Last year I brought you a monthly highlight of seasonal vegetables, but that leaves out so many other delicious foods. Therefore this year I am going to highlight seasonal produce!
Red cabbage
Red (also known as purple) cabbage goes well in salads and slaws but you can also cook it down for stir-frys or have that fresh crisp slaw on top of a taco. Benefits include:
Offers one of the highest levels of antioxidants per unit cost
Good source of sulforaphane - a compound linked to heart health and cancer-fighting properties
Helps fight inflammation
Can lead to a healthier heart due to the anthocyanins
Pear
Pears are such a delicious fruit! I like adding them to salads or baking them and including them on a pizza! Benefits include:
Can help promote gut health thanks to the level of fiber
May help fight cancer thanks to their anthocyanin and cinnamic acid contents
Can help lower your risk of diabetes (especially red pears) thanks, in part, to anthocyanins in the peel
Walnut
I love walnuts on my oatmeal or added to a meal such as salad or roasted veggies. Benefits include:
Rich in antioxidants thanks to vitamin E, melatonin and polyphenols which are in the skin of the nut
High in omega-3, which may lower your risk of heart disease
Can decrease inflammation thanks to the polyphenols in walnuts
Supports healthy aging thanks to essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, fats, and plant compounds
Comments