From apples to watermelon, fruits of the tree and vine provide an abundance of life-enhancing and disease-fighting vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals.

Fruits of the Tree

Tree fruits are as American as apple pie and are a highly versatile player in juicing, contributing a wide range of flavors, colors, and textures. Here are some of the most popular fruits:

• Apples. Rich in vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, C, folic acid, biotin, and a host of minerals that promote healthy skin, hair, and nails, apples also contain pectin, a fiber that absorbs toxins, stimulates digestion, and helps reduce cholesterol. Apples are extremely versatile and blend well with other juices. Yield per pound: six to eight ounces of juice.

• Apricots. Apricots are high in beta-carotene and vitamin A and are a good source of fiber and potassium. Yield per pound: six ounces of juice.

• Cherries. Rich in vitamins A, B, C, folic acid, niacin, and minerals, cherries are potent alkalizers that reduce the acidity of the blood, making them effective in reducing gout, arthritis, and prostate disorders. Yield per pound of pitted cherries: six to eight ounces of juice.

• Grapefruit. Rich in vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous, and potassium, the pink and red varieties of grapefruit are sweeter and less acidic than white grapefruit. Grapefruit helps strengthen capillary walls, heal bruising, and reduce skin colds, ear disorders, fever, indigestion, scurvy, varicose veins, obesity, and morning sickness. Yield per pound: six to eight ounces of juice.

• Lemons. Lemons are high in citric acid and vitamin C, so a little goes a long way in juicing. Their high antioxidant content and antibacterial properties relieve colds, sore throats, and skin infections, and also help reduce anemia, blood disorders, constipation, ear disorders, gout, indigestion, scurvy, skin infections, and obesity. Yield per pound: four to five ounces of juice.

• Oranges. A rich source of vitamins C, B, K, biotin, folic acid, amino acids, and minerals, oranges cleanse the gastrointestinal track, strengthen capillary walls, and benefit the heart and lungs. Oranges help reduce anemia, blood disorders, colds, fever, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disorders, lung disorders, skin disorders, pneumonia, rheumatism, scurvy, and obesity. Yield per pound: six to eight ounces of juice.

• Limes. Similar to lemons in nutrients but not as acidic or cleansing, limes can be substituted for lemons in juice recipes. Yield per pound: four to five ounces of juice.

• Peaches and nectarines. High in beta-carotene and vitamin B, C, niacin and minerals, peaches and nectarines cleanse the intestines and help relieve morning sickness. Yield per pound: one to three ounces of juice.

• Pears. Rich in fiber and vitamin C, B, folic acid, niacin, and the minerals phosphorous and calcium, pears help reduce disorders of the bladder, liver, and prostate as well as constipation. Yield per pound: four to six ounces of juice.

• Plums. High in vitamin C, A, copper, and iron, the benzoic and quinic acids in plums are effective laxatives. Plums help with anemia, constipation, and weight loss. Yield per pound: four ounces of juice.

• Grapes. High in caffeic acid, which helps fight cancer, grapes are also packed with bioflavonoids, which help the body absorb vitamin C. Grapes also contain resveratrol, a nutrient that helps prevent liver, lung, breast, and prostate cancer, and saponins, a nutrient that binds with cholesterol and prevents the body from absorbing it. Yield per pound: eight ounces of juice.