The Superfoods of Summer
These fruits and vegetables that have it all. Read about our favourite in-season produce that delivers the maximum health benefits you never knew.
It’s that time of year where fresh produce abounds. With an abundance of fresh and delicious fruits and veges gracing the supermarket shelves, we shed some light on these that are a brimming with secret health benefits, making them a particularly good choice to be popping in the trolley next shopping day. Indulge in these edible powerhouses and reap the benefits all year long.
1. Corn
Nothing says summer quite like fresh, sweet corn. Turns out, corn means summer in more ways than one. Packed with two antioxidants—lutein and zeaxanthin—corn can essentially act like natural sunglasses, as they help to form macular pigment that filters out some of the sun’s damaging rays? These same two antioxidants are also tipped to help lower your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration—the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60. Eat up now! As much of this degeneration damage occurs decades earlier.
2. Melon
When you think of sweet, refreshing summer treats on a hot day, melon is surely one of the first things that pops into your head. However next time you reach for the quintessential summer fruit – watermelon- try reaching for its green cousin, the honeydew melon! This nutrient-packed superfood contains the highest vitamin-C content of all of the melon family. High vitamin-C helps to guard against free-radicals, tissue repair and maintain a strong immune system. However Vitamin- C aside, the unique component of honeydew is the presence of Zeaxanthin. Not only does this give it its green hue but its extraordinarily high potassium and fibre content, which aid digestions, regulates blood sugar levels and can even assist in muscle repair. Sink your teeth into that
3. Cherries
No true kiwi Christmas is complete without bowls fresh cherries for snacking. The good news is, you should take advantage of the bite-sized fruit as much as you can over summer, as these sweet treats pack some seriously potent nutritional punch. Cherries are rich in the antioxidant Anthocyanin, which works to fight inflammation, ease joint pain and also aid in muscle recovery after a stint of strenuous exercise.. The presence of Anthocyanin is what gives them their crimson colour, so the richer the hue, the more abundant the benefits. Cherries also contain the hormone melatonin, which is what the body produces naturally to control sleep and wake cycles. Additional melatonin can help to improve sleep quality and studies have shown that cherry consumption can in fact help you sleep longer, better, and wake up feeling more rested. Eat up!