Warm weather brings the sweet smells and tastes of summer! A new season brings new crops of fruits and vegetables along with fresh tastes to invigorate the healthy life that wholesome eating can bring.

Fruits and vegetables contain the highest nutrient content when they are in season, so making produce selections based on what’s in season is a great way to increase your intake of vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting antioxidants.

Here are our top ten produce picks for spring. Try them now before they go out of season!

acropt1. Apricots

This great low-fat, cholesterol-free and sodium-free snack provides lots of potassium, fiber, and Vitamins A and C.  Try to choose apricots that are uniformly colored, firm and plump. Apricots naturally help regulate the body’s digestive system. Grab a couple to take with you wherever you go today.

asparagus2. Asparagus

Asparagus is fat free, sodium free, cholesterol free and low calorie, plus a great source of Vitamin C and A. Not only all that, but also asparagus is a natural prebiotic (naturally nourishes the good bacteria in your body).

 

beets3. Beets

Beet tops are an excellent source of vitamin A and the roots are a good source of vitamin C.  Beets are particularly rich in folate. Folate and folic acid have been found to prevent neural-tube birth defects and aid in the fight against heart disease and anemia. Beets are also high in fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fiber helps to keep your intestinal track running smoothly and soluble fiber helps to keep your blood sugar and blood cholesterol levels on track

fennel4. Fennel

High in vitamin C, potassium and fiber, fennel is naturally fat free, cholesterol free and low sodium. Make sure to check for fennel with a firm bulb and unblemished green leaves. Fennel helps naturally treat respiratory disorders.

chard5. Chard

If you like spinach, you will adore chard. The flavor is mild yet earthy and sweet with slightly bitter undertones.  Chard packs a huge amount of vitamin A and it is naturally high in sodium. One cup contains 313 mg of sodium, which is very high for vegetables. Chard is also surprisingly high in other minerals as well, i.e., calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.

honeydew6. Honeydew

Vitamin C, check. Fat free, check.  Low sodium and cholesterol free, double check. Select a honeydew melon with a spherical shape and a waxy exterior. Avoid one with a fuzzy surface. One serving of honeydew can give us up to 70% of our daily vitamin C.  My mouth is watering.  How can honeydew be this good for you?

mango7. Mango

Mango is high in Vitamin A and C, and low in fat and cholesterol free. To choose a ripe mango, make sure it is slightly firm with a little give and emits a strong, sweet scent. Mangoes improve digestion and help treat diabetes, like you need an excuse to eat a mango.  You don’t.  Go eat one.

pineapples8. Pineapple

Good source of vitamin C, no surprise here. Naturally fat free, low sodium and cholesterol free. Choose a heavy pineapple with dark green leaves. Avoid one with dark or soft spots. Pineapple’s anti-oxidants help enhance the bodies natural healing processes.

strawberries9. Strawberries

Great source of Vitamin C. Fat free, sodium free and cholesterol free. Choose a bunch of strawberries with a shiny bright red exterior. Make sure to avoid leaky or shriveled strawberries. Strawberries are a natural anti-inflammatory.  Do you really need us to tell you that strawberries are a perfectly wholesome treat to eat this season?  Go eat five.  Right now.

spinch10. Spinach

Naturally high in fiber, iron (improves energy), magnesium (helps keep bones strong) and vitamins C and A. Fat free, cholesterol free, and low calorie. Choose full, crisp green bunches of spinach. Spinach helps keep good eyesight. Okay, Popeye, where’s the spinach?

 

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