Fruits and Vegetables to Buy During Summertime

With summer in full swing, fill up on nutrients and save money on fresh produce with so many fruits and vegetables now in season! Don't know which ones to buy? Here's a list.

Apricots

The sister fruit to peaches, apricots are small, golden orange fruits with velvety skin and flesh. They are slightly juicy and sweet with an almost musky tartness. Apricots are not only tasty but also rich in antioxidants. They are also a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C.

Asian Pears

With a very juicy texture similar to that of apples, these pears are lightly sweet, crisp, and refreshing. They closely resemble other pear varieties in terms of nutritional profile. One large Asian pear contains 116 calories and only 0.6 grams of fat. These fruits are high in fiber, potassium, vitamin K, copper, and vitamin C.

Beets

Beets are a naturally crunchy, slightly sweet, deep purple root vegetable of the beetroot plant. They are an excellent source of folate and manganese and contain betaines which promote cardiovascular health. The green leaves of a beet can also be eaten.

Bell Peppers

Sweet bell peppers are a very popular vegetable with potential cancer-fighting benefits. They are filled with an array of antioxidants, flavonoids, carotenoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids, plus vitamin C and E.

Blackberries

Blackberries are known for their high nutritional contents of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K. In addition, these soft fruit contain many large seeds that are oil rich in omega-3 fats as well as protein, dietary fiber, carotenoids, and ellagic acid.

Blueberries

These sweet and tangy berries are a favorite among fruit foodies, with only 80 calories and virtually no fat with every one cup serving. Blueberries are packed with vitamin C, full of dietary fiber, and provide an excellent source of manganese. 

Cherries

Raw sweet cherries are bright and delicious. Most of its nutritional benefits come from the dietary fiber and vitamin C that's present along with some other less significant dietary minerals. 

Cucumbers

Cucumbers have not received as much press as other veggies in terms of health benefits, but this popular food provides a unique combination of nutrients. At the top of this list are cucurbitacins, lignans, and flavanoids, which are three types of phytonutrients that provide valuable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits. 

Figs

Although dried figs are available throughout the year, there's nothing like the unique taste and texture of a fresh fig. They combine chewiness, smoothness, and crunchiness all into one lusciously sweet fruit. Not only that, but figs are also a good source of fiber and potassium, a mineral that helps control blood pressure. 

In addition to vitamin C and beta-carotene, green beans contain important amounts of the antioxidant mineral manganese. Where this vegetable really shines is in its wide variety of carotenoids and flavonoids that have all been shown to have cardiovascular and overall health-supportive effects.

Strawberries

Given their unique combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, it's no surprise that research has shown strong support for strawberry health benefits. Three major areas in which strawberries benefit are cardiovascular support and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, improved regulation of blood sugar with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, and prevention of certain types of cancer including breast, cervical, colon, and esophageal cancer.

Eat up! The time is now.