Summer’s Bounty

You hear us talk a lot about diet variation as a lifestyle choice in our programs at Health for a Purpose, but do you know why?  Have you heard about seasonal eating and the benefits it provides? Welcome to summer and all its bounty!

There are several reasons you might want to eat seasonally. First of all, when you eat food that’s local and fresh, you’re getting better vitamins and minerals, and better overall nutrition from fresh, local food.  The Farmer’s Market is a great place to start.

The sun plays a huge role in the food we eat. You see, the sun affects the plants that are grown in your region, which also affects your microbiome in a good way!
When you have a healthy microbiome, it allows you to more easily absorb the vitamins and minerals from the food you eat.

In the summer, I tend to eat more carbs, because we eat from our garden. And this time of year, I want watermelon!  Yes, watermelon has a higher glycemic index, but it’s so good and contains many important nutrients! 

Watermelon is 92% water and soaked with nutrients. Each juicy bite has significant levels of vitamins A, B6, and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants, and amino acids. There’s even a small amount of potassium. 

Plus, food is supposed to be fun! If you try to deny yourself of something, you miss out on the pleasure of food and its nutrients. So lots of reasons to eat seasonally. 

Are you ready for the list of seasonal fruits and veggies? See below 🙂

Summer Fruits:

• Grapes

• Apricots

• Cherries

• Blackberries

• Lemon

• Lime

• Melons

• Peaches

• Nectarines

• Plums

Summer Veggies:

• Green Beans

• Potatoes

• Lettuce and Arugula

• Bell Peppers

• Zucchini

• Cucumber

• Carrots

• Rhubarb

• Corn – but most corn has been genetically modified (GMO), so be aware…