A CORNUCOPIA OF HEALTH & WELLNESS
Welcome back to the Blog everyone. Summer is officially over and autumn is upon us. It’s that time of year when trees show their beautiful colors, the days become shorter, the nights cooler and a bounty of fruit is ready for harvest.
So, let’s kick the fall season off with a review of some perennial fruit favorites. They not only smell and look great, but they’re filled with vitamins, minerals and nutrients that will stoke your fire and keep you going strong all season long.
PEARS
Here’s another plentiful and inexpensive fruit you’ll find all autumn long. Pears are a great source of fiber, which aids digestion and helps our body absorb the vitamins and minerals from our food. In fact, one medium pear contains 212 milligrams of potassium to maintain a healthy heart beat and strong, flexible muscles. And, pears supply 10 percent of our daily requirement of vitamin C – necessary for preventing infection, keeping our immune system strong and protecting from certain types of cancer. Make sure to take advantage of this fruit’s long harvest season, which began in August and will run through February.
APPLES
This fruit is always on our “go to” list. Apples are rich in fiber with 4 grams per serving. They not only aid our digestion, but they fill us up without adding a lot of calories. Apples are rich in riboflavin and thiamin, as well as vitamin C and antioxidants, all of which boost our immune system and protect us from illness and disease. The harvest season lasts through November so apples will make a great addition to every holiday meal coming up. And always leave the skin on, as this part contains all the heart healthy, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer flavonoids.
PUMPKINS
The pumpkin is a powerhouse of several anti-oxidant vitamins, including vitamins A, C and E. Indeed, the pumpkin contains the highest levels of Vitamin A available in any food source. It’s an essential vitamin that maintains our good visual clarity, and helps protect us from lung and oral cancers. Pumpkin also is an excellent source of beta carotenes, cryptoxanthin, lutein and zea-xanthin, which protect the eyes from age-related macular degeneration disease, boost our immunity and promote weight loss.
CRANBERRIES
Cranberries are not just for the holidays. They are a superfood that can be enjoyed all year long with fresh cranberries available from October through December. These berries are nutrient dense and are loaded with fiber for digestive health and vitamin C for our immune system. Cranberries are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, and contain phytochemicals that guard against aging, inflammation, bacterial infections and certain types of cancer. The berries only have 45 calories per cup and are famous for maintaining kidney and urinary health. But remember, while fresh and dried cranberries are equally beneficial, cranberries in juice or “cocktail” form are less nutritious.
DATES
This Middle Eastern favorite has become a staple in cooking around the world. And, with good reason. The sweet flavor of this fruit blends perfectly in everything from salads, to stews, to desserts. Dates are low in fat and high in fiber. They’re a wonderful source of potassium, which maintains heart health, and magnesium, which can treat arthritis and possibly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The rather short harvest season for dates runs from September through December, although dates can always be purchased from online vendors and specialty markets.
POMEGRANATES
Now, here we have a very underrated and overlooked fruit. It’s loaded with antioxidants that protect against illness, infection and disease, including breast and prostate cancer. It also contains insoluble dietary fibers for digestion, vitamin C for boosting immunity and ellagitannin compounds that are effective in reducing heart disease. In addition, its rich content of vitamin K, calcium, copper and potassium help fight arthritis and joint pain, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and improve memory. Just cut the pomegranate in quarters and put the pieces in a bowl of water. The seeds will separate and sink to the bottom of the bowl. Once these are juiced, be sure to save the seeds and use them in your favorite salads.
And with that, my friends, we have our annual list of 6 wonderful fall fruits that not only taste great, but will help keep us healthy and happy well into winter!
Thanks for joining me everyone. Until next time, please stay safe, stay in Good Health and . . .
TAKE THE COURSE AND TAKE CHARGE!
Leave a Comment