Tips for Spring Nutrition

Food for Spring

It's important to start this Spring off right. After reading over my spring health tips you should be wandering, what foods do I eat to keep healthy this spring? Visit your local farmer's market. If you have a farmers market, check it out for fresh produce. Around this time of year and depending on your region, it will include foods like asparagus, artichokes, carrots, collards, fennel and various other greens and grains. Using a few of these in every recipe will greatly enhance your health this Spring. I've compiled a nice list for you to follow.

Spring Vegetables
Vegetables give your body the proper amount of vitamins, provitamins, dietary minerals and fiber necessary to function properly.

• Asparagus contains no sodium, cholesterol or fat making it an extremely healthy spring food option. It is also high in folic acid, which aids red blood cells in spreading oxygen throughout your body. All these great side effects keep your body and mind energized.
• Broccoli is a great source of Vitamin C, believe it or not. That's not only good for your immune system, it's good for absorbing calcium which keeps your bones strong. It also contains nutrients that have been found to prevent tumor growth, which is a huge plus!
• Spinach is an excellent source of iron. Iron is used by hemoglobin which is in red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body; iron helps keep your body supplied with blood rich in oxygen.

Spring Fruits
Spring fruits are a great addition to jazz up any normal salad or marinade, get creative! Not only do they taste sweet and delicious, but they also carry great benefit for your health.

• Apricots are a great example of a spring fruit because they naturally contain beta carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce bad cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease and protect against cancer.
•  Strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C. Usually eating around 5 good-sized strawberries can give your body its full dose of Vitamin C for the day, and it will usually only contain around 25-40 calories.
• Mangoes are not only delicious by themselves or in salads, they also contain phenols that act as antioxidants and can sometimes act as anti-cancers.
• Pineapples are a sweet fruit perfect for lunch or as a quick snack. They are especially good for your body because they contain high levels of manganese. Manganese assists the body in the formation of connective tissue and bones. It can also help with certain blood-clotting processes. It also plays a role in your body's fat and carbohydrate metabolism.