The Vitamin Channel

The Beauty of Eating Seasonally, The May Edition!!

The Beauty of Eating Seasonally, The May Edition!!!

Eating seasonally, we’ve all heard it before, eat seasonally!! But why? The answer has multiple facets.

Eating this way, we can become more aware of what is fresh and what is not. The fact is, if we’re eating nectarines in February, chances are they were ripened artificially, grown in another region of the world, shipped to your neck of the woods, stored in warehouses, then stored in stores, etc.… Not very appealing. Picking fruits and vegetables that are in season and grown where you reside has many benefits. It connects you to nature and helps you get fresh, naturally grown, and healthy produce. It can also stimulate your local economy.

“So How Do I Know What’s In Season?”

The Vitamin Channel’s got you covered! As a matter of fact, this being May, we will talk about seasonal produce pertaining to this month. We won’t stop there. This is The Vitamin Channel after all.

We will also briefly describe what makes the vegetable or fruit worth buying and eating.

So, without any further delay, let’s see the goodies May has for us. Keep this in mind as you read on. First and foremost is your safety.

If you will increase your risk of exposure to Covid-19, read this post, gather from it what you like, but stay home and avoid crowds of potentially sick people. Second, I’ve picked 10 nutritionally noteworthy fruits and vegetables to discuss this month; there may be more to consider. Third, many fruits and vegetables are in season for several months, so don’t worry if you catch this article at the end of May.

10 Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables to Consider Buying in May.

Apricots – Apricots are known for their skin beautifying properties. Due to Vitamins A&E, apricots can help your skin in a hurry!! They are excellent for the digestive system too!!
Arugula – A vegetable that freshens up any salad. It’s beautiful and tasty and low in calories. The antioxidants in this vegetable scavenge out free radicals before they can cause cell stress and aging, thereby, helping the immune system function properly.
Chives – When purchased in season, chives can make many dishes tastier. They are part of the Allium family, which has been linked to anti-cancer benefits. In addition, chives are a great source of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B9, C, and K. Chive on my friends!!
Kale – The superhero that has it all! Eating kale is a must if you want to have a healthy brain, heart, and gut. Anyone looking to lose weight should eat kale 2-4 times a week. Kale is rich in minerals like Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, and Calcium. It’s full of marvelous anti-aging compounds. With so many ways to prepare kale, it should be on everyone’s shopping list in the month of May.
Lettuce – Who would want to live without such a staple? No one!! It’s an integral part of almost every salad and sandwich. To unlock its full flavor and freshness, you must purchase it when in season. 3.5 ounces has only 15-20 calories, is full of water. To add, it contains good-for-your minerals such as Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper, Potassium, Manganese, and Magnesium. So “letus” eat to our heart’s content!!
Mangoes—Do we even need a reason to eat mangoes? If so, then May is the perfect month to enjoy this delicious fruit. Mangoes contain many antioxidants, the most notable being Beta-carotene, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. These compounds help our skin’s firmness and allows for enhanced cell rejuvenation and growth. All of this to say, this fruit can help skin look and feel its best.
Okra – This fiber filled little veggie should really be something you consider eating in May. It’s known for benefiting digestion and balancing blood sugar, which can help you feel full longer and reduce overall caloric intake. Okra is rich in various minerals and vitamins. I suggest roasting them lightly with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Pineapple – As I see it, pineapples are one of the most versatile and useful fruits around. This juicy, sweet, yet tart fruit is used in both sweet and savory dishes and serves as a tasty ingredient in many smoothies, fruit infused water, and trendy cocktails. We can even use this fruit in place of leather! This alternative to leather will prevent the inhumane treatment of cows and other animals.Want more benefits? Well, here are a few key vitamins and minerals that ought to encourage you to buy and try this fruit: Vitamins A and C, Magnesium, Calcium, and many more. In addition, the Bromalin in pineapples help to detoxify the body and benefit digestion. Think of pineapples as nature’s health elixir.
Spinach – Delicious and very nutritious when eaten in season. Spinach provides iron, folic acid, calcium, Vitamin B1, Vitamin K, and is a good vegan source of protein. Spinach also boosts metabolism.
Watercress – When you think of watercress, exciting salads and stir fries will come to mind. Watercress is so low in calories that you will burn more calories to digest this green super food. Many swear by the energizing effect of watercress juice and smoothies. This is likely due to its blood sugar balancing effect on the body. It also contains many important minerals such as Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium that our body uses to carry out a multitude of metabolic functions.

Thanks for spending your time with me.

XOXO,

Dr. Ela