour to your winter fruit salad. Blood oranges are a great source of vitamin C, fibre and folate. The red pigment is an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which fights free radicals to keep your body strong and healthy. Blood oranges can also be a good source of calcium and vitamin A. Packed full of all these vitamins and nutrients, blood oranges may even help to reduce the risk of heart disease, cataracts, some types of cancer and cholesterol accumulation.

Kiwifruit

Delicious all year round, kiwifruits help to brighten up winter with their vibrant colour and sweet taste. They’re an excellent source of fibre, so they keep you feeling energised and satisfied, as well as being stuffed full of antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients that keep you healthy and prevent disease- they have more vitamin C than oranges, and just as much potassium as bananas. Slice some up to add colour to your oatmeal, or eat straight with a spoon for a healthy snack.

Mandarins

Mandarins are sweet and tasty and full of vitamin C, fibre and folate, which makes them great for supporting your overall health and boosting your immunity. They’ll also keep you feeling full on very few calories, so they can help speed along your weight loss plans. Split them up into segments and eat as a health snack, or throw them into a salad to give your greens a nice juicy burst.

Red grapes

Grapes have long been a popular snack, with their sweet, juicy flavour and great texture. And as well as being delicious, grapes are full of vitamins C, A and B6, as well as plenty of folate, potassium, iron, calcium and more. Because of all these nutrients and some powerful antioxidants, adding grapes into your diet can help to treat fatigue, indigestion and constipation, as well as helping to protect you from kidney disorders and eye problems like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Grapefruit

There’s a reason why grapefruits have become associated with dieting- they’re delicious, low-calorie and packed full of vitamin C, fibre and folate. With their tart and tangy taste and underlying sweetness, grapefruits give you a juicy burst of flavour, and help to speed along your weight loss efforts. High in fat-burning enzymes, low in sodium, and high in water content, they can give your metabolism a kick and help you to flush out excess water. Not only that, they can give you plenty of other health benefits including a better complexion and reduced risk of cancer.

Pomegranates

These deliciously juicy fruits are low in calories, and high in potassium and Vitamin C. This means they are perfect for cleansing your body and getting in all the antioxidants you need to maintain good health and support your weight loss goals. Pomegranates have more antioxidants than blueberries or cranberries, as well as green tea, red wine and grape juice. Break one open and sprinkle the seeds over your salad, or in your yogurt. There are plenty of ways you can enjoy this beautifully coloured fruit to get plenty of nutrients and flavour.

Bananas

Creamy, rich and sweet, bananas are a great fruit to brighten up your winter. Packed full of vitamins, bananas give you lots of energy so you can power through your workout- all for only around 100 calories. Bananas are an excellent source of fibre, vitamin C and potassium. A medium-sized banana has around 11% of your daily potassium needs, helping to regulate your blood pressure, promote good cardiovascular health and reduce muscle cramping during exercise. Bananas are also rich in vitamin B6, which helps to boost your immunity and stabilise your blood sugar levels, which in turn prevents cravings and regulates your mood. 

Pears

Pears are a great winter fruit and are full of vitamin C and fibre, so they fill you up and keep you feeling satisfied. The antioxidants in pears play an important role in protecting your immune system- which is especially important in these cold winter months when colds and flus spread easily. Pears can also help to reduce fever quickly, because of their cooling effect. Not only that, it can help prevent allergies and other skin conditions.

Persimmons

They might look a little like anaemic tomatoes, but persimmons are tasty and satisfying when eaten fresh, and can also be used in a number of different ways, including in pies, salads, smoothies, jellies and even cakes and desserts, or broiled on their own as a simple side dish. Persimmons are a good source of vitamin A, and have been long used as a traditional remedy for a range of ailments including asthma, diarrhea, lung infections and hiccups.

Passionfruit

There’s nothing you’d associate with winter less than a passionfruit, but these delicious tropical fruits are in season almost all year round, so you can have a bit of summer flavour even in the depths of winter. Passionfruit is a great source of vitamins A and C, giving you plenty of health benefits including protection against damage caused by free radicals. Because the flavour is so strong, you can use small amounts of it to add a delicious burst to all kinds of foods.