Summer is the time when we get to enjoy the freshest and yummiest fruits and vegetables. Needless to say all those greens, berries, peaches, melons, and pineapples are packed with vitamins and other healthy elements. Still, some of them are more powerful when it comes to boosting your health and improving your immunity. From all-time favourites like avocado and peaches to yummy basil and blueberries, here’s a list of 10 summer superfoods you need to add to your diet.
Blueberries
They are small, blue, delicious, and beyond powerful! Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, which makes them great health-boosters and perfect to add to your morning smoothie. If you have a tendency to experience inflammation, then this is your number one summer superfood. Studies also show that blueberries are good for your memory and brain health, so add some to your breakfast or eat a handful of blueberries as a snack during the day.
Tomato
Summer is the season of tomatoes as you can get many varieties of this superfood. Tomatoes are yummy and watery, which is great for hot summer months when you need more liquid than ever. They also contain lycopene – an antioxidant that promotes skin health and reduces risk of heart disease. Add tomatoes to your salads, smoothies, make fresh tomato sauce and juice, or use them to whip up a magical nutritious face masks!
Flax seeds
Flax seeds are truly amazing when it comes to health benefits. These small seeds are packed with healthy omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential to your body’s health and beauty. They are also great for those of you who have stomach problems or experience heaviness from time to time. Flax seeds improve digestion and can be added to any cereal, salad, smoothie, and even dessert!
Mint
Summer is abundant with greens and all kinds of herbs. Mint is one of the most potent remedies to cure stomach problems of all kinds. Whether we’re talking about nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, or simple bad breath – mint covers it all, and more! Mint also contains oils that are known to fight cancer. You can add mint to drinks, salads, ice-creams, or literally any dish you like! It goes especially well with lime or lemon juice, creating a freshening summer drink.
Watermelon
It’s hard to top watermelons when it comes to summer superfoods. After all, they are 90% made of water! Water is your go-to source of hydration during heated summer days, and while you might skip on a glass of water here and there, watermelons are hard to forget about! You just want to eat them till you’re full, and then some more. They are also packed with antioxidants that will keep you healthy and Vitamin C, which is a perfect health-booster.
Avocado
Avocado has been a superfood for years and for a good reason! There’s hardly any fruit, vegetable, or berry that can compete with it. It’s packed with healthy monounsaturated fats, which can do wonders for your brain health, memory, and focus. Avocados are nutritious, rich in fibre, and will make for a perfect low-calorie breakfast. It goes great with salads, eggs, sandwiches, and can be a perfect standalone snack as well. Just add some salt, spices, and it’s ready!
Bell pepper
Bell peppers are among the most underrated summer superfoods. Just like tomatoes, you can find lots of bell pepper varieties in summer because it’s their prime time. This means it’s the best time to eat them! Bell peppers contain carotenoids that promote eye health, so if you feel a need to boost your eyesight – this vegetable is your new best friend! They are also rich with Vitamin C and we all know that it’s the ultimate immunity booster. You can eat them fresh and crunchy with a yummy dip, grill them, add to salads, or fry with other veggies for a delicious veg mix.
Cherries
Cherries are great all year round, but they’re especially healthy when you can get your hands on some fresh ones. These nutritional little red gems contain anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant that will help your body flush out toxins and reduce inflammation. It’s also known to relieve joint pain! So grab a bowl of cherries as a mid-day snack, bake a pie, or make a yummy fruit juice for a morning vitamin boost.
Basil
Basil is one of the most fragrant herbs we use in our kitchens. But it’s so much more than that! Basil is packed with strong antioxidants, which makes it a perfect ingredient to for your breakfast. It is also a source of Vitamin K, a compound that is responsible for blood-clotting, blood health, and bone metabolism. Basil offers 25% of Vitamin K, which women need daily to stay strong and healthy. So don’t hesitate to use it everywhere – in drinks, cocktails, salads, ice-creams, and other summer desserts.
Peach
This fuzzy fruit is the ultimate summer superfood – it just has so much good stuff inside! Apart from Vitamin C and B6, that is a powerful antioxidant, it contains potassium, which is important for regulating blood pressure. It also helps reduce bloating and along with Vitamin C gives your skin that healthy summer glow. Eat peaches fresh as they are or try grilling them a bit for a boost of taste. Add some mint or basil and a scoop of ice-cream for a perfect summer dessert!