Most fruits function as natural laxatives, helping to regulate your body's digestive process. They provide roughage and fiber that is important in helping your body get rid of wastes.

Fruits also offer protection from illness. Fruit contains important vitamins that your body needs to stay healthy. Oranges and other citrus fruits, strawberries and many other fruits contain vitamins C, A and E which are important anti-oxidants, protecting your body from the damage caused by free radicals.

The bright colors of many fruits are actually another source of benefits of fruit. The pigments that make blueberries blue and cranberries red are actually something called phytonutrients. These newly discovered phytonutrients are extremely powerful antioxidants that help protect your body against cancer-causing free radicals and may slow down some of the effects of aging.

Not surprisingly, studies have shown that a diet high in fruit can help prevent many of the symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer's disease and other deteriorating conditions of the brain.
The benefits of fruit are so well accepted that the USDA recommends at least five servings a day of fruit in your diet.