Spring Into Fruits and Vegetables
It’s spring and thankfully the weather is getting warmer, the trees are getting greener and healthy and delicious spring fruits and vegetables are appearing on grocery store shelves.
Many of the fruits and vegetables that are in season and available for sale at this time of year are yummy and packed full of vitamins and nutrients. Here are some of our favorite spring fruits and vegetables.
Apricots
Apricots, the orange doppelgangers to peaches and plums, are packed with numerous vitamins and minerals that should make them your go-to in these spring months. They are loaded with vitamins A, C, and E and are a great source of potassium and iron. In fact, eating only 3 apricots will give you over 50% of your daily value of vitamin A. For those of us watching our waistlines, eating 3 apricots will only net you around 50 calories. In addition to being full of vitamins and minerals, apricots are also a great source of antioxidants and dietary fiber, perfect for overall wellness and digestion.
Asparagus
This delicious vegetable, which begins its harvest in June, is full of essential vitamins that should be included in a healthy diet. Asparagus is a great source of vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as vitamin B9 (folate), which plays a role in bolstering cognitive ability and cell production. Asparagus is also a natural diuretic and a great source of fiber, adding it to your diet can help aid digestion.
Grapefruit
And then there’s grapefruit. Likely the most polarizing fruit on this list, its bitter taste belies its sweet nutritional facts. Grapefruit is filled with vitamin C and a number of B vitamins, which are essential for energy and mental clarity. Grapefruits are also a fantastic source of fiber and minerals like potassium and magnesium and for a mere 50 calories per half a grapefruit, this giant fruit won’t leave you with a giant waistline.
Strawberries
Strawberries are brimming with nutrients that misrepresent their tiny size. Strawberries are a great source of vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and a number of B vitamins. Strawberries are packed with phenols, a chemical that induces the production of antioxidants in the body. These chemicals do a fantastic job of keeping our bodies healthy. They have also been shown to have robust anti-inflammatory properties, which can help keep joints healthy.
By making sure you consume enough fruit and vegetables this spring, especially the nutritious ones, you will be taking one more step (or bite) towards maintaining proper health.
Sources
I. Health Benefits of Apricots
II. 5 Powerful Health Benefits of Asparagus You Probably Didn’t Know
III. Health Benefits of Grapefruit
IV. Health Benefits of Strawberries
V. What is in Season
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