5 Fruits Rich in Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient required by our body. This vitamin not only helps in alleviating simple diseases such as common cold and cough, but also helps in staving off several major diseases such as inflammation, hair loss, gum disease and scurvy, while boosting the body's immune system. It also helps in processing Vitamin A and E.

Most of us know that citrus fruits such as oranges are rich in Vitamin C. But, did you know that there are many more fruits that are rich in this vitamin? Here are 5 such fruits rich in Vitamin C.

1. Guavas

If you have heard of the popular proverb, 'an apple a day keeps a doctor away', you probably are not aware of the nutritional value of guavas. A 100 gm of guavas has not only got more energy and proteins compared to apples, it also has a higher percentage of vitamins than apple. This includes Vitamin C composition as well. While an apple has just about 4.6 mg of the vitamin per 100 gm, a guava has 228.3 mg of this vitamin, a whopping 380% of the daily value.

2. Kiwi

Kiwi is another fruit rich in Vitamin C. If you thought oranges and lemons are rich in Vitamin C, wait till you see the composition in a kiwi fruit. A 100 gm of kiwi has about 93 mg of Vitamin C, which is about 150% of the daily value. A 100 gm of orange contains approximately 53 mg of the vitamin, which is 88% of the daily value. This makes Kiwi an amazing source of Vitamin C.

3. Oranges

While kiwi has a richer composition of Vitamin C, citrus fruits such as oranges are not losers. There is a reason why citrus fruits such as lemon, lime, oranges or even sweet lime are recommended when you have a common cold. These fruits are not only good sources of Vitamin C, but they also replenish some of the essential electrolytes in the body will improving the cold-fighting mechanism. Oranges and lemons almost have the same amount of Vitamin C (53 mg per 100 gm).

4. Strawberries

While berries are generally rich in nutrients, strawberries are some of the fruits rich in Vitamin C. These fruits too have a good amount of Vitamin C, similar to citrus fruits. While strawberries have fewer other nutrients compared to citrus fruits, they have more Vitamin C then those fruits. A 100 gm of strawberries contains about 59 mg of Vitamin C, which is about 97% of the daily value.

5. Papayas

Did you know that papayas are good sources of Vitamin C? Maybe not. A 100 gm of papaya contains about 61 mg of Vitamin C. This is about 224% of the daily value of the vitamin. Vitamins are also a good source of Vitamin A and other micronutrients.

There are several fruits that are rich in Vitamin C, which include pineapple and mangoes. Do let me know what your favourite fruit is, in the comment box.