Top 5 Summertime Super Foods
With all the gorgeous array of fresh fruits and vegetables out there, summer is the perfect time to eat healthy and choose fresh. Shop the following five super foods and experience the health difference these summer foods can deliver, recommended by Debra Koerner, natural health expert and executive producer and host of “Journey Into Wellbeing.”
Watermelon
Composed of 92 percent water, this fresh red fruit is a delicious way to stay hydrated in the summer heat. Studies have found that consuming foods high in water content makes you feel full while eating fewer calories. Watermelon is also high in lycopene, which protects the skin. Koerner suggest blending watermelon with spinach for a quick fun smoothie.
Salmon and Tuna
These two fresh fish are an excellent source of lean protein. Bursting with nutrients such as vitamins B12 and D, calcium and iron, tuna and salmon are known to be especially healthy because of their omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3s can do
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everything from combat depression to lower your risk of heart disease. Add one of these two to your dinner plate at least twice a week recommends the American Heart Association.
Green Smoothies
Pop a bunch of fresh produce items into your blender and have an instant healthy treat. Green smoothies are an easy way to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Koerner recommends two raw smoothies per day. She likes to add raspberries for fiber, blueberries for antioxidants and pineapple for its vitamin C. “You are likely to notice immediate improvements in your health, energy levels and ability to concentrate,” she declared. Visit www.reciperedoblog.com for some of her favorite recipes.
Tomatoes
This red fruit is particularly luscious in the summer. Study after study has found that the more tomatoes you put in your diet, the more you lower your risk of cancer, especially lung, stomach and prostate cancers. Lycopene, the substance that gives tomatoes their red color, is thought to create this cancer-fighting effect. Plus, tomatoes are high in antioxidants such as vitamins C and A, as well as niacin, folate and vitamin B6.
Cucumbers
Nearly 96 percent water, cucumbers are extremely low in calories and perfect for hydrating you while you bask in the sun. The succulent green vegetable is a natural diuretic, which helps you get that bikini-ready body we all crave during summer. Koerner suggests using them as a base in a juice concoction with celery, apple, ginger and spinach.
“It’s definitely too hot in the kitchen this summer! I am craving salads and fruit rather than heavy meals. In addition to requiring little to no prep, shopping for summer super foods gives you the chance to branch out from your grocery routine and hit farmers markets,” Koerner said.
For more advice from Koerner, visit www.journeyintowellbeing.com.
