Summer Health Foods

1. Red onions make a fantastic addition to summer salads, and not just because they taste delicious. If you suffer from hay fever or heat rash then red onions should be an integral ingredient of your summer diet. They contain high levels of quercetin, a natural antihistamine which can calm any adverse reactions. .....

Yoghurt

2. Warmer temperatures make it harder to keep food fresh, especially meat left outside while it waits for its turn on the barbecue. Rates in food-borne illnesses peak in summer, so eating bio yoghurt will pump your gut full of friendly bacteria, thus reducing the risk of food poisoning. .....

Purple sprouting broccoli

3. Purple sprouting broccoli contains the antioxidant sulphoraphane which protects the body from cancer, heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. Purple sprouting is also full of vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and fibre. .....

Watercress

4. When we perspire, our body's iron supply is depleted, which leaves us vulnerable to fatigue. Watercress is a rich source of iron, so pile it high on your fresh summer salads. For budding gardeners, it is also easy to grow your own supply at home. .....

Marinades

5. Barbecues dont have to be unhealthy, swapping burgers and hotdogs for protein rich chicken and seafood and grilled vegetables reduces the fat and calorie content dramatically.But burnt sausages and other meats raise the risk of cancer, so coat them in marinades made with spices, olive oil and citrus fruits, which are thought to have anti carcinogenic qualities .....

Summer fruits

6. It is essential to keep your fluid levels topped up during the summer to replace what you lose through perspiration. Fresh summer fruits such as berries and melon are not just packed full of vital vitamins and minerals, they are also made up mostly of water, which makes them the nearperfect summer breakfast. .....

Asparagus

7. Asparagus is rich in folate which improves cardiovascular health, and potassium which boosts our energy levels. Asparagus also contains inulin, another compound which is thought to promote good bacteria in the gut. .....

Mint

8. If the hot weather causes?you to overheat, then switch from regular tea or coffee to peppermint or, even better, fresh mint tea.It is known to aid digestion but, more importantly, has a cooling effect on the body, helping you to stay cool when the sun shines. Mint is also fantastic in salads or sprinkled over meat and fish dishes. .....

Bananas

9. Where would we be without bananas? A near perfect snack, bananas not only satisfy cravings for sweet foods (remember your summer diet should teach you good habits that last throughout the seasons), they are also one of the best sources of potassium, which experts say helps to regulate fluid lost when we sweat. .....

Fresh peas

10. While frozen peas are still fantastically healthy, there are few things more enjoyable in summer than buying fresh peas still in their pods and shelling them yourself, ready for cooking.Peas contain vitamin K which is good for bone health, folic acid and vitamin B6 which are beneficial for your heart and, finally, iron and B vitamins which help to combat fatigue. Bon apptit! .....

Corn

11. Nothing says summer like fresh sweet corn. And did you know that two antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin in corn may act like natural sunglasses, helping to form macular pigment that filters out some of the suns damaging rays? Its true. The same antioxidants may also help lower your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60 (though much of the damage occurs decades earlier). .....

Iced Coffee

12. An iced pick me up is a great way to start your summer mornings. Better yet: drinking a single cup of coffee daily may lower your risk of developing skin cancer. In one study of more than 93,000 women, published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, those who drank one cup of caffeinated coffee a day reduced their risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer by about 10 percent. And the more they drank up to about 6 cups or so per day the .....

Tart Cherries

13. They deliver a host of health benefits. You may have heard that drinking tart cherry juice can help you get a better nights sleep and quell post-workout pain (read more about that here). But did you know that compounds in tart cherries may also help you slimdown and get leaner? When scientists at the University of Michigan Health System put rats on a high-fat diet supplemented with either a tart-cherry powder (equal to 1% of the weight of their t .....

Tomatoes

14. Theres no question that sunscreen should be your first line of defense against the blazing summer sun. But eating tomatoes could give you a little extra protection: consuming more lycopene the carotenoid that makes tomatoes red may protect your skin from sunburn. In one study, participants who were exposed to UV light had almost 50 percent less skin reddening after they ate 2 1/2 tablespoons of tomato paste (or drank about 1 2/3 cups of carrot ju .....

Watermelon

15. Staying hydrated keeps your memory sharp and your mood stable. It also helps keep your body cool (by sweating) during hot summer months. The good news is that you dont just have to drink water. You can eat it, too: in addition to delivering skin-protecting lycopene, watermelon is 92 percent water (hence the name). Another boon? Research shows that eating foods that are full of water helps keep you satisfied on fewer calories. (Interestingly enoug .....

Raspberries

16. Raspberries are a great source of fiber some of it soluble in the form of pectin, which helps lower cholesterol. One cup of raspberries has 8 grams of fiber and a study in the Journal of Nutrition suggests that eating more fiber may help prevent weight gain or even promote weight loss. Over the course of a two-year study, researchers found that when study participants boosted their fiber by 8 grams for every 1,000 calories, they lost about 4 1/ .....

Cucumbers

17. These crisp and cool veggies are for much more than salads (and spa treatments). They can be used in gazpachos and substituted for celery in tuna and chicken salad recipes. .....

Peaches

18. This fleshy fruit has a sweet, almost tangy taste that blends well in smoothies and other beverages. For a summer treat, slice some peaches and enjoy with a cream cheese (like Explorateur) and a glass of chardonnnay. .....

Bell peppers

19. With their tangy flavor and signature crunch, bell peppers are a summer diet must-have. The lively colors will bring dishes alive and add a nutritional bonus. .....

Pears

20. The soft texture and sweet taste of pears make them the perfect fruit for summertime. And their mild flavor lets them blend well with a variety of recipes. .....

Apricots

21. Starting in May, enjoy the sweet, smooth, and faintly tart taste of apricots. Not only are they the perfect juicy addition to any meal, but they are also nutrient-rich. .....

Iced Tea

22. Sure, a tall glass of iced tea on a hot day is refreshing, but did you know it might also do your body good? Studies show if you drink tea regularly, you may lower your risk of Alzheimers and diabetes, plus have healthier teeth and gums and stronger bones. How? Tea is rich in a class of antioxidants called flavonoids. Regardless of the variety black, green, oolong, white or herbal maximize the power of teas flavonoids by drinking it freshly bre .....

Blueberries

23. Fresh blueberries straight from the berry patch are a special treat! Turns out the antioxidants in them may help ward off muscle fatigue by mopping up the additional free radicals that muscles produce during exercise, according to recent research out of New Zealand. .....

Avocados

24. Do you love avocados so much you would put slices of them on just about any food you eat? Theres no reason to feel guilty about doing this, especially because this is such a great food for you to eat. Avocados are packed full of antioxidants, including glutathione. This detoxes the body by transporting harmful toxins right out of it. By reducing the chemicals and toxins in your body you will be healthier and feel better. .....

Cranberries

25. These might be great for preventing urinary tract infections, but they can also get rid of toxins inside of your body. These get rid of waste from the body and are antibacterial so they remove toxins. .....

Cabbage

26. This food has sulfur inside of it, which is essential when it comes to breaking down chemicals in the body. Sulfur can help get rid of everything from pesticides to prescription drugs, which could be harmful if they stuck around. .....

Lemons

27. These are great in drinks and recipes, but they are also packed full of vitamins and antioxidants. These protect the liver and they get rid of chemicals inside of the body. Consuming lemons on a regular basis can improve health. .....

Broccoli

28. If youre the type of person who doesnt like broccoli, you should try it out once again! Its full of antioxidants that can cleanse your body. Its also high in enzymes that help to get your digestive system running efficiently. Raw broccoli is best because it has a high level of nutrients inside of it. .....

Garlic

29. Packed full of sulfur, this is another great food to use for body cleanses. It also has antibiotic properties so it can help internally heal your body. There are a lot of advantages to eating garlic on a regular basis; its even available in supplement form! .....

Beets

30. These can be incorporated into a lot of different recipes or they can be eaten raw. They are full of betaine and pectin, which help protect the liver and the digestive system. These can cleanse the body so you have fewer toxins. .....

Grapefruit

31. This fruit helps cleanse the digestive system and it can prevent kidney stones from developing. It?s also low in natural sugars and calories, so it?s great for dieting. .....

Sunflower Seeds

32. These are great to snack on and can detox the liver so its healthier. It can also get rid of harmful toxins floating around in the body. In addition to this, it prevents cholesterol from building up and causing body damage. .....

Lentils

33. These aid the digestive system to cleanse and detox your body. Lentils also lower the cholesterol and help balance the blood sugar inside of your body. .....