Eating in Season | 4 Winter Superfoods

As you may know it is preferable to eat in season, so that the foods you are eating won’t have to be imported from foreign nations or even other regions within your own country. With a new batch of superfoods are coming into season, you will now have a new variety of locally grown, organic food items to choose from. Nutrient-dense spring and summer foods are on the way out, and now comes a new list of delicious wintertime superfoods that will help to enhance your health by nourishing the body. Here are 4 excellent superfoods that you should be biting into this December:

1. Avocados

Avocados contain healthy fats and phytonutrients, offering powerful benefits to the health of your skin, eyes, and appetite control. The great news is that you can eat avocados (a delicious favorite for many), or apply them topically to the skin. Avocado facials are growing in popularity, which involves mashing up an avocado and mixing it with a little milk or oatmeal. Afterwards, apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 10 minutes. When finished, gently rinse your face with lots of water to complete your avocado facial.

If you’d rather enjoy an avocado with a meal, try chopping one up and tossing them in a raw, organic salad. Other ideas include using them as a sandwich topping, or using them in a creamy vegetable spread.

2. Cranberries

Not only are cranberries loaded with antioxidants that are protective against cancer and cellular oxidation (instrumental in the aging process), but cranberries can also reduce your risk of developing a urinary tract infection. Research has found that cranberry juice phytochemicals can actually bind to bacteria and lead to their excretion.

Cranberries make for great smoothie additions, or an addition to your juicing regiment. Remember that commercial cranberry juice does not contain hardly any solid nutritional value, and it is important that you make your own juice at home.

3. Mushrooms

Compounds found in certain mushrooms are extremely effective at fighting tumors and enhancing your overall health. Researchers from Australia found that a mushroom compounds called polysaccharopeptide (PSP) is 100% effective at targeting prostate cancer stem cells and suppressing tumor formation. This compound comes from a type of mushroom called Turkey Tail. Beyond the tumor-combating characteristics of mushrooms, they also naturally contain potassium.

Crimini, shiitake and portobello are all readily available mushrooms that you can add to soups, salads, or use them as a health-promoting topping.

4. Kumquats

A favorite among citrus lovers, kumquats provide a source of dietary fibers, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Consuming raw kumquats can help to improve the health of your heart, gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, teeth, skeletal tissue, and much more. This is a delicious superfood that should not be overlooked this winter.

Look for firm kumquats that are orange, not greenish. You can slice them up and eat them as a snack, or you can include them in a nutritious fruit salad.

This winter don’t resort to processed foods and other disease-promoting food items. Instead, take advantage of the new wave of superfoods that are coming to a market near you. Eating in season is a great way to save money, avoid questionable farming practices, and know what you are eating.